A conversation with Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett

A conversation with Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett What kind of emotions are going through Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz as they get ready to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame next Sunday? What does it mean to you to be a member of the Hall of Fame? When you are a little kid, you play Little League and hope you make the high school team. When you play for an extended period of time (Brett played for 21 years, retiring in 1993 with 3,154 career hits), you are used to being in the spotlight, you are used to being recognized, you are used to being in the newspaper. Are you surprised when you land here at all the people who are waiting, hoping to get a glimpse and an autograph from the Hall of Famers who are passing through? If I see someone wearing a Royals shirt, I will probably sign. Thank God they rope off the Otesaga (hotel in Cooperstown). [...] I take it you love going back for the inductions every year? People miss the game more when they are released and they still think they can play. Last year (when the Royals made the World Series, losing to the San Francisco Giants in seven games), it brought back a lot of memories. If I wasn't 62, I would have put a uniform on and tried to make the team. Brett serves as vice president of baseball operations for the Royals. Is there a pitcher you would say you owned during your playing career? Ed Figueroa (who played for the California Angels and New York Yankees for most of his career). Was there a pitcher you hated to face? There might have been guys that made me uncomfortable, but I didn't hate to face anyone. Some guys, you never feel comfortable against, like a Randy Johnson late in my career. All of those guys were three quarters arm flingers. How many times a day does someone ask you about the pine tar...