When it comes to baseball Mr. Butler knows his stuff. He played three seasons in the minor leagues as a pitcher from 1974-1976.

Mr. Butler has been playing baseball his whole life. It started with his father playing baseball in the minor leagues for the Indians and he passed the game on to him.

Mr. Butler first attended Arizona State and then transferred to Stanislaus. College baseball was where it was at for Mr. Butler, “College was more fun and less stressful,” he says.

After college, Mr. Butler was drafted by the Mets. He played in the Cal League in which there are many teams around here. His first year was a big eye opener to how business-motivated baseball is.

In a game during his first year against the Royals organization he was having a bad game. The manager came out, yelling obscenities at him, and for the most part said that, we pay you to do well; if you don’t do well then we have another chat, and if we do, you will never hear from me again. Mr. Butler won his next seven games.

At that point Mr. Butler realized that the baseball club has it’s players there to win because if they win, then the club gets money, and that’s all they are worried about. “You are a piece of meat,” says Mr. Butler.

In the minor leagues everyone is basically at the same level, except for the extremely gifted, like Barry Bonds. “You have to catch a break to get ahead,” states Mr. Butler. Players back then would always play hurt or sick just for that chance to get ahead, or not to give that chance to anyone else.

In the minor leagues you eat, breathe, and sleep baseball. There are no comforts in the minor leagues either. Bus rides for Mr. Butler were very long. He would get into town at 4am. He would then report to batting practice and infield at 4pm for a 7:30 game. After the game, he would have to get back on the bus and do it all over again.

Average professional players at that time were making only $35,000 a year, so there was no big investment in the players and no one cared if they got hurt. “People were always coming and going from the team,” says Mr. Butler. He knew that at any time he could be cut, traded or even hurt, and no one would care. “You must enjoy it while you are there,” says Mr. Butler.