Q. What was your reaction of being selected 8th overall in the 1988 MLB Draft by the California Angels?

Absolutely thrilled. To be rated so high among the amateur players I had been competing against and with for the past few years was incredible. I knew many of the top picks because of my international playing experience, so it was very gratifying to be included in that class.

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Q. What was it like to be one of only 21 players since the institution of the draft who went straight to the Major Leagues?....

Incredible. Everything at that point in my life seemed to be going so fast. The challenge was to remember who you are, and what strengths and skills you bring to the table. If you became caught up in where you were, and who you were facing, it became intimidating to make such a quick jump. A great lesson that remains with me.

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Q. When you started out with the Angels, Marcel Lachemann was your pitching coach. How much of an impact did he have on your development as a pitcher?

Marcel was an incredible impact on me professionally and personally. He helped me to understand the fundamentals of pitching mechanics. He guided me through the mental aspects of the game. Most importantly he was a tremendously honest and loyal friend. He is one of my heroes

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Q. Angel fans know that you and Jimmie Reese had a special relationship. Reese certainly meant a lot to us fans. What did he mean to you and to the team at that time?

Jimmie was another of my heroes. He was a calm funny classy person who was a delight to be around. I think he gave everyone a great sense of the history of the game, which isn't always appreciated enough.

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Q. Could you give us any insight into the intense workout regimen that you and Jimmie Reese developed together?

Jimmie would hit me and the other pitchers ground ball after ground ball during Batting Practice. Not only was it a good work out but it made you a much better fielder on the mound. But working with him was always fun, I remember the laughs more than the sweat.

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Q. It's the bottom of the 9th, two outs, and the winning run is on 2nd base. Which Angel teammate of yours would you want up to bat in that situation? Conversely, as a pitcher, which player from your era do you least want to pitch to in that situation?

As a teammate I was a huge Chili Davis fan, Edgar Martines was very tough to get out in tight situations.

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Q. In 1992 the team was involved in an awful bus accident. How difficult was it for you and the team to continue to play baseball?

Very hard. Especially to people like Buck Rogers and Bobby Rose, who were physically hurt badly in the crash. 92 was a very bad year for the Angels as an organization.

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Q. In 1995 you watched Cal Ripken Jr. tie and break Lou Gehrig’s “iron man” record. What was your experience of that historic moment?

Amazement. Jealousy. I always wanted to be a shortstop so I could play more often! Hard to even comprehend that achievement.

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Q. How would you describe Buck Showalter as a manager?

Buck was thoroughly prepared. I thought he had a terrific sense for putting people into situations where they could succeed. Especially on the offensive side of things. I remember those teams doing well against R. Johnson, with line ups that were out of the ordinary for that team. Buck was amazingly detail oriented.

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Q. You were able to get your fastball clocked at 94?

That was early in my career with the Angels.

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Q. When you came up as a pitcher, you threw a fastball and a hard cutter. Were you able to develop any other pitches over time?

My slider was the main compliment to my fastball and cutter. I also through a decent curve at times. I would have loved to have a great change up!

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Q. What are your feelings on being traded from the team that drafted you to the New York Yankees? What was it like pitching in New York, for a team that was such a loyal fan base?

I was surprised to be traded. I loved the Angel organization, and those negotiations were my first real introduction into the business side of the game. All in all I am incredibly thankful for the experience of playing with the Yankees. There is nothing like playing in that city for that team.

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Q. What do you remember about throwing that no-hitter for the Yankees?

My memory is of the excitement of the fans. The tension building throughout the game and ultimately battling for those last 3 outs in the 9th inning. To enjoy that kind of moment in Yankee Stadium, with all the history of the team is something I truly cherish.

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Q.. What were you thinking the minute you completed your no-hitter?...

The moment I pitched the no hitter was absolute disbelief and elation. It was overwhelming to do it as a Yankee, in Yankee Stadium. I cherish that memory.

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Q.When Jim batted, what type of bat did he use? What did the pitchers throw him on his hits, ie., fast balls or off speed? Did he pull the pitches or what?

I don't remember the specifics of the bat... But both of my major league hits came on fastballs from the same pitcher Jon Lieber. They were both base hits up the middle. The first was in Milwaukee County Stadium, the second came at Wrigley field in Chicago. As you can tell, pitchers are very proud of our offensive accomplishments!

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Q. Who were some of the more popular teammates you played alongside while you were with the Angels, White Sox and Yankees?

Don Mattingly was one of my favorites with the Yankees. Mark Langston, Chuck Finley, Dave Winfield, with the Angels. Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas, and Albert Belle with the Sox.

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Q. Looking back on your baseball career, some of the big names that you were able to strike out?

My first strikeout came against Dave Parker who played for the A's. That was one of my memorable K's. I also had a game against A-Rod where I struck him out a couple times, but he was only a rookie!

Q. (From Illinois) Who was the most feared White Sox hitter that you ever faced and why? Also, who was the White Sox player you most admired as a teammate for the one year you played on the south side of Chicago?

Frank Thomas was a fearsome hitter when he was young. He hit for power, average and had a great eye. One of my all time favorite teammates and friends is Robin Ventura. To play with him while with the White Sox was awesome. The old Comiskey was nice, I remember pitching a high school all star game there on a team that included John Smoltz.

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Q. Who was your favorite teammate?

Don Mattingly

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Q. What team did your favorite teammate play on?

N.Y. Yankees

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Q. The Angels were in first place, but the Mariners were slowly gaining in the standings. Was it noticeable that Seattle was in fact making up ground and if so, what does that do to the club?

There was definitely awareness that the race was getting closer. It was one of the first times that the Wild Card option affected the playoff race and kept a team fighting for a spot.

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Q.Outside of the outcome, what sticks out most in your mind about that one game playoff in Seattle?

Playoff, intensity. Incredibly loud and avid crowd.
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Q. Were you surprised by the atmosphere in the Kingdome that day?

No, it was always a very loud place to play when the Mariners were competitive. But it was amazing.

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Q. Excluding the one game playoff, what did you think of the

Kingdome in general in terms of a place to play baseball?

I wasn't crazy about it. Dark, Seattle is such a beautiful place it was hard to go inside. Also they had some very good line ups during those days.

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Q. What was the atmosphere like in Anahiem when you were traded back to the Angels in mid-season in 1995?

The atmosphere was great. Many good young players were coming into their own on that team. When I first arrived on the tam they were incredibly confident. I think inexperience was that team's only weakness.

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Q. Give us the first words that come into your mind about the following players:

Mike Stanley: Solid. Great teammate, clutch player with power.

Jim Leyritz: Hilarious. Impervious to pressure. Loved playing baseball.

Don Mattingly: Best teammate ever. A baseball player, pure and simple.

Pay Kelly: good friend, rode to ballpark with him in NY.

Randy Velarde: Smooth, versatile, another great teammate. Quiet

Wade Boggs: dedicated to the game. incredible pride in every single at bat. much better defensively than most people thought.

Bernie Williams: quietly great. cerebral.

Paul P'Neill: another great teammate, explosive temper but a sweet family man. Great competitor.

Scott Kamieniecki: UM teammate, one of my best friends on team. Fought a very hard road to get to MLB. Loved the game.

Bob Wickman: Mid west guy. Great sinker, great ability to keep it simple on the mound.

Steve Howe: complicated person. but well liked by everyone on team. Another UM teammate. Very funny.

Q: Do you keep up with any of the guys from the Milwaukee team?

JA: Not too much. Baseball is kind of sad in that way. You play with guys. You get very close. You spend a lot of time with them in the clubhouse. And then everybody kind of goes their different ways. They go to different parts of the country and families live in different areas. I don't keep up with as many of them as I'd like, but I have great memories of those years, playing for (manager) Phil Garner. I have great memories of that summer, although the crane accident (that killed three ironworkers at Miller Park) kind of lent a dark perspective to things.

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The One Year Retirement

Q. Why did you retire for one season (1997), then return in 1998?

I was at a low point confidence wise in 97, and I didn't know if I could get major league hitters out anymore. I had lost velocity on my fastball, which led to a loss in confidence. My decision to come back in 1998 was an effort to finish my career with a better feeling than I had in 1997.

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Q: Making it to the major leagues is an incredible accomplishment. When you look back on your career, considering the things you had to overcome, does it seem more special?

A: I am proud of my career. I worked hard. There's times when I wonder if I could have gotten a little bit more out of my left arm and there's times when I think maybe I got everything I possibly could out of my left arm.

I was born missing my right hand. My time in the big leagues was spent ... I really wanted to be a good pitcher. I understood that I was different. I knew that my being born without a right hand made a difference to people. But, I always felt like if that was going to mean anything -- if I had some measure of success to attach to that, then it would provide an even better model. I think I did well enough to do that.

So, my time after the game has kind of gone in a natural direction toward speaking to people and continuing to reach out in a mentoring sort of way to say "Hey, anything is possible. Look at the circumstances that I grew up in. Look where I grew up -- in Flint, Mich. To end up playing on the West Coast, the East Coast in Milwaukee and Chicago. You can do it." I feel very privileged to be in that situation.