Q&A with Pedro Gomez
Goat Jerseys sits down with ESPN reporter, Pedro Gomez. He’s covered 15 World Series, a voting member for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the beat guy for those great A’s teams in the ’90s. He’s also a big fan of jerseys, let’s get to know him…
Where did you grow up? A few different places. My family moved to Detroit in 1963 one year after I was born in Miami Beach, which was shortly after they arrived from Cuba as refugees. I lived in Detroit until I was almost 10, when my family moved to Houston. We lived there until I was 16 and we returned to Miami, which is where I lived for 10 years before moving to San Diego and working at the San Diego Union.
Were you a big sports fan growing up? If so, what was the first athlete and team you fell in love with? Absolutely. I loved all sports and being in Michigan at such a young age, it was easy to love all the Tigers teams. My first favorite was the Tigers because of my love of baseball. And because he was the star of the team, Al Kaline was my favorite player growing up. One of my favorite professional moments has being able to meet Al and talk with him. It’s been a personal highlight for me.
What was life like as a teenager, what did Pedro Gomez dream of becoming? I initially dreamed of becoming a baseball player. After realizing that wasn’t going to happen, I truly had no idea where my life was heading. It wasn’t until I took an elective course at Miami Dade Community College South in a Journalism 101 class that I discovered a path to staying connected to sports. I dove head first into the deep end of the pool and wanted to become a sports reporter.
You were a beat writer for the Oakland Athletics for many years, they had some really good teams back then (and great unis too). A lot of different characters on those teams, any funny/wild story you can share from your time there? The A’s were my first professional beat. My dream, as I covered high schools for six years, was to become a major league beat reporter. Once that became a reality I felt as though I had finally made it. Then it started sinking in what my beat was, covering the Oakland A’s, the most brash club in baseball at the time with names that lit up the game’s marquee. Names like Rickey, Jose, McGwire, Hendu, Carney, Eck, Stew, and of course, managed by Tony La Russa, an icon himself. It’s funny how most of those names don’t need a second name attached to them. Back in those days, reporters were still allowed to fly on the team charters (our newspapers paid the going rate for a similar flight) and I would take advantage from time to time to get to a new city. I do remember late in the 1992 season, the A’s were having a great season and La Russa grabbed the plane’s mic and gave an incredibly toughing congratulatory speech to the players as the plane was descending into Milwaukee. He received a rousing ovation from the players and the club then proceeded to get swept by the Brewers, with La Russa and Bob Welch being ejected from a game for arguing balls and strikes. They eventually straightened out the ship and won the AL West title.
All-time favorite uniform in sports? I am a huge fan of a classic design and those Tigers home whites. You can take a look at Ty Cobb in the 1920s and compare it to today’s version and there are so many similarities. I love the piping around the neck and especially the Old English D. It is such a gorgeous look. I am very glad they never messed with their home uniform.
One ballpark to watch a game from the past, where would it be? I’m sure it had its reasons for being old and decrepit but to watch a game at the Polo Grounds would be a treat. Thinking of Willie Mays making his famous catch in the 1954 World Series, or the fact that the New York Giants played their final game there and the New York Mets played their first game there, is reason enough to want to watch a game at the Polo Grounds. Plus the fact that Yankee Stadium was just across the Harlem River, literally less than half a mile away, adds to the intrigue.
What era of baseball do you think produced the best uniforms? The 1970s definitely produced the most outlandish, but I’m going with the 1960s. The Reds and Pirates with their vests, the Mets, Angels, Astros and Senators all joining in the early ’60s, all brought classic looks to the game. The classic home whites and great-looking road grays and the addition of powder blues late in the decade by the Royals and Expos. There was so many great looks in the 1960s.
One person in the world living or deceased that you could have 15 minutes to sit down with and pick their brain, who would it be? Because of the controversy and intrigue surrounding his career, I would love to talk to Shoeless Joe Jackson, just sit there and talk over everything that happened in the 1919 Black Sox scandal.
Favorite food, favorite city, and all-time favorite sports movie? Food: Since I am Cuban I have to go with Cuban food. I love a palomilla steak with white rice and black beans and plantains, my mouth waters just writing about this. City: Chicago. Always excited when I get an assignment to Chicago. It’s such a vibrant and enormous city but has managed to retain its local feel. Movie: There are great serious movies, probably highlighted by Raging Bull, but I remain a fan of Bull Durham. The dialogue fits in the game in any era of the game.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give someone who’s starting their career in broadcasting? Be persistent and don’t give up.
Thanks to Pedro for some great insight and stories, this was a treat!
Twitter: @pedrogomezESPN