[Inside Spring Training raw #23]

Raw footage of an interview with Chicago White Sox Pitcher Rich Hinton. The interview was shot for the documentary, "Inside Spring Training," a look at the White Sox 1978 team.

00:00Copy video clip URL The tape begins with a black screen.

00:11Copy video clip URL Tom Weinberg begins to express his interest in pitchers, specifically left handed pitchers. Hinton responds by saying that his peers tell him that he doesn’t act or think like a left hander. Weinberg then asks Hinton about his formation as an athlete, his current struggles playing in the MLB, and what he sees in his future.

01:35Copy video clip URL Hinton begins to talk about his interest in baseball. Hinton had been playing since he was a child and was involved in a number of different pee wee leagues. He developed into a great player and in some cases he was “the guy” on the team. Hinton explains that he grew up knowing he was a great player and expresses his feelings on his current struggles in the MLB. “These are the things that I grew up in, the feelings that I had, and all the way through school and through college. It’s something that I think most of the guys have had at one time and it’s very tough to be put into a position of being the low man on the totem pole.”

04:16Copy video clip URL Hinton talks about playing in the MLB. “As far as I’m concerned about the big leagues, playing in the big leagues is–it’s the only place to play for money if you’re going to play for money. … If I were to quit tomorrow I’d have no regrets, I’d have a job, and there would be no problem. But, I love the game and I want to play it for another three, four years, I don’t care. It’s something that’s still in me. I haven’t lost the fire yet for the game.” Hinton then talks about his experiences playing in the Mexican baseball league and his leaving the Cincinnati Reds team. Hinton also says, “These are things that I’ve seen that I know a lot of other ball payers don’t get a chance to do, and as far as right now goes, I don’t care about thirty-five other guys out there getting a job. I know what I can do and if they like what I’ve got then I’ll be there, so I’m not going to try and change anything.”

08:09Copy video clip URL Hinton talks about fighting his anxiety over his performance and expresses his interest in starting rather than relief pitching. He goes on to talk about his winning season in the Mexican League.

09:48Copy video clip URL Hinton talks about his return to the White Sox. Weinberg goes on to ask Hinton about how he may be viewed as an older player in comparison to some of the other players on the team. Hinton answers the question and states that he isn’t injury prone and that he is always in shape. “I’m not scared in this game anymore. I know that I have a talent and that I can sell it.”

15:17Copy video clip URL Hinton talks about the need for physical skill and an intelligent head in the game of baseball. He goes on to say that he is a “high end marginal player” and that he’s always “the last guy to get cut.”

16:56Copy video clip URL Hinton talks about the big leagues and refers to them as “sterile.” “You walk out and the field is just perfectly manicured. There’s no dust and there’s no dirt, and for a little kid that grows up in playing, and any kid that grows up, he’s going to be out scrapping in the dirt and the dust, sweating, and that’s what baseball is to me. That’s what I enjoy about it. You get hot and you’re out there working.”

17:43Copy video clip URL Hinton talks about his hitting talents and desire to play outfield full time in the future.

19:36Copy video clip URL Weinberg asks Hinton about the differences between MLB and Triple A contracts and what his future plans are after baseball. Hinton response gets cut off by the end of the tape.

22:34Copy video clip URL Tape ends.