Julian Javier oral history interview, 1967 or 1968

Julian Javier oral history interview

Date1967 or 1968

DescriptionInterview of Julian Javier conducted by the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis, Missouri in 1967 or 1968. Content of the interview includes: Side One -- Track 1 - On playing second base for the Cardinals, originally played shortstop, later moved to third, and in 1958 started playing second base in Lincoln, NB; now his favorite position because he's been playing it so long; lucky to avoid getting hurt, sometimes you could get killed at second base the way the guys come sliding in, hard and fast (00:00:00 to 00:01:27) Track 2 - On getting started in baseball in Dominican Republic, started playing hardball when he was 14, before that he played softball; they have a lot of Little League teams in DR; quite a few Major League players from DR, 15-20, and in the Minor Leagues, probably 50-100 baseball players from DR (00:01:27 to 00:02:46) Track 3 - Language was his biggest problem, before he came to the U.S. he didn't speak any English, now he speaks some, but not much; in 1956, he went into a restaurant asking for Coke and they brought coffee and when he asked for coffee, he got a Coke; but it is better now (00:02:46 to 00:03:27.5) Track 4 - On his family living in DR, wife and four children; brothers, and his mother and father still living; he goes back there in the off-season, it's too cold in the U.S. during the winter; 20 below zero here is 85-90 degrees in DR; he's OK in the summers in the hot weather; not sure if any of his children will play baseball; they came up and saw him play in the U.S.; they went and played in a special kids' room at the stadium when he played; the oldest one, Chi Chi, recognizes him when he plays on television (00:03:27.5 to 00:05:41) Track 5 - On traveling being the worst part of the baseball life, having to fly all the time and he doesn't like to fly too much (00:05:41 to 00:06:11) Track 6 - On wanting to do his best, doesn't care about records, but he'll take them if he has a good year; on wanting to be a good hitter and a good second baseman (00:06:11 to 00:07:06) Track 7 - On playing winter ball in DR during the off-season; playing about 65 games over three months; he also goes hunting and fishing in the north part of the island; he has a friend with a boat, but doesn't like to go far out into the ocean, likes to stay within swimming distance of shore (00:07:06 to 00:08:31) Track 8 - On possibly working as a scout in DR after he retires, or starting a business there (00:08:31 to 00:09:08) Track 9 - On political unrest having no real impact on his family or on other DR players in the Major Leagues; staying away from politics; they try to help children, show them how to play, but don't get involved in politics; ballplayers should stick to being ballplayers and let the other guy take care of politics (tape runs out) (00:09:08 to 00:10:39)

Object numberBL-2001-00092-010

Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)

Attributes

Classificationsaudio/visual materials

Library Call NumberRR 383

Collection NumberBA RMA 003 St. Louis Cardinals oral history collection

Dimensions00:10:39|1 of 1

Copyrighthttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

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