FanNation | The 10 Spot | Person of the Month: Claybon Council

27 days ago

Claybon Council, a coach for the Cary American Legion team in Cary, N.C., served as the pitcher for Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. As our Person of the Month, Council, 71, gets the final word in our final post.

So how does it feel to become a celebrity at the age of 71?
Some old ball players that I coached, 20, 30 years ago, are calling me from all over the state and sending congratulation notes through the mail. Like I told Josh, he made something out of me for a week. I'm a celebrity this week, but he'll go on to stardom and I'll be history in a few more days.

How did you end up on the Yankee Stadium mound?
I've been throwing to Josh since he was about 14. I hoped to coach him one day in my American Legion team, but the year he was going to play American Legion they re-zoned where we draw players from. But we continued to hit during the summer and the fall, and he hit me so well that one day I made the remark, "Man, you blasted me. If I ever get to the Home Run Derby you better let me throw." That's how we'd leave the ballpark. He'd say, "If I get there, you gonna be my BP pitcher." It started as idle conversation between a teenager and a coach. I never would hold him to it. Then I saw him in spring training in Phoenix this year. He was having such a good spring and he said, "If this continues and I make the All-Star team I'm going to hold you to your promise." I told him if you make it, I'll be there. When he called me I said, "Well, you better get it cleared with the Rangers and Major League Baseball. I'm 71 years old, I may be a liability out there. I may have a heart attack or a stroke or a panic attack." He said, "Man, they said I could get who I wanted." So I said I'd do it.

Were you nervous?
I was a little bit out of my comfort zone, I'm used to being home. Not Yankee Stadium. But I was not nervous.

Why don't you think you were nervous?
I'll tell you, me and Josh serve the same God. He has enough love and mercy for the both of us. We prayed a lot. I was not nervous, believe it or not. I was calm. He just put on a show and I just got caught up in the atmosphere there in Yankee Stadium. It was just amazing. I said, "Man, I'm just glad to be a part of this.

So you walk onto the mound and you're about to pitch at Yankee Stadium. What's going through you mind on that first pitch?
I couldn't believe it. I said, "Josh, don't pinch me or anything, I might wake up. I'm in baseball heaven." The key was throwing that first pitch. I said "Josh, I'm going to try to throw strikes but I just might throw it in your direction." The first pitch or two was right down the middle and he hit it. I said, "Man, he's in a groove.

Was your arm okay afterward?
We've been playing since May. We have four games a week, so I throw 300-400 balls four or five times a week. What I threw at Yankee Stadium wasn't any strain at all on the arm. The atmosphere there was just different than at the Legion game when there are only 200-300 people. Sheesh, you got 50,000-something thousand, and Reggie Jackson.

Which big leaguers came over to say hello?
Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, they all come up. They said, "You the old man I've been reading about? You gonna pitch to Hamilton?" I said, "Yeah, how you doing?" They said hang in there, do a good job and gave me five. Manny Ramirez is a really popular guy in the clubhouse. He's a hugging guy and hands on. It was all just great. Right beside me was J.D. Drew. I shared a locker with Hamilton, and J.D. had the next locker. He said, "We're gonna get along great. We talk just alike." "Old country boys," I said, "Yeah, I can understand you." J.D. was a super guy, all of them were. They all came up to me and wished me well.

Did you stay for the All-Star game?
Yes, sir. I sat behind first base and had good seats.The All-Star was over 1:50, 1:45 a.m. I stayed for the whole thing and it kept me up all night. Old man staying up past his bed time! But I had to stay.

Tell us about your family?
I've got two daughters and one son. My son was there and one daughter was there with her three grandchildren. I have another daughter, but she wasn't able to make it. I have six grandkids in total and a great-granddaughter. I'm a great-grandpa. I'm old!

Are you retired?
I retired two years ago, I worked till 69. Can you imagine working until 69? I worked at Eastern Airlines for 30 years but they went bankrupt. Then I went with the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority for 15 more. I was a customer service rep, just handling information in the lobby.

Why do you love baseball so much?
It's just a challenge. I tell you, I started playing at a young age. It's in my blood, I'm a fanatic. Some people like golf or racing or fishing or whatever. I'm addicted to baseball. I love the game, love the challenge. Love to work with the boys. You get your reward when you see guys like Hamilton make it. You say, "Maybe I was a small part of that.

How often will you talk to Josh throughout the year?
We don't call daily, but we'll stay in touch. I keep up with him in the paper and on the TV. I'll see him in the winter; maybe throw some to him in the batting cage. He's quite a guy.

Let's say Josh enters the Home Run Derby next year, would you pitch again?
In a minute, I want to live this again.

Did you get to keep your jersey?
Yeah, I got the jersey and the cap for sure!

So have you become a role model for the seventy-something set?
Oh, yeah. I go out to the local McDonald's and the Bojangles' and eating places. When we were in the playoffs in the ballpark, people who were really into baseball said, "I saw that guy on TV, and they were pointing fingers. Even the teams we were playing invited me over to their dugout to take pictures with their players. I'm a big celebrity. I'm hot right now. Another few days, I'll be history.

You're 71 years old and still humming the ball. Any secrets to a long and healthy life for the rest of us?
Good, clean living. Don't drink, don't smoke, don't run around with loose women. That's what I told my doctor. I said, "You reckon I live to 100?" He said, "You don't do any of that, so why do you want to live to 100?"

Comments (322)

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I hope I'm still humming the ball when I hit 71... skiing, sky diving and all the other fun things that make life enjoyable

Skooter23g | 07/25/08, 05:53 PM

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