Questions for Steve Zabriskie

[Benjamin Grimm]

cooby wrote: Was that really him? (Steve Zabriskie)

Yes.

[Guest cooby]

Steve Z wrote: I noticed the post but have been unable to access the link. I wasn't me and I'm still interested in setting up a date and time for an interview. Sorry I have been so busy. Perhaps next Wednesday night, the 14th, around 8 would work. At least that seems good right now. Please let me know. I'm curious to know what 'the imposter' wrote. Steve Z

I am writing this on my calander; I hope he can show up!

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Crane Pool Forum is most happy to announce that Wednesday evening, December 14, at 8:00 PM, Steve Zabriskie will be fielding your questions. Mr Zabriskie was a Mets broadcaster from 1983 to 1989, working with the team during perhaps their most sustained and storied period of excellence. After his tenure with the Mets, he went on to work with ESPN on college basketball broadcasts, and continued to do baseball with The Baseball Network and the Boston Red Sox. He retired in 1997 after 32 years in sports broadcasting.

Mr. Zabriskie says you can feel free to drop your questions in this thread and he will try to get to what he can. Please make our guest feel welcome and understand that he won't be able to get to every question. After answering the questions in the thread, he has agreed to do some followup questions. We'll see how it goes.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Here's one. The Ultimate Mets Database includes profiles for broadcasters like those for the players. But the proiles for the broadcasters lack the biographical data that is more readily available for the players. So fill us in:

Steve Zabriskie

Birthdate: ?
Birthplace: ?
Throws: ?
Bats: ?
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 220 lbs.

(These last numbers offered by a classmate of yours at the UMDB.)

[Guest silverdsl]

I have a question - Mr. Zabriskie, as a broadcaster have you ever been confronted by a player or manager who took offense to something you said during a broadcast and how did you handle that?

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions here!

[seawolf17]

Steve- Thanks for taking the time to visit with us. A few questions from me:

(1) You mentioned on your UMDB post that your broadcast career ended in 1997. Do you still watch televised sports? Is there a broadcaster that you particularly enjoy? Any you particularly dislike? (Not necessarily personally, just style.)

(2) With all the innovations in broadcast technology (i.e., instant replay, expanded graphical packages, laser strike zones), is there anything you wish you had at your disposal when you were in the booth?

[Zvon]

another wowzers.
This boards goin big league.

*Z checks his schedule....crosses off 'see KING KONG'.

[MFS62]

Steve- was there any broadcaster who helped you fine tune your skills when you were first getting started?
If they didn't work directly with you, was (were) there any who you tried to pattern yourself after?

Later

[Willets Point]

Can we ask him some of the questions from the Answer/Ask thread?

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

What are the opportunities that the new Mets network affords the team? What are the potential pitfalls?

[Guest vtmet]

That's pretty cool that Steve Z. both responded at great length in his profile at umdb and is also coming here to answer questions tonight...I thought it was funny his comment about having the perfect face for radio, yet being able to spend 30 years on tv...I always thought that Steve had a great announcer voice, but had that "deer trapped in headlight" nervous panic when the camera was turned on him...and after he was no longer on WOR Mets broadcasts, there were several times that I heard Gary Thorne and thought for sure that it was actually Steve Z....Don't know if Thorne purposely emulated Steve, or just was a coincidence that his voice and the way that he talked resembled him...one thing that I liked about Steve was that he was a humble announcer, unlike some of the self promoting announcers that populate sports nowadays...

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

vt- you're welcome to hang out here tonight, but just know that Steve Z is coming to chat with us tomorrow (Wednesday) night.

[Guest vtmet]

I can read honestly I can...my bad, I swear that the email said today's date (just checked it again, it's right, I was wrong)...thanks for straightening me out on that one...I tend to be pretty bad at keeping track of dates...once showed up for an Alice Cooper concert a week ahead of time, at least I had the right night of the week...

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

You shoulda just told people you were prepared for the greatest tailgate party of all time

[Guest Edgy DC]

]once showed up for an Alice Cooper concert a week ahead of time, at least I had the right night of the week...

I showed up for a show (Jayhawks/Thorns) on the wrong night, and called Johnny on his cellie. He was at another show laughing up his sleeve at me.

[Guest vtmet]

ScarletKnight41 wrote: You shoulda just told people you were prepared for the greatest tailgate party of all time

One nice thing about it...there were a couple of female fans that we're just as bad at checking a calendar as I was, heading up to the Mid Hudson Civic Center as I was figuring out that I had the wrong week....

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

LOL

[Theoldmole]

We had a concert here at Opus 40 with Dave and Don Grusin on a Saturday evening. A family showed up Sunday evening, just as we were closing our regular open hours, for the concert. They were -- of course -- disappointed. They asked if they could stay and have the picnic they had brought with them, and we said yes.
Then we set a couple of speakers outside the back door, and put on a CD of the Grusin Plays Gershwin album. It wasn't the same...but still a memorable experience for them.

[Guest cleonjones11]

Any thoughts on how or why Howard Johnsons' skills diminished so quickly?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I just heard from Steve Z. Things look to be on schedule.

A new question: My friend has several tapes of past games from a series that were issued. Included in the montage opening of each of these games is a clip of Ralph Kiner trying to wrap up a game summary, and unable to construct the sentence for the life of him. Something like, "That was Orosco's ninth consecutive save --- all of which have come in save situations in which the game was available to be saved."

They embellish the video by having question marks pop up around your puzzled face. Do you recall this moment? Do you get any money for the re-production of such clips? (I guess no.) Most importantly, is it stressful working with a veteran announcer as he stumbles like that?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Hi, Steve, and thanks for joining us.

I've noticed in the national telecasts that former athletes never seem to be permitted to do the play-by-play, they only do "color." I know that on Mets broadcasts, however, former players like Kiner and McCarver often did play-by-play. One thing I don't remember though, is if you ever did color while Tim or Ralph did play-by-play.

What do you think of that division between color and play-by-play based on the announcer's prior background? Did you find one role more challenging, or more enjoyable, than the other?

[Centerfield]

Hi Steve, when doing play by play? Do you watch the monitor for pitch location/selection?

How about on potential Home Runs? Do you know by the way it leaves the bat or do you watch the outfielder?

[Valadius]

Steve Z -

What suggestions or tips do you have for people interested in a broadcasting career?

[Guest Edgy DC]

This is what we've got so far in this thread, all summed up in one post here.

---

Willets Point asks:

Not so much a question but just a general impression of what it was like to work with Ralph Kiner and Tim McCarver. Any particular memories, funny stories?

---

Johnny Dickshot asks:

1) It's hard to think of the 1986 Mets now without also knowing the sad way that team would fall apart in the years that followed. With the benefit of hindsight, how much of the those troubles were forseeable?

2) Gary Carter: Insensere ham he was he was often criticized for being or the genuine article?

3) The best story nobody remembers about those mid-80s Mets teams was ___________________ .

4) Was Davey Johnson a good manager? Why or why not?

5) Whom do you recall as the best interviewees from the Mets teams you covered and why?

6) You, along with Tim McCarver, joined the Met broadcasting team in 1983 and in retrospect that was among the first signs of a commitment to excellence that Met fans hadn't seen in years. What do you recall about the circumstances of your arrival here, and did you have a sense you were about to play a role in something that was special? Had you not accepted the Met job, do you know who might have been named?

7) Of your colleagues in the Met booth, with whom did you enjoy working with most and why?

8) The Ultimate Mets Database is missing your birthdate, place of birth, height, weight and handedness. Please provide. (The editor adds here that some classmate of Steve’s listed his football playing size at 6’2” and 220. Yowza.)

9) How would you describe the Met organization in terms of its involvement with the content or presentation of their broadcasters? How might have it compared to other teams you have been employed by? Tell the truth -- did you or your colleagues ever get under the collar of Frank Cashen, Davey Johnson or another Met official? What were the circumstances?

---

Yancy Street Gang asks:

When you and Tim joined the broadcast team in 1983, you brought a new style to the telecasts. Ralph did eventually get with the program, but can you comment on how easily he made the adjustment? Did he have any initial difficulties at first?

---

silverdsl asks

I have a question — Mr. Zabriskie, as a broadcaster have you ever been confronted by a player or manager who took offense to something you said during a broadcast and how did you handle that?

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions here!

---

seawolf17 asks

Steve- Thanks for taking the time to visit with us. A few questions from me:

(1) You mentioned on your UMDB post that your broadcast career ended in 1997. Do you still watch televised sports? Is there a broadcaster that you particularly enjoy? Any you particularly dislike? (Not necessarily personally, just style.)

(2) With all the innovations in broadcast technology (i.e., instant replay, expanded graphical packages, laser strike zones), is there anything you wish you had at your disposal when you were in the booth?

---

MFS62 asks:

1) Steve- was there any broadcaster who helped you fine tune your skills when you were first getting started?

2) If they didn't work directly with you, was (were) there any who you tried to pattern yourself after?

---

ScarletKnight41 asks:
What are the opportunities that the new Mets network affords the team? What are the potential pitfalls?

---

Edgy DC asks:

My friend has several tapes of past games from a series that were issued. Included in the montage opening of each of these games is a clip of Ralph Kiner trying to wrap up a game summary, and unable to construct the sentence for the life of him. Something like, "That was Orosco's ninth consecutive save — all of which have come in save situations in which the game was available to be saved."

They embellish the video by having question marks pop up around your puzzled face. Do you recall this moment? Do you get any money for the re-production of such clips? (I guess no.) Most importantly, is it stressful working with a veteran announcer as he stumbles like that?

---

Yancy Street Gang asks:

Hi, Steve, and thanks for joining us.

I've noticed in the national telecasts that former athletes never seem to be permitted to do the play-by-play, they only do "color." I know that on Mets broadcasts, however, former players like Kiner and McCarver often did play-by-play. One thing I don't remember though, is if you ever did color while Tim or Ralph did play-by-play.

What do you think of that division between color and play-by-play based on the announcer's prior background? Did you find one role more challenging, or more enjoyable, than the other?

---

Centerfield asks:

Hi Steve, when doing play by play? Do you watch the monitor for pitch location/selection?

How about on potential Home Runs? Do you know by the way it leaves the bat or do you watch the outfielder?

---

Valadius asks:

What suggestions or tips do you have for people interested in a broadcasting career?

---

Edgy DC asks:

Steve, a lot of long-term announcers in New York — yourself, Tim McCarver, Bob Murphy, and Red Barber, for instance — had roots in the American south or southwest. Many have even changed New York culture by filling the airwaves with expressions and mannerisms from their home region, while others, like Mr. Murphy, largely shed their home accents. Was this anything you were conscious of? Was New York a culture shock for you?

[Guest Steve Z]

Willets Point asks:

Not so much a question but just a general impression of what it was like to work with Ralph Kiner and Tim McCarver. Any particular memories, funny stories?

It was wonderful! There are so many memories that I'd take all night recalling them. Although we are all three very different, we got along and enjoyed each other's company both at and away from the ballpark. We dined together at many great spots around the country, traveled together, Tim and I used to power walk for exercise, and we all enjoyed a broad sense of humor. Those years produced some of the fondest memories of my career.




Johnny Dickshot asks:

1) It's hard to think of the 1986 Mets now without also knowing the sad way that team would fall apart in the years that followed. With the benefit of hindsight, how much of the those troubles were forseeable?

I feel the decline really began with the departure of Ray Knight and Kevin Mitchell. They were both strong, respected leaders, both in the clubhouse and the dugout. Letting Wally Bachman and Lenny Dykstra go was another part of the beginning of the end.




2) Gary Carter: Insensere ham he was he was often criticized for being or the genuine article?

Like most of us, Gary is more than one person. By that I mean that we all show differen sides of ourselves depending on the group or situation. 'Kid' is far more of the genuine article than he is insensere. His personality and approach was to be accessable and friendly. His critics were most often players who did not want to be as open with the media and may have felt that he made them look bad. Gary was a gamer. I saw him get taped from his toes to his groin every day and then go out and give all he had playing the toughest position in the game and preforming at the highest level.




3) The best story nobody remembers about those mid-80s Mets teams was ___________________ .

A story I will never tell.




4) Was Davey Johnson a good manager? Why or why not?

I think Davey was an excellent manager because he respected the players and thereby earned their respect. He managed as he played....going for it. He was always looking for a way to win every game and, most of the time, he found it.



5) Whom do you recall as the best interviewees from the Mets teams you covered and why?

Roger McDowell and Wally Bachman were perhaps the best interviewees because they, usually, didn't take things or themselves too seriously and would almost always tell you what they really thought about a subject.



6) You, along with Tim McCarver, joined the Met broadcasting team in 1983 and in retrospect that was among the first signs of a commitment to excellence that Met fans hadn't seen in years. What do you recall about the circumstances of your arrival here, and did you have a sense you were about to play a role in something that was special? Had you not accepted the Met job, do you know who might have been named?

The Mets did say during the course of my interviews with them that they were committed to turning the club around and I'm sure that's one reason they also made changes in both booths. I had actually almost decided to accept an offer from Houston but, on Christmas Eve, the Mets called and said they had hired Tim and, since he and I knew each other, that sealed the deal as far as I was concerned. I have no idea who they would have hired if I had not taken the job.



7) Of your colleagues in the Met booth, with whom did you enjoy working with most and why?

I had a great time with everyone, Ralph, Tim, Rusty, Gary, and Fran, although I think I only worked with Fran once. Perhaps because Tim and I came to the club together and we already knew each other, I had the closest working relationship with him. (When I was doing the back-up Monday Night Baseball games with Bob Uecker, I actually worked with Timmy on his audition broadcast for ABC in 1980.) Ralph was always great to be around.....Gary and I became good friends.....and Rusty has always been one of my very favorite people, even though he's been in love witgh my wife for about 25 years!



8) The Ultimate Mets Database is missing your birthdate, place of birth, height, weight and handedness. Please provide. (The editor adds here that some classmate of Steve’s listed his football playing size at 6’2” and 220. Yowza.)

Do you want my baseball playing weight? (I hope I don't have to list my current poundage!)

DOB: May 13, 1947

Place: Palo Alto, California

Throwa Right - Bats Rght

When I played, I was actually 6'3" and weighed 235.



9) How would you describe the Met organization in terms of its involvement with the content or presentation of their broadcasters? How might have it compared to other teams you have been employed by? Tell the truth -- did you or your colleagues ever get under the collar of Frank Cashen, Davey Johnson or another Met official? What were the circumstances?

The truth is that the Mets never said anything to me about anything that was said on the air that might have been critical of the team. I came to the club from the network where you must be objective and I think brought that approach to my job.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Thanks Mr. Zabriskie, and welcome from all of us. Some great answers already. Especially...

]3) The best story nobody remembers about those mid-80s Mets teams was ___________________ . A story I will never tell.

I just spit up my tea laughing.

Maybe, if you have time before you go, we can amend that question to read: The best story nobody remembers about those mid-80s Mets teams which you can tell was ___________________ .

Please continue.

[metirish]

Thanks for answering the questions, that was great Steve.

[Guest Mark Healey]

Edgy DC wrote: I just heard from Steve Z. Things look to be on schedule. A new question: My friend has several tapes of past games from a series that were issued. Included in the montage opening of each of these games is a clip of Ralph Kiner trying to wrap up a game summary, and unable to construct the sentence for the life of him. Something like, "That was Orosco's ninth consecutive save --- all of which have come in save situations in which the game was available to be saved." They embellish the video by having question marks pop up around your puzzled face. Do you recall this moment? Do you get any money for the re-production of such clips? (I guess no.) Most importantly, is it stressful working with a veteran announcer as he stumbles like that?

Silly question...is there a chat room?

Anyway...

Steve, there's been a lot of talk the past few years that Mets managment would -- from time to time -- try to get the broadcasters to "take it easy on the team", did you ever experience this and is it a valid criticism?

[Lundy]

[Guest KC]

Hey #9, see item #9 above.