MLB WORLD SERIES: YANKEES v BRAVES

October 26, 1999

Chad Curtis

CHAD CURTIS: Definitely was a tough year for me. There were times when I was hoping to get a little bit more playing time than I got. I said it a couple times already, last year I played almost every game during the regular season and never got to step on the field for the World Series. During the off season, I had told several people, I said if it was reverse next year where I didn't play much during the regular season but got a chance to play and contribute in the World Series, I would make that trade, and I guess that's kind of happened.

CHAD CURTIS: I knew it pretty quick. Both home runs I hit, I was going up there and trying to gear myself back a little bit. I have a tendency to get too hyped up and try to do too much. Both of those at-bats I went up there, said I'm going to try to hit it. With Glavine I was trying to drive a ball through the right side. Last one I was trying to hit a ball back through the middle, get on base. I think when you take that approach you leave yourself in a better position to hit a mistake. That's what happened.

CHAD CURTIS: It's not a personal thing with me and Jim Gray. It's a thing that the team decided what -- I saw the whole interview with Pete, and to me, I don't know what Pete did, I don't know what Pete's -- whether he should be in the Hall of Fame or shouldn't be, all I know was that was a special day for Pete and some other people. He probably should have been able to just have an enjoyment of that celebration and not have to answer questions about other things, and it just really upset some people. So as a team we decided to, you know, boycott talking to him on the field. And, like I said, it's not a personal thing against him, it's just something we decided as a team to do. If my teammates decide that, I'm going to honor it.

CHAD CURTIS: I don't remember. (Laughter.) It was special, you know, I don't think -- in fact, I know I've never hit one in the regular season. I've never hit a walk-off home run. And I've heard people talk about tingling, I've never felt that before. I think somewhere between second and third I felt like there was electricity running through my legs. It was a great feeling. You're rounding third base coming home, seeing all your teammates there waiting for you in a World Series game, it was a big thrill.

CHAD CURTIS: I was very disappointed. I was really fired up to play in Game 1, and, you know, I showed up to the ballpark, I didn't know about it. In fact, I had been there probably a half hour and somebody said I want to watch some video, he said Glavine's not pitching don't you. I said what? He was joking I thought. You called it fate. Everyone who knows me knows I'm a person that has faith in God. I know at times we think we have a pretty good plan but I'm one that believes God has a better plan for me than I have for myself, and that's -- I try to have faith in him as much as I can and just because I didn't play in Game 1 didn't mean I wasn't going to get to play.

CHAD CURTIS: No. I don't have so big an ego that I can't admit that other players are better than me. There's no doubt there are a lot of players that are better than me. Gerald had a good year this year, he played a lot more than I did. Tonight I was able to help my team win and that's what means something. Next year, I hope I have a good year. But whether there's a matchup, you know, if Ken Griffey Jr.'s on the other side, I got no chance. It's just the way it is.

CHAD CURTIS: It was very frustrating last year. I played 152 games. That's 162 and 152. I never stepped on field in the World Series. I wasn't pouting, we won the World Series. By the same token, I felt like I was more congratulating my teammates than celebrating with them. That was something I was a little uncomfortable with. During the off season, I really was trying to take the mindset I'm going to be ready, I'm going to be prepared and I'm going to be hopefully able to contribute this year. All through the year I didn't get as much playing time as I was hoping to get. All the time, I knew I talked to Jeff Mangold a lot, I was working out, trying to keep a focus saying, "I need to stay ready" not only for myself but the people who are employing me right now to sit on the bench, come off the bench and play every once in a while or be able to help. I worked very hard, tried to persevere. I think that has a lot to did with my faith. I believe God's gifted me with certain abilities that I need to use, whether it's in the limelight or whether it's as a secondary thing.

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