Darryl Strawberry ensured TCU’s AD was ‘on’ New York Yankees’ World Series team
Standing next to the greatest closer in the history of Major League Baseball, in a photo of one of the best baseball teams in the modern era, is a relief pitcher who shortly after this picture was taken left for Triple A.
The reason why current TCU director of athletics Mike Buddie is in the team picture of the 1998 World Series champion New York Yankees, next to Mariano Rivera, is because his teammate Darryl Strawberry told him to stick around a bit longer to be in the photograph.
“It was late August (in 1998) and (Yankees) manager Joe Torre told me that day I was going back to Triple A. I had been pitching well but a guy was coming off the disabled list,” said Buddie, who was a professional pitcher for 12 seasons, including two with the Yankees.
“My ego was bruised. I had to catch a flight at 7:30 that night, and I wanted to get out of there before everyone comes in. As I am leaving Yankee Stadium, Darryl Strawberry sees me and he says, ‘You did great. You’re going to be back here soon. The team picture is today, do you want me to ask Joe for you to be in it? This is a team photo you are going to want to be a part of.’”
Buddie asked Torre himself if he could be in the photo of a team that he pitched 24 games for, including two starts. Torre encouraged him to do it. In a photo that includes Derek Jeter, Tino Martinez, Paul O’ Neill, Andy Pettite, Bernie Williams, David Wells, and Jorge Posada is TCU’s newest athletic director.
“I thank God I asked Joe to do it,” he said in an interview at his TCU office. “Any sports memorabilia store I go to in America normally has that team photo, and I’m in it.”
Buddie’s time in the Major Leagues is much closer to the norm of those who actually reach the pros. Making it is the achievement, sprinkled with moments that are special to the person, and their families, rather than fans.
“No five-year contracts for me,” he said.
From 1998 to 2002, Buddie pitched two seasons with the Yankees, and three with the Brewers. With the Texas Rangers set to host the Yankees at Globe Life Mall starting Aug. 4 for a three game series, Buddie discussed his career, and specifically how well he knows the specifics of his time as a big leaguer.
How many seasons did you play in the minor leagues?
All of them; 12.
Do you know your big league debut?
It was in Seattle and I know I gave up four runs. I faced (DH) Edgar Martinez to start. Walked him on four pitches, and the first three were right down the middle. (Catcher Joe Girardi) came out to the mound to tell me, ‘’(The umpire) is messing with you. He wants to see if you’ll throw a tantrum. So don’t throw a tantrum.’ It was better than Edgar doubling off the wall.
That was April 6, 1998
That I didn’t know. The story behind that is I traveled with the Yankees from the spring training facility in Tampa to San Diego for an exhibition series. Torre told me I wasn’t going to be with the big league club to start, so I went back to Tampa, and then my wife and I drove to Columbus, Ohio for the start of the minor league season.
We broke up the trip on the way and stopped at her parent’s house in North Carolina half way through. The next morning my father-in-law knocks on my door telling me that the Yankees are on the phone. It was GM (Brian) Cashman telling me I had to get to Seattle.
My wife asked me if she should go, and my first thought was, ‘That ticket is going to cost $400.’
So in six days I went from Tampa to California, back to Tampa, to North Carolina, to Seattle. I arrived at the Kingdome in the fifth inning. We were down 4-0, and I didn’t think I would pitch that night. They put me in the game because Torre likes to get those out of the way.
First strikeout?
I want to say (infielder) Joey Cora. I threw him a backdoor slider.
Last out of your first inning?
It wasn’t Ken Griffey Jr., was it? Was it A-Rod?
It was indeed Alex Rodriguez, fly ball.
I was so mad I had given up four runs and I just wanted to get off the mound.
First home run allowed?
Was it Dan Wilson? David Sequi?
It was Russ Davis.
Russ Davis? My God, what a bad first home run. It wasn’t to A-Rod or Junior, or Jay Buhner, but Russell Freakin’ Davis.
First big league win?
Opening Day, 1998, Yankee Stadium against the Athletics. We won 17-13. Pitcher’s duel.
Did you get a World Series ring?
Yes. They shipped it to my house in Columbus (Triple A) the next season.
Do you still have it, or sell it on E-Bay?
I still have it. There were times I may have been getting close to selling it (he’s kidding). When I was getting minor league’s workers’ comp because I was coming off Tommy John surgery, times were lean.
That 1998 team was loaded with names; did you ever feel a part of it?
It was tough because every time I was called up I was there to fill in for somebody who was injured. I was a plug.
There was a game when I felt like I was a key component. It was in Toronto, and we were rolling in the second half of the season. Andy Pettitte was trying to get 20 wins. Roger Clemens was pitching for Toronto and he drilled Jeter.
I got up to warm up and (Yankees reliever) Graeme Lloyd told me, ‘You know it’s 1-0, right?’ I knew what he meant. I get in the game, and I am facing (Toronto’s) Tony Phillips in the seventh inning. I am trying to hit him, and my first pitch misses. The second one I hit him in the butt.
We get out of the inning, and he starts chirping at me but I didn’t know it until (first baseman) Tino Martinez yells at him. I sit on the bench in the dugout, and Pettitte is three seats over. Jeter comes up to me and says, ‘I appreciate you having my back,’ which was a shot at Pettitte.
All I had to do was hit some guy to feel like a part of the team.
Did you ever get to spend time with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner?
He was great to me. He knew I was from Cleveland, where he was from. He’d walk by in camp and say, ‘How is my Cleveland guy?’ He had no expectations of me and he was always pleasant.
When you pitched for the Brewers, did you get to spend time with Bob Uecker?
Yes, but there isn’t much I can share that hasn’t already been said or written. He would curse non-stop. He was very kind to me. When were not very good when I was with the team, so every time we stopped in a new city, he’s the person people would chase down. He clearly enjoyed it. He was the show.
How did the teams tell you that you were being released?
The clubhouse guy does it. He says, ‘Skip needs to see you,’ and you know when these things are coming.
When your career ended, did you miss it?
I missed trying to get guys out. I missed playing cards in the clubhouse during a rain delay. I did not miss the politics of it at all.
Time to discuss your batting career; how many at bats did you get?
Eight.
Six. How many strikeouts?
Four.
How many hits?
One.
The pitcher?
Bronson Arroyo, and he was with Pittsburgh. Line drive up the middle. I led off the inning and I’m on 1st with nobody out. Orroyo throws over to pick me off and the first baseman had no expectation it was coming so it rolls through and I go to second.
Next guy makes an out. I’ve said, ‘I’ve spent the whole inning on second base,’ and then (Brewers first baseman) Richie Sexson hits a bomb. I got to jog around third and score. Next spring training, Richie commended me because he ended up with 100 RBI on the nose. I was one of the 100.
Best batter you faced?
Tony Gwynn. He had never seen me before, which is a huge advantage. He took the first pitch just to see my release point. The next pitch is a back door breaking ball and he’s down 0-2. I think I’m in control because he hasn’t seen my sinker yet. The next two pitches, 99 percent of the guys swing and miss. He spits at both of them.
He gets me at 3-2, and I realize I am not in control. At no point was he tempted to swing at anything that was not a strike. He doubled down the line.
Player that left you in awe?
Gary Sheffield. Only guy I faced who swung so hard it scared me.
It was in Phoenix at our major league complex and Henry Blanco was our catcher. He called a slider away and Sheffield swung through it and when Henry threw the ball back and I was still shaking. If Gary had made contact with that ball, where it was located, if he barreled it, it was coming straight back at me and I would have been dead.
Henry called the same pitch away and I shook him off until he called sinkers inside. I thought, ‘I will throw this and he can kill my third baseman but he’s not killing me.’
Highpoint for your career?
Getting the win on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium in 1998. It was chilly but pleasant; 56,000 people there. I got a win two days later and Joe Torre called me his good luck charm.
What did you learn from Torre, or anyone, in your career that you apply now?
The way Joe conveyed expectations I try to emulate. Pro baseball is a game of, ‘Let’s keep his confidence up when we send him to Triple A.’ I loved it when I got to the point where they treated me like a grownup, and Joe did that. I appreciated the honesty.
I’ve done that in my career with coaches; ‘Listen, we are investing heavily in this program and we keep finishing fourth. How do I help you get over that hump because we have to get over that soon or this isn’t going to end well.’ Coaches, I like to believe, clearly understand what they need to do to stay.
Last big league appearance?
May 26, 2002 at San Diego. We had the day off the next day, and we stayed in San Diego. Myself and some teammates went jet skiing in La Jolla. I got back to the hotel and the light was flashing on the hotel phone. I called and they said you’re going back to Triple A.
I went to (AAA) Indianapolis, and during a pitch the ball went half way to home plate. I thought, ‘That’s weird.’ The next pitch the same thing happened. I had to have Tommy John surgery. I was a really good minor league pitcher, and that got me a cup of coffee in the majors.
This story was originally published August 3, 2025 at 3:45 AM.
