By Jesse Wood
Oct. 30, 2013. Gaylord Perry, one of Major League Baseball’s greatest players, “very much” enjoyed High Country Magazine‘s article in the October/November 2013 edition titled “The High Country’s Gaylord Perry: A Major League Baseball Immortal” that was written by Tim Gardner.
Also, Perry, who lives in Spruce Pine, said on Wednesday that he thinks the St. Louis Cardinals will beat the Boston Red Sox in this year’s World Series in seven games. Before the series began, he had the St. Louis Cardinals winning in seven, and he’s not changing his mind midstream. Although, he sees that Boston has the advantage, currently leading the series 3-2.
“Well, I thought St. Louis would do it. Home-field advantage is Boston, since they started there. Two more days left. I hope it goes two more days, I want to see some more baseball,” Perry said. “Cardinals are not hitting well, and Boston is out pitching them. I thought [the Cardinals] would do it. I still think it will. I guess we’ll find out tonight.”
Now as for Gardner’s piece, Perry said, “I finally got a young man to do a positive piece about anybody, and he did.”
Perry, who is well known for the infamous spitball, added that he sent the magazine to friends and colleagues “all over” the place, including to past teams he played for such as Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants.
Gardner said it was a pleasure to interview Perry and the two have since become friends.
“He is really down to earth,” Gardner said. “He’s an old country boy who grew up on the farm in the eastern part of the state. I asked him what’s the difference. He said, “Mainly no mountains down there like they are here.'”
With the 314 wins, 3,454 strikeouts, a career 3.11 ERA and a Hall of Fame induction, Gardner said that Perry’s best accomplishment was giving his parents half of his $90,000 signing bonus with the San Francisco Giants to relieve his parents of debt for the first time in their lives.
Pick up a copy of the magazine at a local business or drop by the High Country Press offices across from the old Watauga High School entrance or click here to read an online version of “The High Country’s Gaylord Perry: A Major League Baseball Immortal.”
By the way, the sixth game of the World Series between the Cardinals and Red Sox begins in Fenway Park at 8:07 p.m. (ET). Boston leads the series 3-2, and we’ll soon find out if Perry was right.
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