Get to know your baseball legends. An exclusive interview with CJ Nitkowski.

This is the first in a series, that we will be starting, called Get to know your Baseball Legends...


Baseball great, CJ Nitkowski, formerly of the Mets, Yankees, Tigers, Astros, Braves, Nationals, Reds, and Pirates gives RDAAM an exclusive interview. The former 9th pick overall in the 1994 draft, CJ now plays for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Japanese Pacific League. CJ shares some insight on topics such as Baseball, Life in Japan, Steroids, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, and, of course, Super Joe McEwing...


RDAAM: CJ, how is life in Japan? Our readers are curious as to how baseball differs in Japan than in the states? What are the fans like?

CJ: Baseball in Japan is very interesting. It is a lot of fun. The fans here are real fanatics. They (love) baseball and they love their teams. The stadium is always loud, regardless of score. They never give up. There is a real sense of pride with these fans. The players here generally don't have the power the guys in the States have. So you see less homeruns and not nearly as many power pitchers, although there are a few. Because of that you see more contact and more players that can run well.

RDAAM: Is the language barrier problematic for you? Have you picked up Japanese? How does this affect your communication with your Hawks teammates?

CJ: I have picked up some Japanese. We have 4 translators here so that makes life easier but at times it can be a little of a challenge.

RDAAM: What would you say was the highlight of your major league career?

CJ: I don't have one great moment to look back on and say that was the best game of my life. Getting drafted in the first round was pretty cool, my first win in 1995 was a cool experience, as was pitching the final night game and winning it at Old Tiger Stadium. Take the field as a Yankee which was a life long dream of mine was pretty unforgettable as well.

RDAAM: You've stated on SNY that, had it been available to you, you would have taken steroids. Knowing all the risks involved, how do you explain this?

CJ: It was available to me. What I said was ultimately I chose not to because I was concerned about the legal problems I could get into. The risks for the steroid I was considering were not high if not abused, it wasn't a big concern for me.

RDAAM: If found guilty, do you believe Roger Clemens deserves to be in the Hall of Fame? Do you believe Barry Bonds' HR records should stand?

CJ: Good questions. I believe that with anyone who has cheated, Pete Rose included, that they should go into the Hall of Fame because of their accomplishments but everything should be included. It should (be) next to Pete Rose's plaque that he bet on baseball, and for Roger and Bonds and anyone else that gets caught doing anything it should all be there.

RDAAM: You've played with and against some great players in your time, would you please share with us your feelings on them and if they deserve to be in the Hall of Fame in your opinion:
Mike Piazza - great player, fun guy.

Derek Jeter - amazing leader, a player's player.

Mark McGwire - only saw him as an opponent, power that intimidated.

John Franco - Good St. John's guy, fun to play with, great career.

Super Joe McEwing - tremendous teammate, loved to play, one of the most intense I ever shared a uniform with. (editor's note: we'll take that as another endorsement for Super Joe.)

Jeff Bagwell - great person, very generous and kind teammate. Has a lot to offer to younger players.

stay tuned for more baseball legends...