Astros Legends Series: Jim Pankovits

TL;DR

Jim Pankovits, a former Houston Astros player, reflects on his career and experiences in baseball, including his rookie call-up and memorable moments from the 1986 season.

Key points

Jim Pankovits played 316 games for the Houston Astros.
He was the oldest rookie in 1984 at age 28.
Pankovits got a single in his first at-bat against Rod Scurry.
He hit his first career home run off John Franco.
The 1986 Astros team had strong chemistry and performance.

Houston AstrosJim PankovitsNolan RyanMike Scott

KISSIMMEE, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Jim Pankovits of the Houston Astros poses for a portrait during photo day at Osceola County Stadium on February 25, 2005 in Kissimmee, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images Our 11th installment of the continuing Legends Series features a conversation with baseball lifer, Jim Pankovits. During his career with the Astros, he played 316 games at a variety of positions. **Q: You were a 28-year-old rookie when you finally got the call in May of 1984 to join the club. What do you remember about that day?** *A: I was the oldest rookie that year. I was actually finishing up a series in Vegas and had flown to Honolulu to play the Hawaii club. When I landed, they informed me they were calling me up, so I turned around and got on another flight to go back to the mainland and didn’t get into Houston until about 1030 that morning. I was afraid to even take a nap because I didn’t want to oversleep on my call up date, so I went to the ballpark and got my uniform. The next day I got in as a pinch hitter.* **Q: That first at bat you got a single. What do you remember about that?** *A: Rod Scurry was one of the better closers at that time with the Pirates. He had a real hard slider that he threw with a lot of depth. I battled him on a 3-2 count and got a single and got on base. That at bat set the tone and gave me a lot of confidence that I belonged up there and could play with just about anyone. Getting off to a good start on your first opportunity is really key.* **Q: Later that season you’d hit your first career HR off of John Franco. Do you remember what pitch he threw you?** *A: It had to have been a fastball, because that’s all I could hit (laughs). The count went deep, it was a three run shot and he was closing for Cincinnati. I hit it good.* **Q: The 1986 squad. How special was that group?** *A: That was a fun year. Everyone was at their peak. Nolan Ryan had a really good year as he often did, and Mike Scott was simply unhittable. Everyone got along. There were no hidden agendas, everyone pulled together. The icing on the cake was Mike’s no hitter against the Giants.* **Q: The mindset of a pinch hitter and staying prepared. How challenging is that?** *A: It’s the toughest thing to do in the game, especially when you’re playing sparingly. My approach at the plate was to be aggressive and often I’d be swinging on the first pitch if it was something I could handle.* **Q: Did you know after your career that you’d get into coaching?** *A: I had an inkling because my Dad coached. I was a student of the game. I really paid attention during a game and watched what managers did. I played with Doug Rader, and he was also my manager in 1982 in Hawaii. Doug was personable but tough on players, and he worked hard and he expected his players to do the same. I adopted that approach.*

Q&A

What was Jim Pankovits' experience during his rookie call-up to the Astros?

Jim Pankovits was called up to the Astros at 28 years old after playing in Hawaii, and he quickly went to the ballpark to prepare for his debut.

How did Jim Pankovits perform in his first at-bat with the Astros?

In his first at-bat, Jim Pankovits faced Rod Scurry and got a single, which boosted his confidence significantly.

What were Jim Pankovits' thoughts on the 1986 Astros team?

Jim Pankovits described the 1986 team as special, highlighting the camaraderie and peak performances of players like Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott.

Did Jim Pankovits always plan to become a coach after his playing career?

Jim Pankovits had an inclination to coach after his playing career, influenced by his father's coaching and his observations of game management.

Astros Legends Series: Jim Pankovits

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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