CLEVELAND — Get to know more about Rick Manning as we go "Beyond the Dugout" with the Cleveland Indians color analyst.
WKYC's Dave Chudowsky: What do you enjoy more… Broadcasting or being a player in Major League Baseball?
Rick Manning: That's a really good question. I love playing baseball. I think that would be number one, but physically -- and you can only do it for so long fit you know -- you know when you get to your 30s it gets old, but to do that is as a blessing. … I never had the goal of broadcasting, so I might be more proud of doing that for 30 years because it's something I've had to work for and I never did that before, but playing was a blast you can't trade in. This is the next best job to a player.
Chudowsky: Favorite memory as an Indians player?
Manning: Lenny Barker's perfect game… I mean it's got to be. There at that point in time it was the 10th perfect game in baseball history, and I happen to catch the last out. I've been riding on Lenny's coattails for you know, how long is it, 40 years. You know I knew when that before that ball went up, I swear to God I said if it goes up in the air, I'm gonna catch it. I wanted it and it ended up coming my way and I said perfect. I still have the baseball.
Chudowsky: You have the ball?
Manning: And Lenny signed it
Chudowsky: Nice, he didn’t want it?
Manning: I wanted to give it back. He said, ‘I don't want it.’ I said, ‘Good, can I have it? Sign it for me?’ And he did!
Chudowsky: Favorite memory as a broadcaster?
Manning: Oh my God, there's so many of them! In 1995 when they clinched against Baltimore here in September.
Chudowsky: Your favorite golf course in Cleveland?
Manning: Just played Pepper Pike for the first time last week. … I mean I can go on and on, but I'm gonna go Pepper Pike or StoneWater because I live on that.
Chudowsky: Favorite food?
Manning: Probably steak and potatoes.
Chudowsky: Would you rather fish or ski?
Manning: Neither.
Chudowsky: Chocolate or vanilla?
Manning: Both!
Chudowsky: Beer or wine?
Manning: Beer.
Chudowsky: All right, that’s a good answer to end on?
Manning: (laughs) Beer!
Chudowsky: It was long hot seat, but the hot seat is now cool.
Manning: Well where’s my beer, you ask me what I wanted?
Chudowsky: Now I have to get you one!
Manning: Yes, we do. We've got to have one together.
Chudowsky: Let’s have a beer!
Manning: You got it!