At-Bat With Cecil Fielder
Published on February 15, 2007 under South Coast League (SCL) News Release
With less than 100 days until first pitch of the South Coast League's inaugural season, I recently spoke with Roving Hitting Instructor Cecil Fielder about his position with the league, his goals during the season, and the status and growth of independent baseball over the last decade.
(Kevin) How did you come across this opportunity with the South Coast League?
(Cecil) Kash Beauchamp and I were roommates during our playing days in the Blue Jays organization, and he called me one day and told me about the South Coast League. I was hesitant at first, but Kash really drove home the idea that this was going to be a great opportunity for me to teach younger players the hitting techniques and philosophies I learned during my playing days.
(Kevin) How will you be able to help SCL players?
(Cecil) I take pleasure in giving knowledge to the younger hitters, and seeing them succeed and benefit from my teaching. I'm looking forward to working with the SCL hitters on all areas of their swing and approach, both mechanically and mentally. Confidence is the biggest thing a hitter needs, and if they are focused mentally, their approach becomes like clockwork.
(Kevin) What do you hope to gain from this experience?
(Cecil) I don't know if I plan on gaining anything, because today's generation of players have new techniques that I don't often agree with. No one in this game knows everything, but if you take something from everyone you meet, you'll be better off in the end. Going through the motions won't help you succeed, and you need to continue to work hard everyday to get better.
(Kevin)Who was your biggest baseball influence?
(Cecil) A lot of people influenced my career, from GM's, to managers, and teammates. One thing I learned early on was to respect those that were trying to help me, and take what they had to say to heart. People like Jose Martinez (my winter league coach in Columbia), Jim Beauchamp, Chris Johnson, Jesse Barfield, Jimmy Key, and Willie Upshaw to name a few, all taught me how to become the player I knew I could be.
(Kevin) What was your greatest moment in baseball?
(Cecil) I don't think I can narrow it down to just one, because each moment still holds a special place in my heart. First was a hot summer day in 1985 when I hit four doubles and was called into the manager's office and told that I was going to the big leagues. The second moment happened less than a week later in Toronto when Bobby Cox told me that my first start would be on ABC's Saturday Game of the Week. Next would have to be my 51 homerun season in 1990, because no one expected me to ever do that. Fourth would be winning the World Series in 1996 with the Yankees, because we were the underdog and came back and took four straight against the Braves. Finally, it would have to be when my son Prince was drafted in the first round in 2002.
(Kevin) Where do you see the SCL in 5 / 10 years?
I think the SCL can and will expand quickly and become one of the premier independent leagues in the country. With successful expansion, better players will want to play for the league, especially if we continue to give them another opportunity at rejuvenating their career. There are a lot of great baseball minds in the South Coast League, and each of them want to get players back into affiliated baseball, and give them another chance at reaching their goals.
South Coast League Stories from February 15, 2007
- At-Bat With Cecil Fielder - SCL
- SCL Transaction List - SCL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
