Mike Myers on Life in the Bullpen and Service to Players

In this episode we connect with Mike Myers, who logged 883 career appearances as a reliever with nine teams over 13 big league seasons. When the affable Chicago native and Iowa State University product wasn’t tasked with the thankless responsibility of facing Barry Bonds, David Ortiz, Jim Thome or Ken Griffey Jr. in a tight spot, he was skillfully navigating the uncertainty of life as left-handed one out guy – aka “LOOGY.’’ Mike immersed himself in union leadership as a young player with the Tigers in the mid-90s and continues to serve the membership in his current role as a special assistant for player services with the MLBPA. Mike talks to a lot of players, and fields inquiries on everything from the pension and benefit plans to the whys and wherefores of moving expenses. If a player has a question, there’s a 99.9 percent chance he’s got the answer. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction to Mike Myers(00:01:59) - Growing Up a Cubs Fan in Chicago(00:02:52) - Cold Weather Pitching and High School Days(00:04:38) - Iowa State and Coaching Influences(00:05:37) - Getting Drafted by the Giants(00:06:49) - Life in the Minor Leagues(00:08:30) - Navigating Agents and the Business of Baseball(00:09:32) - Rule 5 Draft and the 1994-95 Strike(00:10:23) - Union Awakening in Marlins Camp(00:12:09) - Major League Debut and Strike Aftermath(00:13:59) - Replacement Players and Strike Pressures(00:15:49) - The Orlando Union Meeting(00:18:23) - Learning Union History(00:19:50) - Becoming a Union Rep(00:21:14) - The Value and Importance of the Pension(00:23:50) - Pensions in Society and Union Dues(00:25:42) - The 2002 CBA Negotiations(00:28:28) - 2004 World Series with the Red Sox(00:30:08) - Moving Around the League and Union Protections(00:32:15) - Family Life on the Road(00:33:57) - Al Kaline's Influence and Becoming a Sidearm Pitcher(00:35:59) - Remembering Don Fehr, Gene Orza, and Michael Weiner(00:38:26) - Working for the MLBPA Today(00:40:27) - Legacy as a LOOGY and Career Pride(00:42:43) - Closing Credits