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Few people have had a bigger impact on Orange County baseball than Mike Witt. Only Nolan Ryan and Chuck Finley won more games with the Angels, and Witt is one of only 18 major league pitchers to hurl a perfect game. Witt was born in Fullerton in 1960, grew up in Buena Park, pitched for Servite High School and, after retiring from the big leagues in 1993, has helped coach high school baseball at Dana Hills and Santa Margarita. Witt's athleticism isn't limited to baseball, however. He also played basketball in high school and is an avid golfer with a 5 handicap. We caught up with Witt at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, where he was participating in a National Golf League tournament as part of the OC Wedge. The date was September 30 - the date of his perfect game 22 years ago. When did you first start playing golf, and when did the game really hook you? My dad was general manager of Meadow-lark Golf Club in Huntington Beach when I was a kid, and he gave me my first set of clubs when I was 13. I played Big Tee and all the local courses, but I didn't really connect with the game until my early 20s when a former teammate of mine, Donnie Hill, who was a very good golfer, kind of became my golf guru. During the off-season, I'd play two or three times a week. What connections are there between a successful pitching motion and a good golf swing? To be honest, there isn't a whole lot that a pitcher's motion has in common with the golf swing. It's a lot closer to swinging a bat. But you certainly have to have balance as a pitcher, which you need for golf. And even if hand-eye coordination is something you're born with, you need that to be successful in any sport. What's your proudest moment on the golf course? Winning the club championship at Coto de Caza when I was a member. It was about five years ago and winning was very special. What's your most humbling moment? One day during a lesson my golf instructor moved the ball, forcing me to set up and swing differently. I snapped a 7-iron right in half and that was it for the lesson that day. Rick Rhoden is a great example of a former big league pitcher who has gone onto a successful professional golf career. Do you have thoughts of making the Champ-ions Tour some day? I've never really played celebrity pro-ams or been interested in playing on a professional tour. I know my limits. I just like going out and having fun on the golf course. And being part of the [National Golf League] is a great way to see how my game stacks up against up-and-coming professionals and good amateur golfers. After a very successful baseball career, you're still involved in the game, teaching at the high school level. Is it something that's just in your blood? Actually, in high school I really enjoyed playing basketball, but I was just blessed with the skills to be a pitcher. I had the size and the arm speed and that's why I pursued baseball. And I grew to really love being out there and the camaraderie of a team. And now, teaching baseball helps me stay close with my kids (one recently graduated Santa Margarita, the other is a freshman). So it seems that I just can't get away from the game. n |
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