The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Around the horn with Preston Clark
03.02.2009 | Baseball
March 2, 2009
Why are superstitions so important to baseball? If you put your uniform on one way -- this leg, that leg, right sock, left sock -- and then you come out and get three hits that game, you want to do everything the same. Baseball players are more superstitious than others. That's just how it goes. It's part of getting comfortable, and finding a comfort zone.
How do you feel about showing your socks? I wear my pants down. I look like a short, fat kid with my pants up. It all depends on your calves. Some people have the body for it, some don't.
What's the most realistic baseball movie you've seen? My favorite is Bull Durham. It's a pretty realistic movie for the game. Major League: Back to the Minors -- no. Angels in the Outfield -- that kind of stuff doesn't count. Balls just don't move like that.
If you could play catch with anybody, who would it be? Oh wow. Johnny Bench, probably. Or any of the baseball players in the past who have made the game what it is today That would be a neat feeling to share the field with those guys.
How many mitts do you have? In my locker right now I probably have about 11.
How do you break in and get comfortable with all of them? It's hard to do. I don't trust anybody else to do it, because I know how I want my glove. I don't use any oil or that stuff. I don't see where it gets you. I do it the old-fashioned way. Play catch with it, and whenever the strings get loose, tighten it back up and make it how you want it.
Why are sunflower seeds so synonymous with baseball? That's a good question. I couldn't tell you.
Are you a sunflower seed guy? I am. I was just eating them a second ago. It's just part of the game. It's been there forever. Baseball is the only sport that allows you to do it. It's something that keeps you entertained, keeps you in the moment.
How many bags can you go through during a game? Who knows? Believe it or not, when you're chewing sunflower seeds, you don't think. Just chew. It's a habit, so you watch the game as you do it, and you've gone through bags and bags and bags.
