Mike Scioscia was a first-round draft choice of the Dodgers in 1976 and made his major league debut as a catcher in 1980. He spent his entire 13-year major league career with the Dodgers, making two All-Star appearances and earning two World Series rings along the way.
After his playing career ended, Scioscia spent time as a minor league manager and major league coach in the Dodgers organization before being hired as the Angels manager after the 1999 season. In Anaheim, Scioscia led the Angels to their lone World Series championship, in 2002, and was named AL Manager of the Year in 2002 and 2009. He’s also the club’s all-time managerial leader in wins, games managed and division titles.
I talked with Scioscia before the start of one of his spring training days at Tempe Diablo Stadium about the similarities between golf and baseball and why he loves the camaraderie that exists in both sports.
Q: When did you take up golf?
I didn’t play as a kid, but teammates like Mickey Hatcher, Bobby Welch and Ron Roenicke introduced me to the game, and now I love it.
Q: Where did you start playing?
When I lived in Diamond Bar we were in the Fall Creek condos across from Diamond Bar Country Club. We’d play after day games on Sunday but mostly in the winter.
Q: Did you take to the game quickly or struggle?
I still struggle. When I played baseball, I hit left-handed, so I started to play golf left-handed and it never felt right. Then after playing for a while I switched to playing right-handed. I didn’t play any better.
Q: What’s your handicap?
I play to about a 16. I’ll get a couple pars but mostly I just bump the ball around. But I love being out there with my buddies, driving around in a golf cart. I get solace chasing that little ball around.
Q: Where do you play around L.A.?
I live in the Westlake area so I play a lot at Moorpark Country Club, Sherwood – what a spectacular course that is – and North Ranch, mostly in charity events. I never play on the road. I usually play about 10 to 12 rounds a year, and mostly between November and January.
Q: Do you let your pitchers play on the road?
I always have. I feel the guys – and its mostly pitchers – need that escape. That’s as long as they don’t have anything physically wrong with them. … As long as they are healthy they can play.
Q: Do you like to practice?
I do. It’s funny, in the winter, especially before I start playing I like to take three or four days and just practice. It’s not about getting better. It’s about not embarrassing myself when I do start playing. I’m sure if I practiced more I’d get better; it’s like any sport. But I don’t think you’ll ever see me as a single-digit handicap. For me the game is about spending time with my friends for four or five hours just talking life.
Q: Do you see similarities between baseball and golf?
Absolutely. It’s about the focus you have to have to execute a shot. But then there’s nothing until you have to make another shot. It’s like in baseball, how focused you have to be when you’re at the plate, but then there’s nothing until you have to bat again. The same with pitchers, the focus you need to make the pitch, but then in between innings, nothing. Baseball is a team game of individual efforts. Golf is all about individual effort.
Q: Any former teammates that are really good sticks?
Fernando Valenzuela, who took up the game late, is really, really good. Orel Hershiser is also a tremendous player. Mostly pitchers, who get to play year round.
Q: Do you have any favorite PGA Tour players?
I love Phil (Mickelson) and the way he competes. I love to watch Bubba Watson. Gee, they’re both lefties; isn’t that interesting? But Bubba reminds me of a gunslinger. He doesn’t care what his swing looks like but, boy, can he manipulate the ball any way he wants. I also really enjoyed watching Rory McIlroy when he won the British Open a few years ago. These guys are good.
Q: Do you have your own charity event?
Yes, I do. It’s for the Amateur Baseball Development Group, which raises money for all kinds of amateur players – high schools, Little Leagues, other development programs. Some of these teams can’t even afford baseballs. We’ve raised over 2 million dollars in the 15-16 years we’ve had our event at Moorpark Country Club. I love the work AMDG does.
Q: What lessons have you learned from golf?
Patience. Understanding strategy. I’m limited by my talent but, in golf, you learn to compete with yourself. But the way I play I’m just out there to enjoy myself; I don’t get that many critical moments to perform.
Q: Do you have a dream foursome?
Golf for me is playing with my buddies. It’s about friendships, spending time with friends. Playing with Hatcher, (Rick) Sutcliffe, friends I get to spend some quality time with and enjoy their company.
Q: Do you talk baseball or golf when you play?
We talk everything – restaurants, movies, we get on each other. Mostly they’re all over me about how crappy I play. But I love the banter, the camaraderie, being outdoors, the peace of the game.
