Former MLB pitchers hold Q&A sessions at FanFest

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Clyde Wright pitched a no-hitter against the Oakland Athletics in 1970, the first at what was then known as Anaheim Stadium.

During a question-and-answer session Friday at FanFest, a five-day event that coincides with the All-Star game each year, the former Angels pitcher was charged with answering fans’ questions. He took a break between responses to field guesses on the amount of strikeouts he had in the lone no-hitter of his nine-year career.

One fan said 16, and another guessed five. Then there was the kid who said zero. Everyone laughed.

Wright’s response: ‘You missed it by one, son.’

The only player to strike out against Wright was the same batter who almost ended the no-hitter in the seventh inning with a 400-foot shot to center field: Reggie Jackson.

‘He got me a few times, too,’ Wright said.

Sporting his trademark handlebar mustache, Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers also held a Q&A.

A reliever with Oakland, San Diego and Milwaukee during his 17-year career, Fingers helped to pioneer the role of closer.

During his session, Fingers discussed growing up as a Dodgers fan and offered thoughts on the huge salaries that closers command today.

“I just wish I was playing now,” he said.

Fingers also offered advice to kids who may want to become pitchers.
‘You need three things to pitch in the big leagues: control, control and control,’ he said. ‘If you don’t have those three, you can probably get by with two of them.’

-- DeAntae Prince and Laura Myers