Diabetes Talk Tiring to Reds’ Gullickson

Bill Gullickson, the starting pitcher acquired by the Cincinnati Reds during the off-season to strengthen their staff, says he is tired of suggestions that his diabetes hurts his on-field performance.

When Vern Rapp was Cincinnati’s manager two years ago, he told the Reds before a game against Montreal that Gullickson, then with Montreal, would eventually tire and the Reds could hit against him because he has diabetes.

When Gullickson was traded from the Expos to the Reds last month, one sportswriter wrote that one reason the Expos were willing to trade Gullickson was because diabetes might threaten his long-term playing future.

The pitcher said he was angered by that suggestion.

“I’ve been in the league six years and I’ve been on the disabled list one time. I pitched four years where I never missed a start. I think right now, I’m coming into the prime of my career,” he said in an interview Monday.

Gullickson, 26, has already won 72 games and lost 61 in the major leagues. He has a 3.44 earned-run average. He detected his diabetes in spring training of 1980.

He said he isn’t the only diabetic to have a successful career. Others are actress Mary Tyler Moore, former hockey player Bobby Clarke and former Chicago Cubs third baseman Ron Santo. Former pitcher Jim (Catfish) Hunter also was diagnosed as being diabetic toward the end of his career.

“I take good care of myself,” Gullickson said. “I could say, ‘Oh, I’m a diabetic’ and not take care of myself, and then it would hamper my career. But my stability and my strength is what’s kept me around.”

Dr. Michael Berk, an assistant professor of internal medicine and director of the diabetes clinic at the University of Cincinnati, said Gullickson’s long-term future as a pitcher “probably will not be affected” by diabetes.

The physician said most of the complications--such as changes in eyes, kidney problems and nerve damage--which diabetes victims might experience because of diabetes, occur after “15 to 20 years . . . and it may be even later than that if they take care of themselves.”

Gullickson said he watches what he eats, exercises regularly and takes his daily insulin shots.

“I’m not going to kid anybody,” he said. “There are days when . . . I’m mentally down about it. If I’m down physically, then that’s my fault because I haven’t taken care of myself or prepared myself for physically what I have to do.”

Gullickson said that when Murray Cook came in as Expos’ general manager, Cook was “always worried why I was taken out in the eighth or ninth inning. I think he attributed it to me being diabetic. He didn’t attribute my being taken out for the same reason ‘Joe Blow’ was--because he pitched eight or nine innings and he was tired.”

Cook, reached by telephone in Montreal, said Gullickson’s diabetes was not the reason the Expos traded the pitcher.

“The doctors have assured us there is no reason to believe that (diabetes) would have any impact on his longevity,” Cook said.

In return for Gullickson, the Expos received less-costly Reds pitchers Jay Tibbs and Andy McGaffigan.

Gullickson is signed through the 1987 season. He will be paid $850,000 in 1986. Reds catcher Dann Bilardello and pitcher John Stuper were also sent to Montreal in the deal that included Expos catcher Sal Butera coming to Cincinnati.