Zinter Still Going At 39
by Mike Ashmore

After 1,413 minor league games, you can't blame Alan Zinter for being a little surprised at what happened in game number 1,414.

The Houston Astros gave Zinter an unforgettable Father's Day gift in 2002, calling him up to the big leagues in an unexpected moment in the dugout at a Triple-A game.

"It was a normal Sunday game, and then the manager took me out in a double switch," Zinter said.

"I was in getting some water, and then the trainer got a call on his cell phone. Usually when the trainer's cell phone rings in the dugout and he says 'yes, sir' then something's going on in the front office."

But when the phone rang, Zinter didn't even think twice, instead wondering which one of his teammates would be getting the call.

"I've heard that millions of times before, and it's never been me, so it didn't startle me or alarm me or anything like that," he said. "So the trainer looks at the manager and goes, 'Can we tell him?' And the manager said, 'Yup, we can tell him.'"

With Zinter on one side of the dugout, and the manager on the other, the two were separated by six pitchers, all of whom stared at the manager, each hoping they'd be the one headed to the big leagues.

"I'm just sitting there drinking my water, wondering who's going up," Zinter recalled.

"So the manager keeps walking, and he got to the last pitcher before me, and then he looked right at me. I was backed into a corner, and I was thinking a thousand thoughts. You've got to be kidding me."

But New Orleans Zephyrs manager Chris Maloney wasn't kidding.

"He stuck his hand out and said, 'Congratulations, Bull, you' re going to the big leagues.' And I just kind of came out of my body, I lost it. Everybody was jumping on me like we just won the World Series, and I couldn't feel anything."

With his father in the stands, Zinter took off for Milwaukee with just the carry-on bag he'd brought with him. When he arrived at Miller Park, a gray Houston Astros jersey with the number 43 and his name on the back awaited him.

13 years after being picked in the first round by the New York Mets, he finally reached the big leagues at age 34.

And the Cinderella story didn't end there. In just his fifth at-bat, Zinter's first Major League hit was a home run off of Cincinnati Reds reliever Scott Williamson.

"I hit it off the facade, so it fell into our bullpen and I was able to get the ball back. I remember rounding the bases thinking that this was going to be on ESPN and all those cool things," he said.

After all the long bus rides and all the games at ballparks that had seen better days, he took every opportunity to soak in the Major League experience.

"I remember one game where I was sitting there watching Curt Schilling throw his warm-up pitches," he said.

"There was an emergency where our pitcher came out, and they came up to me and said, 'You've got to hit, you've got to hit right now.' So I went out there, and I'm digging in the box, and I look at the backdrop behind Schilling and it looked like PlayStation. I was just looking over his glove, and then I caught myself and realized I can't be thinking about PlayStation right now, I have to be thinking about hitting Schilling."

Zinter would get 44 big league at-bats that season, and then 34 more two seasons later with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After two more Triple-A seasons, Zinter was released by the Cleveland Indians in Spring Training this year, and signed with the Somerset Patriots two weeks into the season.

The 39-year-old has struggled so far, hitting just .091 with one home run and three RBI in his first even games.

In phenomenal shape for his age, which Zinter credits to having played alongside Detroit Tigers legends Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammell towards the end of their careers in Spring Training, he still believes he has a chance at getting back to affiliated ball.

"I think it's a small shot, a small window, a small opportunity," he said.

"But there is a chance, and that's what I'm banking on. If it doesn't happen, then I've given it everything I've got."

Notes: TGI Friday's in Flemington is hosting "Dine to Donate" from 5-9PM on Thursday, June 14th. 20 percent of all sales will be donated to the Michael S. Pohle, Jr. Scholarship Fund. Pohle, one of the victims of the shootings at Virginia Tech, played on the Hunterdon Central football and lacrosse teams.

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