ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
BASEBALL IN PENNSYLVANIA

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AN INTERVIEW WITH PETE POLDIAK
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Dr. Dixon
Brent Heitzenrater
November 22, 1994

INTRODUCTION

This is a transcription of an interview conducted on November
12, 1994 with Mr. Pete Poldiak of Summerhill, Pennsylvania.

Mr.

Po ldiak is currently a physical education teacher and head baseball
c o ach at United high school.
of

the

most

Pennsylvania.

dominating

But, in his younger days, he was one
pitchers

to

come

out

of

western

The purpose of this interview was to highlight his

career both as coach and player.

Where did you play your high school ball?

Question:

At Triangle Area near Johnstown which is now Forest

Poldiak:

Hills school district.
Question:

What were your options after high school?

Poldiak:

I had two choices, either go to Las Vegas and play minor

league baseball for the Cleveland Indians or go down south and play
college baseball.
Which did you choose?

Question:

I

Poldiak:

chose to play for Gulf Coast Community College in

Panama City, Florida.
Is there a reason why you chose college ball over the

Question:

minor leagues?
Poldiak:

I had the opportunity to be the first in my family to go

to college, and I thought that was sort of special.
. 1,

Question:

Why a junior college instead of division 1?

Poldiak:

At the time the junior colleges had better teams than

the

division

recognition

1

and

schools.
a

chance

There
at

was

better

possibly making

opportunity
it

to

the

for

major

leagues.
Question:

What was your best pitch?

Poldiak:

Definitely the fastball.

Question:

Why?

Poldiak:

hour.

And,

I was being clocked at speeds of 95 to 96 miles per
I was able to control the strike zone and overpower

batters.

.I

Question:

Did you ever through at a batter's head?

Poldiak:

Definitely!

If the batter dug-in and tried to show me

up or even crowded the plate, I didn't hesitate to throw it at his
head - sometimes twice in a row.
Question:

Where did you go after junior college?

Poldiak:

I went to LSU (Louisiana State University)

Question:

At what time were you drafted.

Poldiak:

It was my second year at Gulf Coast.

I was picked #2

overall in the draft and my roommate Wayne Garland was chosen #1 in
that year .
Question:

I understand that while you were pitching at LSU you

became acquainted with another athlete named Pete.
Poldiak:

Yes.

I became pretty good friends with "Pistol" Pete

Maravich who played basketball at the time.

But, we lost contact

after we parted are ways at LSU.
Question:

team.

Can you tell me a little of what you enjoy about it.

Poldiak:

kids,

I understand that you are now the coach of a high school

I coach at United high school.

I enjoy working with the

teaching them the fundamentals of the game, and passing my

knowledge and experiences on to them.
Question:
Poldiak:

Did you ever make it to the big leagues?
No,

I

never signed a

contract with them.

I

had a

rotator cuff injury during my third year, and that kind of hindered
me from going on.

.1

Question:

Can you

name

some

of

the

famous

people

you

faced

throughout your career.
Poldiak:

In college, I faced Steve Garvey.

Question:

What was he like?

Poldiak:

He was a very good hitter.

strike him out twice in one game.
Manning,

I was fortunate enough to

I also played against Archie

the former quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.

He

played third base, but he kind of threw like a girl because he had
a funny motion.
Question:

You said you had a very good fastball.

Did you have any

pitches to compliment that?
Poldiak:

I had a very good off-speed breaking ball.

very hard - it was clocked at 85 miles per hour.

I threw it

And,

I had a

fairly good change-up which offset my fastball.

.I

AFTERWARD

Pete

Poldiak

Unfortunately,

had

a

very

interesting

baseball

due to my lack of interviewing skill I

there was a lot that did not get revealed.
think that the interview was a success.

career.
feel that

However, all in all I
Mr. Poldiak was easy to

talk to and he answered the questions in a very laid back manner.

I

I