#MLBVideos: The 6-1-1 Podcast: 4x All-Star, 2x WS Champ Hunter Pence joins Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins!

The 6-1-1 Podcast: 4x All-Star, 2x WS Champ Hunter Pence joins Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins!

What up everybody and welcome to another episode of the 611 podcast. It’s your boy Ryan Howard with my man Young James Rollins. Hey, so today am I am I wrong in saying our next guest today is a ball of excitement cuz had to be one of the most energetic people in all of Major League Baseball. No doubt. Great teammate. Yes. Always positive. Always came to the ballpark with a smile. Ready to play. Stupid Pop. Stupid Pop. Stupid Pop. All right. We got a two-time World Series champion and a fourtime allstar. All right. Let’s welcome to the 611 my man HP Hunter Pence. Hunter, welcome to the show, brother. Wow, what an intro coming from you, Ryan and Jimmy. I mean, that is uh that’s quite the introduction. Thank you so much. It’s an honor. I’m pumped to finally get on the podcast. I’ve been loving everything y’all are doing. Uh, and man, it’s great to see you guys and catch up. [Music] All right, Hunter. Let’s let’s let’s get into this because many different things can be said just looking at you on the baseball field from the style, the way you wore your pants. I stared at you religiously in the on deck circle. Um, nothing about your game says go out and and and and not to take shot or trying to but like this is how you look. You know, it was unique to you. And when we shared the clubhouse, I understood it a lot more. Yeah. And I’m sure it’s something you know you heard of. But when you got to the big leagues and you know you’re this outside of the box person, this character and style, how did that fit into the clubhouse over there in Houston? Well, you have to get thick skin real quick, right? Like especially as a rookie in general in our time. Uh and like everything I do had looked awkward my whole life. I didn’t really know why. Like it was just like I just had to accept that like I wasn’t blessed with grace. But like I loved baseball y’all. You know when we got to play together I love being at the ballard. I I love watching the game. So I loved it so much that I was just like like people say hard worker but I was like literally just having fun like getting after it. I I wanted it really bad. Like and and y’all can attest to this, like even like lifting weights when you’re playing and you have that purpose and you have that drive and you want to be the greatest at something or or or be great at it and be a good teammate. Um it’s easy to lift weights and imagine like how far you’re going to hit the ball and you’re excited to get there. It gets a lot harder when you’re retired and you’re just lifting weights with your body. Tell me about it, bro. So, uh, for me really it was, uh, as far as like the way it looked and it being goofy, like I think y’all understood this. This is just was my way. It was my natural way. And I really was nothing I could do about it. I found out, and I don’t know if y’all knew this, when I signed my contract with the Giants, I actually have schumins in my spine. So, my spine is like locked together. So, I don’t have that like T-spine flexibility that most humans have. And I think that kind of accounted for kind of the weird awkwardness of how I threw and ran and everything because my back is literally like kind of stuck. Yeah. I was gonna ask like what like what kind of led to that with your swing because you had this swing to where I actually want to try to emulate it as my golf swing to where it’s like cuz when you go Yeah. It’s like you just drop and then the whole thing just comes and just turns, you know, where it’s like with most people like you would get the separation between your lower half and your upper half, but it was like everything would turn at the same time. But you had so much power. Like I remember playing against him and he hit a ball off the facing of the second deck oppo to right field in Citizens Bank Park. And I just remember kind of standing there like, “How what just happened? is how like you don’t have the swing like how did that happen? How do you do that? I mean Brian I’ve seen you hit some balls that uh no I ain’t seen anyone else hit like you almost hit the roof at minute made when I was in center field. I think I caught it like it almost hit the roof and it went up on Tal’s Hill and I remember after I caught it looking around like like you did that crazy style. But I think genetics is the part of it and and and also like just getting in the gym, putting in the work. I think y’all can attest to that. Uh, but I definitely uh don’t think that I match you, Howard, in the power level, but I definitely did hit like the genetic lottery a little bit. Like, you know, my my grandfather’s really strong, so just a bigger guy, but also just get in the gym and lift a lot of weights and uh swing hard in case you hit it. You did that. And um I want to just jump around because as you’re talking about these swings, was it the 2012 world series where you had like a double hit like the like you got jammed it and and it went two inches then it went off the the the tip of your bat. Now once again this goes that’s like one of those Hunter Pinch moments. Like if you know Hunter it’s like it’s so fitting that it happened to him. It wouldn’t happen to anyone in the world except for Hunter Pinch is like, “Well, it makes sense.” Yeah, it makes sense because it’s you cuz nothing nothing surprises us when when we get to know a guy. It’s like, “Yeah, that’s that that was Hunter.” What was that moment like? Uh it’s it’s hilarious that you said because it’s true, man. I just feel like the weirdest things happen to me and it’s just like of course, you know, like the swing is weird. I I had the knockdown seven iron. Uh you know, you say you’re trying to inate my swing. That’s my warm-up swing. Uh, you know, but that moment in particular, y’all know what like in the playoffs come and all the bat companies come in and they’re like trying to get you to use their bats. And I was a tinkerer, so I could I would switch bats from time to time. And I I mean, Louisville brought me the hardest wood I had ever seen. And uh like it was just like this crazy strong bat. And it was Joe Kelly who you know has gone on to do a tremendous things in the postseason when he was real young 97 giga sinker and I remember I was just right on playing with it and it felt like I like crossed it but like the physics doesn’t even make sense unless the bat breaks like that uh because like you know Jimmy like if any ball hit to the left uh left side from a right-handed hitter or even that side from a from a a left-handed hitter it’s either going to go true or it’s going to cook and the other way is going to go true or hook. I hit it to the left and it it like sliced because because it like it broke my bat, but the wood stayed together and it and like it b and like the ultra slow motam saw it like hit hit, but it just it felt like I had like a lacrosse ball and it was like on my bat and I like threw it out there. The shorts stop went right and the ball went to his left. Never seen that before. And honestly, man, that was like some some like angels in the outfield type moment. Like just uh yeah, I don’t even know. That that was all baseball guys. That’s it. Like, hey, you’ve been working hard, son. We’re going to reward you with this. You’re going to get jammed and get a RBI single, right? You know what I’m saying? So, Hunter, take me through the very beginning, bro. Take me through, you know, getting drafted, coming through the minor leagues. And then once you finally got to the to the big leagues, what was that welcome to the big leagues moment? Yeah. Um, and and when you when you ask that, Brian, are you asking like like like how did I get welcomed to the big leagues or or when I got told I was going to the big leagues like because I had a like a you remember Cole Haml’s drilling Bryce Harper and like his Yeah. How you got welcome? How you got welcome to the big leagues? This is the moment I’m here. I mean my first game uh I struck out on like 10 or 11 pitches uh and like the fans gave me like an ovation at Minute Made uh which I did not expect. I didn’t even know they knew who I was back then. This is like before social media dating us a bit. But the next at bat, the pitcher drilled me who was actually we played with him in Philly. Uh I think David Bush, he was in spring train with us in 2012. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, “Hey man, like what was that about?” He’s like, “Hey, you got an ovation after I struck you out.” So I was just like, “Who is this kid?” So there was a I got a knock off him after that, though. It kind of pissed me off and locks you in. I I appreciate that though. I I I don’t know. That’s kind of just the way I I enjoyed it. Nice. Well, hey, that’s that is like like the co hammers and Bryce Harper where we knew he’s like I’m drilling them. It’s like what do you mean? Like I’mma hit them, right? Like just straight up first pitch drilled him and a part and I remember this part when I I you’re not supposed to like the young kids, you know? You know, it was almost like what have you done? You’re getting all this fame and recognition and you have but two weeks in the big leagues. But where I gained respect for Bryce is when he got on first, took it like a champ, stole second, advanced to third, and then stole home on a pickoff. I’m like, you know what? This kid got this this this kid got some big ones on him. I might not like you, but I respect you. And that was one of those one of those moments, you know, that was for sure for me on the other side his welcome to the big leagues moment for me because he did not stand there and whine and complain. Fine. If that’s how we doing it, he got the last laugh. And so I respect that same like Bush on your RA, you know? Yeah, exactly. You fouled off 11 pitches, I’m going to drill you next time, kid. Like when Cole When Cole said I’mma hit him, I’m just like, why? Why? Like why? Well, just welcome to the big leagues. like you got all the hype and everything behind you and then he showed you why it was a simple case of when keeping it real goes wrong but the crazy stupid wait you want to know about keeping it real though do you remember he was the first pitcher ever to he told the media he’s like yeah on purpose he did it was like yeah I did it on purpose and they got like one told us he was going to do it he told us before the newspaper was like he should be the he should be the president the only one who tells the truth in See, you’re unique. And everybody, if you haven’t seen Hunter Pence, Google him. He’s on YouTube. He’s a champion. He’s a great person, but he’s definitely unique. Is there anyone in a game today, and I’m going to say this, remind you of yourself? Yeah. I mean, uh, the shorts stop with the with the athletics, uh, Jack Jake Wilson. Yeah, Jack’s son, uh, you know, he’s all over the place. He’s got super twitchy, super fast hands, likes to play video games, you know. So, uh, he obviously he’s just hell of a season at that thing. He got to be up there for rookie of the year. I mean, he’s got to be up there. He’s got to be. So, I mean, he’s fun to watch and and quirky and awkward and something you just don’t see. His feet are moving all crazy and, you know, that was kind of part of my thing is I was really twitchy. Probably too much coffee. Uh, you know, but so he’s definitely I don’t think you needed any coffee, honey. I he came in wire and it was, you know, was it was like Tommyesque like Tommy, you know, had it was always positive. It was energy and it was like Yeah. And you know, there was never it was it never seemed like you had a bad day. It didn’t matter what it was, it didn’t seem like you had a bad day. And I appreciated it. And sometimes, you know, I’m an energetic person and I’m like, man, I got to step my energy up because he didn’t have any hits last night and he’s coming in like he’s already five for five and I loved it because it got us going. So, you know, there these little twerks, but that makes you you. That also makes you a great teammate, which we appreciate it. And I remember, you know, when you were traded out, it was like we just got him, right? Like we are really just starting to get to know who he is. He’s getting his He’s getting really comfortable around us where he’s opening all the way up. And yeah, this is going to be something that’s beautiful cuz he’s going to contribute. I don’t care how the fans felt in that clubhouse. I remember thinking to myself like, damn, like what was the point of getting them if we were just going to give them away? Yeah. You know, I was surprised too. I was I was definitely shocked like to my core cuz Yeah, you’re right. Like y’all were all we were all like such close friends and we’re still friends to this day. every time I see you, it just like uh and and that that it was such a fast whirlwind, but it was so intense of a part in my life. And I remember I was having like dreams waking up. I was still on the Phillies and like kind of and it was like weird because we were only four games out. I thought we were going to make a push like I was I was like locked in every day like here we go, we’re going to we’re going to come through and uh when they traded Victor and then they traded me, I was just like man and I still had another year. So, uh, obviously it was it was a great blessing and I got the opportunity to and extend my my family, you know, the baseball your baseball teammates or your family, but I definitely was like really shell shocked. Um, you know, there was a blessing, but there was also about a lot of pain like that. Uh, you know, I don’t know. It was weird. Definitely weird. It was. But you could not have ended up in a more perfect place and city in San Francisco. I’m from the Bay. And you know, we always looked at that side as different. You know, they even Berkeley, San Francisco, it’s like you’re able to really just go out and be who you are. No one cares. And we love it even more. And Hunter, you went out there, man, and your star was rising, you know, in Houston. You came to Philly, but you went out there and took off. What was that acceptance level? And what was it like once you really bought in to what it was to be a San Francisco Giant? Yeah, I mean Boch and and just the the team and the core we had Savian at the helm um and and the city at the time it it it really kind of changed me completely. It’s a very kind of open-minded like be yourself. I learned how to uh you know we talk about I’m kind of unique and a little bit weird and it’s almost like they like love and embrace weird there. You know, it’s like Jimmy Smoke, let Pablo eat like just a bunch of crazy, you know, the band of misfits was their thing. kind of wild. And and Boch was like the first manager I ever had that gave like an encouragement speech versus just like wearing us out. Like usually every time you get like a speech from a manager, they just tell you how you’re slacking and you’re not playing hard enough and we got to do better. And he gave us like this crazy pump you up speech like and like telling us to risk it all. I don’t care if we lose every game, but step on the gas. And we were just like this is awesome. Like right. Uh, so I think it just kind of was this like perfect storm of like like I’m ultra aggressive. Like I was it was the first time I was ever told like stay aggressive. It’s okay if you swing at a bad one, just hit the one that’s the good one. And and like even like allow yourself to be, you know, your personality and and so uh I think I just kind of aligned with the city and obviously met my wife here and and won those two championships with some great people. But uh it was it was a unique uh culture over there at the time for sure. Well, tell me a little bit about that. Tell me about the fans, okay, in in San Francisco. I want to I want to get your feedback on the fans in San Francisco and the fans in Philadelphia. Because real fans don’t get enough credit for being rowdy. They don’t. They don’t. I tell people, hey, they are not they are not nice people. I would tell people all the time, I’m like, “Yo, San Francisco is the Philadelphia of the West, bro.” And people look at me crazy like, “What are you talking about?” I was like, yo, like playing out there was one of the toughest places and and and environments to be able to go out there and play in. So, like in your opinion between those two, which which do you think obviously you you’ve been both, right? You’ve played as the the home, you you played for the Phillies, you played for the Giants, but then you were a visitor in both places. Which place would you say would probably have been a tougher place to uh to as a as a as a visiting player? All right. Uh I’m gonna give it to y’all real um and and I think y’all y’all can maybe attest to this or not, maybe have a different uh opinion, but for me, like with obviously with the Astros, I played against both before playing with Philly. Um and that’s a different experience until you become a Philly and then you connect with the city and the fans and you have your history or whatever that is. But I would argue uh the toughest place to play was San Francisco for me as a visiting player. Like yeah, Philly gets on you and they they can get nasty and stuff like all fans will and and they’re intense, but San Francisco hits you hits you different. Like they like are relentless. They it’s like it’s like stuff you ain’t never heard before. And uh they’re like they don’t they just will not stop whenever the Giants are going good. it and they get they it it it like gets you riled up. Um so I would say San Francisco in my opinion was the harder place to play and so when I got traded there I had this like man these fans are crazy. This is going to be tough. Uh but it was almost the exact opposite when I played there. Like if we lost a game they’d be like it’s all right. Keep going hard. We love you. Which like you know what it’s like losing a game in Philly 100%. you are overpaid or like you know you see some of those those clips like after they they they lost like game seven against the Diamondbacks the fans oh it’s just classic Philly like uh they love you so much and they want you to win and and like but when you lose they get it hurts them because they care so much which is really powerful and awesome but I do think uh like when I played in Philly it it was I think it takes some of the the biggest guts and the biggest character uh To be able to succeed in Philly, you have to be a really, really strong mental person. Um, it’s a challenging market. The East Coast is intense and they want to criticize you and they want to be hard on you, but I think it shapes you and forges you to really master yourself because if you can’t handle criticism, you’re going to get eaten alive. And um, so I think different personalities respond differently to each way, but Philly, you become a rock star immediately. Like like when I played in Houston and I grew up a Texas kid, you know, you’re just another human. Like they love watching the game and stuff. It’s not like this big show, but Philly it is. You people were hopping out of their cars in the street and like all of a sudden I was like, “Oh, wait. I’m actually famous or something for real.” No, that’s facts. I don’t know if that answers it at all, but No, I think you said it perfectly because it’s and and I’ve I’ve been on well, when I played against Philly, I was returning as a Dodger, so it’s all love. My whole career was there. So, I don’t know what it’s like to really be on that other side, but I’ve seen it. I’ve heard it. I’m like, man, this this is a tough place to play. And I know San Francisco playing against and being from the Bay always got always got a little more love, but it was it was tough. And as you talk about that, that positivity after a loss, I grew up like that growing up watching Oakland A. We lost. That’s okay. We’ll get them tomorrow. That that was my mentality. When I got to Philly, I always carried that with me. Not necessarily publicly, but internally in the clubhouse. It was it’s all good cuz we have tomorrow. Because you can’t show that out there. It’s and and Hugh Douglas um when he would retire from football, we would lose a game. He would come in the clubhouse and music’s playing. He’s like, “I don’t I don’t get it.” We’re like, “You guys aren’t upset?” It’s like Hugh there’s another game tomorrow right but as you talk about the fans there is no other game tomorrow it’s tonight and tonight only tomorrow doesn’t count we don’t care about tomorrow we want to win tonight and then the west coast I think being shaped by that like look to the future we didn’t win tonight it’s okay we’ll get them tomorrow I was able to find a balance but with that said as a visiting player I agree man San Francisco does not get enough credit for being a tough city to come in as a visiting player. LA, I love playing LA. It’s very comfortable. It’s kind of like you chilling, you Hollywood, the bright, the lights are bright and you good. They they cheer for their team. They don’t cheer against the other team, right? Philly and San Francisco, oh, they for sure cheering against the other team. They’re cheering their team on, but they I mean, they used to before Pat played there. Yeah. They wore Pat out in left field to a point where I’m have to turn around look at Pat like yo he just doing like this cuz he doesn’t want to let him know that they got him. He’s like what? I’m like yo I’m glad I’m an infielder cuz it Hey yo there hit you different in the outfield in San Francisco, man. Like this this lady uh she was like all over my pants. Like this is before I pulled them above the knee. She was just like, “Hey, burn legs. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to show off your shortcomings? Look at that little bird legs.” Like she would not shut up. It was like intense. I was like, “Damn, I lift legs every day.” What are you talking about, lady? I think it’s was one of those things to where it’s like it’s well known and documented like what you’re getting when you go to the Northeast. When you go to New York, when you go to Baltimore, when you go to Philly, you know the fans are going to be tough. I think it’s more like you don’t expect that. from from San Francisco, like Jimmy said, LA, San Diego, comfortable places to play. Comfortable. But then you go to San Francisco and they are just wearing you out. It’s like, wait, where is this coming from? Like I I see I see the water. I see the beaches. I see all this stuff. Like, y’all not supposed to be acting like this. But to to be able to to be able to get that, I’m like, now I understand because they just wear you out. It’s they don’t stop. It’s just it’s on and on and on and on. Seven innings, Jimmy. Seven innings to your point with they don’t stop. There was a guy and I didn’t look at him till the seventh inning. Cuz I thought, “Ah, I’ll just ignore it. He’ll stop eventually.” And he literally the entire game, this is in San Francisco, he says, “You’re going back to Round Rock,” which is our triple at the time. You loser. What are you swinging at out there? You can’t out of the infield, you loser. I’m playing defense. He’s like saying little snarky comments like there’s not a silent moment. And he ends everything with you loser. So I turn around and look at him in like the seventh inning after I made a play and I’m trying to be like who is this guy? It’s a it’s a guy in a wheelchair like bearded almost looks like a homeless person. And he’s like what are you doing looking at me you loser? And so I’m like, “Oh man, this guy’s in a wheelchair and I turn around. He’s like, “Look at me when I’m talking to you, young loser.” It’s just you can’t win, man. They they do not I look it it’s been settled cuz I tell people all the time tonight and I’m glad you can validate what I’ve been feeling all these years from being a Bay Area kid to the East Coast and the difference and how they both have their way of getting under your skin as a visiting player. But yeah, Hunter, you’ve been known uh and and and we’ve heard he heard your speeches to give some pretty memorable pregame speeches. Is there one or a couple that you can share that you would classify as your favorite or I mean obviously like the one in Cincinnati and which was like it’s not just me. It was more like kind of the council of elders, if you will. But like I think y’all remember in 2011 and obviously Ryan really remembers like when we lost like we there was no way like we were not the best team in Major League Baseball that year. Like we we were just so shell shocked. We could not believe like I was still sick to my stomach of of you know that that game five against the Cardinals. And I just like the the demon it built inside of me was insane. Like I was like, I don’t want to feel that pain again. And we almost hit kind of the same thing. We got beat two games in a row in Cincinnati. And I felt that like that same wave where like you’re facing elimination and uh Jav Lopez and Scooter and Wilson, these guys were sitting around there like if we don’t say something, we’re dead. And I’m like, what needs to be said? I’ll say anything. I don’t want to go through that again. And it was kind of that memory of like I’m not ready to go home. Cuz I remember the year before with you guys what it felt like to go home. Like I don’t care if we have to win a 100 games in a row. Like I’m going to remind you like I got to like I told him I was like I got to play against you on the Philly side. We’re really good. Like like our pitching staff is really good. Pablo can hit. Buster can hit. Like I was just kind of like pumping us up. Like like I played against us. So don’t forget how good we are. And like I want to play one more day. Like whatever I you need. I’m just I’m going to give everything I have today to stay one more day because I’m not ready to go home. I love playing this game. I love playing with you guys and you’re really good. Was kind of the gist of the message is is was just that. And one more day led to one more ring. Yeah. Yeah. One more. And and honestly, the weird thing is is that and Jimmy, you have that kind of West Coast mindset. Um and and I think that I learned a lot from that cuz I I’m over ramped and almost like, you know, fire energy. Uh but you’re Jay Smooth, man. You’re always moving at your pace and slow is smooth and smooth is fast and like that like grace that they kind of taught me in San Francisco cuz it was that mindset. We had like slow music playing before the game as like we were about to like face elimination. It wasn’t like it was like relaxing. We were smiling at each other. We were like we’re like, “Hey, we’re going to embrace this. Let’s take it on nice and easy and we don’t have to be uh the hero. We don’t have to be too big. Let’s go in there and get this together and play our game.” and and it was very similar to kind of your rhythm that you taught me. I appreciate that. You know, we and we have we had some good conversations. We won’t get too deep, but you know, we talking about person one and person two and you know, Hunter, I remember we first had that conversation. He looked at me like I was I was an alien with four heads. I’m like, “No, just read this book. Like, you will get it.” And then when it clicked, oh man, it was called this was it’s the inner game of tennis by Timothy G. I love the inner game of tennis. when it clicks, you understand what your mind and your body and that internal battle and how you get to the next level. Now, as we all know, right, being on championship teams and great teams, right, you got to have chemistry. Yes. Right. So, the guys in the clubhouse, it’s you’re you’re you’re there 162 games. That’s family. You’re with them more than your your actual family. All right. Now, you got a chance in San Francisco, play with some guys. great character guys and some guys that were some characters, right? That’s well said, dude. What a play on words. So So I mean, obviously you you played with Buster Bo with Buster Posey, Tim Lindum, and the illustrious Brian Wilson. Do you have any like good clubhouse stories that you can share like of of of any of those guys? Anybody I mean that you can share? We don’t want to get in trouble. You know, Bust Buster is up at that level now. You know, we got to we got to protect Buster. Oh, I mean, well, Buster like there’s nothing to really protect. He is what he is. He’s just like he does everything right. He’s very He’s like the most humble superstar at the time. He kind of set the standard cuz like he was, you know, kind of one of the biggest faces in baseball. Not kind of, he was. Yeah. And he was like, “It’s not a big deal. I’m not above anything. I’m gonna show up. I’m gonna get the work in.” and but he also held a standard. Um, so he was kind of like your your bread and butter like he’s going to get the same guy every day, but he he also had this like intense competitive fire that you don’t he didn’t show, but like he wanted everything to be done right and he would let you know. And I think you talk about good character guys. Like it wasn’t about like chemistry always getting along. It was that we trusted each other enough to actually have conflict and friction and to confront issues and and stuff got called out. Um, and there was like kind of no mercy almost, which uh when I look back on it, I’m like, you have to like fail to succeed. And you have to really like to get the best out of yourself because the goal in professional sports is to get the best out of yourself, you have to take and swallow things that you do wrong. And you have to swallow why you did them wrong and how you can fix it. Um, and if everyone’s like afraid to step on egos and if your your your main guy, Buster Posey, doesn’t have an ego and he’s willing to, you know, take the brunt of like what he needs to do better. Um, and and you know, then everyone it’s kind of this open and it’s like it’s okay if you come at me because I need to learn this and absorb it and then be better the next time. So like it was kind of a accountability and like we weren’t afraid to get on each other. um which was a little bit different cuz you know a lot of times with superstars it’s hard to talk to them and like they’re going to make mistakes and they probably know it anyway cuz they’re superstars for a reason. But like it was just like we were all like okay with like like growing if that’s if if that’s the way to say it. Now as far as like crazy stories, we did all sorts of wild fun things over there. Like I remember we bought all these medieval helmets um like the old school like cuz I love like gladiator and medieval times and we put them in our lockers for like the energy and Romo would start putting on everyone’s helmet. That’s perfect for you. A gladiator helmet for sure. Yeah. And we you know and we would just like just goof it off like Romo would be always trying to like get him the TV camera lady behind her with the helmets on doing just weird stuff. So I don’t know just playing around having fun. Like Byron Wilson was like literally like a stand-up comedian. He was just like off thecharts smart. Like he’s like Rainman mathematically. Um just and like really funny. So like just talking to him, you know, he was the one who started the whole Godhee thing uh that Kevin Mar had. He got it from Wilson. It was just like hyper creative. Um he globbin. Welcome to the Heosphere after he like struck someone out or something. Just like you’re just like what the hell does he come up with this stuff there? Hey, but I’m I’m glad you there were some things you brought up about what makes a team great and that accountability and the superstars being accountable, not above anyone. Yeah. And and to tie it in any team, I know we did it with ourselves like no one’s above getting ragged ragged on, no one’s above getting called out. No one’s above anything that happens on the field amongst each other, regardless of how the public perception is. The only way to succeed is everybody has to be pulling the same way. And if you just get one person pulling the other way, it can change the whole chemistry and atmosphere of that clubhouse. So for those kids that are listening that are the stars on your team, you still have to be accountable. You have to make your job as a star, I feel, is to make everyone else better. that if someone doesn’t believe, you have to find a way to make them believe, hey, look, I’m just like you. Just like, you know, if you want to come in early and work, will work. If you want to go out there and do whatever it is you need to get better, I’m here to do it with you. You create a belief system because without that belief system, without that accountability, without the stars doing what they do, but also being humble enough to know that they’re not above anyone else. That’s how you form a winning a winning team. And we saw it with Philly. We saw it in San Francisco. you see it in any team uh that wins that there is accountability. So, I’m glad you brought that up because those are important things that I think no one counts. They think it’s all talent and you know everything is all cookies and and apple pies and it’s like no bro we have serious hard conversations that need to be had and when doing so you you establish trust with your teammates that I know you’re in a foxhole with me. We may not agree. We can agree to this week but I know you’re in a foxhole with me. So, thanks for highlighting that on what it takes to be a one not just a good teammate, but uh the the formings of a great team. Beautifully said. I got chills, dude. You you you literally like said that amazing. Like I hope someone watching that’s like trying to lead a company or an organization or team uh like bringing them into that belief system. Just so many amazing points. HP, I’m looking at your setup there. I see you got your gaming chair. You got your headphones on. I saw when uh mom was up there ragging, you were playing a game and she I for I forgot what it was. She asked you something. You kind of turned around like what? Then you kind of caught on like ah. So what what do you play? What what’s your game? What’s your go-to? Is there like cuz I’m not a gamer anymore. I’ve played and I retired a long time ago. And this I mean right now you got to be a scientist, a coder to know how to play games. Is there something that as a gamer you lock into a game or are there games that you play? So I I I’ve played m multiple throughout my whole life and I I think I’ve come to this realization that my soul is here to play. Like I live to play. I live to study strategy. I live to study games. So like you know I’m I’m into pickle ball now. I’m like highly addicted to that and like uh like in love with it. Just enjoying playing that. That’s odd. He’s addicted to something kids. So we have a dog. So, I have more free time. And uh for me, it’s just uh I do have one particular game. It’s called Dark and Darker. It’s ultra nerdy. Uh it’s just going into a dungeon with like Swords and Shields, but there’s this uh the battle and the spacing of it just reminds me a lot of hitting cuz it’s a lot of reacting to and like you, you know, the the way that I play it. You and I, I you die a lot and you get a lot of you know, you take a lot of pain. It’s very similar even to like playing as a team because uh it’s super hardcore when you die with your teammates and we’re like hanging out. It’s like kind of like a clubhouse. Like we have a Discord channel. Um we lose all our gear and so we go into all these battles and we’re like looking at the tape afterwards like what happened to you here? What happened here? Oh, I needed to do this and like and you just gradually get a little better and you get forged through the fire. And so I’ve just fallen in love with that game. But the the way I play is kind of like hitting because you have to like kind of take what’s coming at you. You have to catch it and send it back to them. So there’s like this coordination tickle in my brain that I really love from Dark and Darker. That reminds me of that old school Bond, the the James Bond day. Now see, I was terrible at it. My brother, like my like my my brother and my boys, I’d sit there and I’d watch them play. I tried to get on the mic and play with them, bro. They were picking me off left and right. I was like, “This ain’t fun.” And that’s why I stopped playing. This ain’t even fun for me. That’s why I stopped playing. Like they knew where I was. I didn’t even know where I was. I’m like, “How you going to tell me where I like I don’t even know where I am, bro.” They were probably That was probably their hundth time on the map and you’re like 10th time, you know? So, like for you know, it’s just like anything in life, you got to do it a lot. So, yeah. I should have I should have started when they started. That’s that’s Yeah. I got too far behind. I was like, there’s no catch. But, but you were working on an illustrious career as a illustrious career. I was. So, Hunter, we have a segment. The uh banana boat ritual. This is going to be interesting. So, as you know, obviously we have our our our corks, our routines, our superstitions. What was Hunter Pence’s superstitions? Because I know people watching your game and how you went about playing, they like that dude has to have some he’s got to have about six or seven superstitions that he would go about. What What were some of those? You know, honestly, I I wasn’t ultra superstitious. I was just a a routine-based, you know, like and and also like just kind of always reflecting on the game before, like how are teams getting me? So, I was more locked into routine. I I studied superstition and and all of that, but to me, it’s almost like fearbased, like I need to do this to and I’m not judging superstitions cuz there was times where we’re like, let’s just wear the same clothes like in 2012, we all wore the same clothes all three days in Cincinnati. Like, so we would die with that. Uh, you know, if something feels good, you just do it. And uh, and you know, one person said it and we were like, “All right, like I ain’t messing if that if that makes you happy.” So that clothes got a little dirty. But yeah, for me, I’m more routine based. Uh, I want to build a routine that I can trust. Uh, uh, the one thing I would do though is like, let’s say I had a bad game or whatever. Uh, so pregame I always like to take a shower. Uh, kind of freshen you up. You know, you’ve done the batting practice and everything. So come out fresh for the game. And if I had a bad game, I’d go to a new shower head. So, you got to find the hot shower head. That was probably the one that I got to find that shower head with hits. Exactly. That’s it. Hey, wait. Like, I would be like, if someone was in my the shower head that had the hits in it, you got to wait. Hey, he ain’t lying, though. He ain’t lying, bro. Hunter, let’s talk about now and future. We know how much you love and care for the baseball game and uh initiatives that you you probably have in mind that you haven’t even shared, but you have done things you’ve started or where you have the Hunter Pence Baseball Academy. What advice do you give to kids about youth baseball? Um, and also moving forward. And I I frame that because baseball, basketball, especially kids and parents are spending money and money and money. And it’s like your kid is not going to be a professional at 12. No, they’re not going pro. And not that you shouldn’t do these things, but the intensity of parents being involved. How do you differentiate yourself in what you teach uh at themies? Yeah, I mean obviously they want to everyone wants to win and and you want to give your best, but you got to also remember um that losing teaches you a lesson. Like baseball teaches us a lot of lessons and uh in my opinion it’s like the one thing that I’m going to if you love baseball, practice and and like don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to try things. Don’t think that because you lost the game or didn’t win the championship that you’re a loser. Like every time you play, you’ve already won. Like cuz you just like dial it in. Like show up. Persistence and consistence. Play, practice, grow. Play, practice, grow. Because the same teams don’t win the championship every year. And every one of those seasons that you’re losing, you’re growing and you’re getting a little bit better and you’re gaining a little bit of knowledge. So if you love it, and it’s the same for anything. It’s like Golden Eye. You were like, “Man, I’m not good at this game.” But those people have played the map a hundred times. They already knew everything. So like they knew where you were before you did. It’s the same with baseball. The preparation you put in gives you every opportunity to succeed. Um there’s many avenues. Even if let’s say it’s not baseball, whatever it is, music or uh but doors open for you when you show up. Keep showing up. Show up consistently to what you love. Use your imagination because there’s not only one way to be a professional in the baseball world. There’s coaching, there’s scouting, there’s media, there’s playing, there’s all there’s multiple ways to to find what you love and to succeed at it. So, my thing with regards to baseball and playing the game is like we’re going to put our best foot forward. We’re going to teach those uh, you know, growth mindset and and we’re going to play hard. We’re going to give our all. We’re going to teach you leadership, how to be a teammate. Um, and and those are kind of the goals. And we’re going to try to get you to college and and an opportunity to go and and chase a dream, but we’re also going to want to teach you leadership principles, teamwork principles, and really uh just bring up the the youth with uh with uh you know, confidence and conviction. Right. No, you you you have a nephew. Great name, by the way. Oh, I mean I mean great freaking name. If if if there if there was a name, I would want to come back and be named there. Striker Pence. Yeah, that’s that’s crazy work. Yeah, great job. Great great job to your brother and and and her sister and parents. Great job with the name. But 100 miles per hour. Yeah. I mean, how old is he? It makes sense. He’s 16. I don’t think I think he’s 100 miles per hour. I How? I I mean, well, he I will say this, so my brother threw really hard. He blew out. Um, and he’s protected his arm. He only throws one inning, you know, he’s like a closer. Uh, but he’s mainly a position player. And, you know, he’s 67, you know, two 200 some pounds. Like, he’s a big dude. He’s always been ultra flexible, but he he genuinely loves baseball. He’s been practicing like hardcore since he was young. He’s put in time like they, you know, he’s he does all the strength training. He’s he’s a just a genetic freak. He’s really strong to throw 100. Like I could it doesn’t matter what I do, I could never throw a hundred. Like I could throw balls till the cows come home. But, you know, he’s just got his his mom was like a collegiate swimmer. his dad well, you know, had a really really strong arm and and he just kind of blossomed into this and it is a lot of pressure this kid because he’s got a lot of fame now. People are kind of hard on him and um you know and but also it comes with the territory, right? But he’s he’s handled it really well. He stays humble, you know, and he’s he’s a good kid, but he has worked hard and he has earned it. And a lot of people are like, well, you know, your uncle’s 100 pen, so of course you’re like great. But I think you got to give the kid credit. He’s dealt with pressure and anxiety and all these things. And I’m really proud of him for overcoming and and being, you know, like learning how to handle the spotlight, but um also mastering his craft and getting command of 100. So he he really who knows what the ceiling is. I think there is a science behind how to like maximize your velocity potential. And my brother’s just trying to make the best decisions he can for for his uh for his his boy. And and he’s he’s a fun kid. Like when his personality comes out, when he starts opening up, uh he’s actually crazy hilarious. So, uh, I’m excited to watch him blossom. That’s that Pence DNA right there. Straight up. He’s talking about he’s a fun kid person. I’m like, yes, it just it’s it makes sense. We know you, so we’re not surprised. Everyone else that’s following you and they shouldn’t be surprised either. But it’s it’s always good to hear when funny people have these quirks about them. Say that about other funny people that have quirks about them. It’s like that’s just that’s who you guys are. That’s the Pence family. But I said that name nailed it. Striker. Yeah. That’s Alison. Like she had the names. They’re they’re they’re three boys. It’s like Top Gun. It’s Striker, Ace, and Maverick. That’s right. They got I love that, dude. I love that, man. That’s That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Well, Hunter, we’ve come to the to the end of our show, man. Bro, again, always a pleasure being able to see you, brother. Appreciate your time. continued success in everything you do, bro. Still lighting it up, man. Still lighting up the room, bro. It’s never a bad day when you’re 100 p. Now, I appreciate that about you. We can’t reiterate it enough like the ball of energy, the ball of light that you have been and that you still are. And we talked about it when you got traded, it was crazy just like what? Yeah. And to see you like when we do see each see each other, it’s the same. It’s just you’re just full of love and I appreciate about that about you and I hope everyone gets to see that, know that about you as you uh continue to make strides after baseball. Uh and you know you you and mama, you guys keep sending these prank videos cuz you do a good job. That’s it. It’s been a pleasure, man. Thank you for joining us today, Hunter. We appreciate you, brother. And we’ll see you around. Absolute honor and thank you all for thinking of me. Continued success. Love the podcast. Love everything you’re doing it. Big H piece J- Roll. Love you guys. Uh what a what a what a what a privilege. Yes, sir. Appreciate you, bro. [Music]

Four-time MLB All-Star and two-time World Series Champion, Hunter Pence, talks about his time with the San Francisco Giants, reflects on playing in the World Series and more on the 6-1-1 podcast.

00:00 – 01:10 – Intro
01:11 – 03:27 – Hunter Pence on his quirkiness
03:28 – 05:00 – Hunter’s pop was underrated
05:01 – 07:25 – Broken bat RBI in 2012 NLCS
07:26 – 10:27 – His ‘Welcome to the Big Leagues’ moment
10:28 – 11:25 – Hunter’s current player comp: Jacob Wilson
11:26 – 13:20 – Hunter’s time in Philly
13:21 – 15:20 – Being a San Francisco Giant
15:21 – 23:24 – Giants fans vs. Phillies fans
23:25 – 26:39 – Hunter’s locker room speeches
26:40 – 30:27 – Playing with Buster Posey, Brian Wilson and other Giants
30:28 – 32:35 – Being a great teammate
32:36 – 35:16 – Favorite video games?
35:17 – 37:00 – Any superstitions?
37:01 – 39:42 – Hunter Pence Baseball Academy
39:43 – 43:57 – Hunter’s phenom nephew, Striker Pence

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