(The Chief, circa 2006. Photo by @misschatter.)
For as long as he can remember, Chad Cordero would wake up on a late January morning like this and start thinking about throwing a baseball. But the winter of 2012 has been like nothing Chad Cordero has ever experienced in his life. “Very weird” is how Cordero described it in a phone call on Monday. “This time of year I’d be thinking about getting ready for Spring Training, throwing bullpens, playing catch, trying to get in shape. It’s very different.”
Instead, the greatest closer in the (albeit brief) history of the Washington Nationals is enjoying life at home in California with his family and coaching high school baseball. And that’s exactly where he wants to be at the moment. Words can’t properly do justice to describe the hell Cordero has been through over the past year; he retired from professional baseball in June after attempting another comeback from shoulder surgery (don’t underestimate the impact of those 224 appearances with the Nationals from 2005-2008), mere months after the tragic loss of his infant daughter Tehya to SIDS. On his decision to retire last June, Cordero explains: “I needed time to clear my head after everything that happened with my daughter. I needed to step back and reassess. Once I found out my wife was pregnant again, I wanted to be there with her, with my family. I didn’t want to miss a day. I didn’t want to miss a minute.”
And who could blame him? Cordero and his wife Jamie welcomed a son, Cooper, into the world on January 3.
To Washington DC baseball fans, the man known best as “The Chief” remains one of the most beloved of the original 2005 Nats; and he’ll be returning to the Washington DC area this summer, participating in Bethesda Big Train’s Celebrity Baseball camp from July 16 to July 20 at Cabin John Park in Bethesda, Maryland. More information about the camp is available on the Big Train website.
We had a chance to speak with Cordero by phone on Monday about his involvement in the camp, and what he’s been doing these days.
On retiring from baseball last June, and how different this winter has been from previous winters in his life:
“It’s very weird. This time of year I’d be thinking about getting ready for Spring Training, throwing bullpens, playing catch, trying to get in shape. It’s very different. I still think about getting back in eventually. There’s still a chance. Maybe next year. But (last June) I needed time to clear my head after everything that happened with my daughter. I needed to step back and reassess. Once I found out my wife was pregnant again, I wanted to be there with her, with my family. I didn’t want to miss a day. I didn’t want to miss a minute.”
Cordero is currently an assistant baseball coach at Santa Margarita High School in California. We asked him about that…
“A buddy of mine I played with at Cal State Fullerton (David Bacani) is head coach. Once he found out I was coming home last summer he asked if I wanted to coach. And I love it. I’m doing a little bit of everything – I’m the first base coach. Any chance I have to give back, to help out these kids…it’s a lot of fun. I enjoy it. In a lot of ways it’s more tiring than playing! It’s very rewarding, seeing these kids learn and make progress.”
...so is coaching something he could see himself doing long term?
“Yes, I don’t ever want to be out of baseball for good. If I can get back by coaching -- whether at high school, college, pro – any level would (appeal) to me. Anything. It’s a lot of fun.”
On how and why he got involved with a DC-area baseball camp, and what his level of involvement will be:
“My friend Andrew asked if I’d be interested, and I jumped at the chance. Any chance I have to get back to DC – that city and all the fans there mean so much to me. I jumped at the chance. I saw it as an opportunity to get back to the DC area and give back. I’ll be there the whole time, helping out with everything. I love doing this kind of thing.”
Couldn’t help but notice Cordero joined Twitter recently…(follow him at @ChadCordero32)
“I was reluctant to get a Twitter account but I finally gave in.”
Cordero was at former teammate Joel Hanrahan's wedding a few weeks ago in Texas, at the same hotel where Scott Boras held his sham of a top-secret meeting with Prince Fielder and the Rangers. Did Chief see Prince?
“Nah, heard rumors that he was there. Just rumors. Didn’t see him.”
Any other thoughts on his upcoming return to the DC area this summer?
“Can’t wait. I’m really looking forward to it. I want to just go to a game! Be a fan, sit in the stands, eat a hotdog! My wife and I love DC. Can’t wait to get back!”
---Attention Washington Nationals PR/Marketing staff: The Nats are at home July 17-19 against the Mets, and play the Braves on the 20th. How about a "Hail to the Chief" night for one of those games at Nationals Park? Chief throws out the first pitch,flat-brimmed cap give away for the kids? Come on, this is a no-brainer!
Half-smoke, Chad, half-smoke.
Great interview, I'm glad he's going to be around and I'm all for him throwing out the first pitch when he's around.
I wonder how he'd do in the booth. Of course, he wants to be around his family, so that makes it tough. Maybe he can do the studio show...
Posted by: WFY | January 24, 2012 at 08:23 AM
I took a look at Baseball Reference, and saw that they list his career eanings at $11.5M. I was glad to see that, since with just a little common sense, he can spend as much time as he wants with his family without worrying about a career. Keeping in baseball through coaching will let him maintain his sanity (retired for 50 years? Ack!), and it doesn't matter what they pay him.
+1/2St.
Posted by: Positively Half St. | January 24, 2012 at 08:30 AM
Thanks much for this update. Go, Chief! Congrats on the new baby. (And come on, Nats - first pitch!)
Posted by: natsfan1a | January 24, 2012 at 09:00 AM
The Chief deserves a night! Do it Nats.
Posted by: erniek4567 | January 24, 2012 at 09:02 AM
I live in south carolina and would drive up to see the chief throw out the first pitch. I hope 2013 he makes a comeback and the Nats invite him to camp!
Posted by: J. Taylor | January 24, 2012 at 09:47 AM
@ernie, couldn't agree more! The Nats are lucky he doesn't hold any grudges and the reason is Chad has CLASS.
Unless he requires some large "appearance fee" which I doubt, why aren't the Nats on top of this. He is flying from California to DC so he will already be in the area. He even said he wants to attend a game.
Is this another Feffer Fail or someone else? I'm calling the Nats to see if I can talk to someone. Will report back.
Posted by: Michael L.G. | January 24, 2012 at 10:34 AM
NatsEnquirer wrote "Chief throws out the first pitch,flat-brimmed cap give away for the kids? Come on, this is a no-brainer!"
What's a no-brainer to us seems to befuddle those in Nats PR and marketing.
I'll assume Chad shows up even if he has to buy his own ticket. I could see why they wouldn't honor him before as he wasn't retired but to not honor the Nats 1st All Star and all around great guy would be an epic fail. I will also say they need a Frank Robinson day!
Posted by: NatsLink | January 24, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Hail to the Chief!
Posted by: Steve M. | January 24, 2012 at 11:33 AM
It would be a mind-boggler for me if the Nats drop the ball on honoring a true Nat.
The Nats did a nice tribute for former Expos Gary Carter and Andre Dawson and while I understand Chad Cordero doesn't qualify for the Ring of Honor, he does qualify to be honored by the Nats in a fitting way and more so then a first pitch at 6:55 when people are still filling the ballpark and making their way to their seats. It has to be more than that. He is one of ours. A true Washington National.
The Nats just cannot screw up this opportunity or they will get their PF (potential fail) on this one.
How many opportunities have the Nats had to let Washington DC sports fans know that they get it? It blows my mind that they can't even get a Winter FanFest so why should we think they could do something simple like Chad Cordero cap night or Chad Cordero bobblehead night and bring this man on the field seconds before the Nats take the field to throw out the 1st pitch and get a standing ovation from a near sell-out crowd.
Posted by: Steve M. | January 24, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Oh well...
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/tigers-to-sign-prince-fielder.html
Posted by: Adam | January 24, 2012 at 03:50 PM