"The sun will rise, the sun will set, and I'll have lunch.” – Lou Gorman, 1987.
The 1986 Red Sox came thisclose to ending what was then just a 68-year World Series drought. The next spring, reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and AL MVP Roger Clemens walked out of camp over a contract dispute – the Red Sox had renewed his contract for a whopping $225,000.
The walkout was unexpected and sent everyone in Winter Haven, Fla., at the time, including one young reporter covering his first spring training, into scramble mode. After speaking with Clemens’ agent at the time, Randy Hendricks, in the parking lot beyond left field at Chain O’Lakes Park, we caught up with the Red Sox GM.
Ever calm and never rattled, Gorman, who passed away in 2011, informed the gathered throng of his itinerary. Eventually Clemens returned for $650,000 and won another Cy Young Award in Boston. And Lou had dinner.
