Serby's Sunday Q & A with... Raul Ibanez

Post columnist Steve Serby caught up with veteran Yankees outfielder Raul Ibanez for a Q&A session.

Q: What’s it like for you being a New York Yankee?

A: I grew up watching the Yankees. I grew up in Miami. Channel 39 in Miami, that kinda became the Yankee station for us. Prior to having cable, prior to TBS, that was really like my teams. I loved Reggie Jackson. I used to watch Reggie Jackson, Lou Piniella, Willie Randolph, Chris Chambliss, Thurman Munson, I had all their baseball cards. ... I loved Graig Nettles, loved that guy. ... Mickey Rivers, Roy White, I remember all those guys ... the Goose [Rich Gossage], [Ron] Guidry, Catfish Hunter ... I loved them. And then once, of course, you get to the big leagues, you start looking at the game a little differently. The Yankees ... knocked us [Mariners] out of the playoffs in 2000. Then they knocked the Phillies out of the World Series in ’09, so I wasn’t a big Yankee fan anymore. Becoming a Yankee ... just to know that I can forever be part of this great organization, is such an honor, and a blessing.

Q: Is there an aura about the Yankees?

A: I think there’s a certain mystique, yeah, there is. There is. And when you’re on the other side ... people I think carry some stereotypes about, when you play against the Yankees, they kinda think certain things about the Yankees, like “they’re cocky,” that type of thing. But it’s nothing like that. It’s actually some of the most humble guys I’ve ever played with are in this clubhouse.

Q: Talk about the young Alex Rodriguez.

A: We played together in ’94 in Single A.

Q: What was he like then?

A: Very driven. Very hard-working. Really passionate about the game. Had an incredible drive to be the best player in the game. That was his goal then.

Q: And how would you describe him now?

A: Really very similar to that. He hasn’t changed much ... really, really smart player. And a great teammate.

Q: How would you sum up what your career has been like?

A: I could tell you that everything I’ve ever been able to accomplish, it’s been by the grace of God. But it’s also been pure will, determination and drive and integrity. ... I’ve scratched and fought and clawed for everything that I’ve gotten in this game. I think it’s been about tenacity and about hard work.

Q: It took you eight years to get an opportunity to play every day.

A: I think who I thought I was in my mind didn’t match up with who I was on the field. So I just kinda stayed focused on who I believed I could be. And I would say things to myself like, “My circumstances don’t define me.”

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