Tim Laudner's Retirement Baffles Twins

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - It is so hard to understand.

A couple of weeks ago, Minnesota Twin catcher Tim Laudner walked away from major-league baseball. He put down his bat, took off his spikes and went home to Edina, Minn., to be with his wife, Tammy, and their son, Sam.

Laudner walked away from a high-profile job that pays $625,000 per year. He walked away from fame and fortune. He walked away from a game that millions would gladly play for free.

This is not a case of an over-the-hill journeyman coming to grips with reality. The Twins want Laudner. They need Laudner. He was their starter when they won the World Series in 1987 and he was an American League All-Star in 1988. He is 31 years old and in perfect health.

He just decided he's had enough of the big-league life.

There is no family crisis, no evidence of hidden motivation. Laudner is not suspected of substance abuse and has not joined a cult. The Twins are taking him at his word - he doesn't want to play any more.

``I'd be kidding myself if I didn't think this stuff is actually over my head,'' said Minnesota General Manager Andy MacPhail. ``I didn't pick up any signs that he was unhappy. We just have to respect what his wishes are and I admire him for not just going through the motions and picking up his paycheck.''

Manager Tom Kelly doesn't understand. Laudner played 100 games last year, hitting .222 with six home runs and 27 runs batted in. Brian Harper took over as the No. 1 catcher, but the Twins don't believe Laudner is bothered by the backup role.

Born in Mason City, Iowa, Laudner went to high school in Brooklyn Park, Minn. A local boy who made good, he'd been in the majors since 1982 and hit 77 homers and knocked in 263 runs while throwing out 24 percent of those who tried to steal against him. He was a steady catcher who could hit with power. He was a good guy in the clubhouse.

He came to spring training and got a hit in his only at-bat in the first exhibition game. He had dinner with Kent Hrbek and their wives that night and nothing was said about retiring. The next day, Laudner talked to Kelly and MacPhail and said he didn't want to play anymore.

``When he said it the first day, we told him to think about it for a while, so I told the writers something about him being sick,'' said Kelly. ``We got away with that for a couple of days. Right up until he left.

``He said he couldn't get fired up coming to the ballpark. His best friends didn't even know about this. He was doing his drills, all the fundamentals.

``We sat in that office and talked. He had his mind made up. He's not a dummy. He had nothing against me or my coaches. I've had him since he started. He just had no desire to play the game, no fire to come to the ballpark.

``I had him penciled in. I was planning on him and Harper being our catchers. Harper's not an everyday player.''

Laudner told MacPhail he might call a Twin Cities outdoors company about a job.

Hrbek says, ``It's funny, for some reason, my wife thought he might retire. I don't know why. I guess he just got sick of the game. He'd had enough.

``Sure, this is a great job, but like any other job, there are hard parts of it. He got hurt last year. He's just got no fire left and if that's how he feels, it's a wise decision on his part. He's walking away from a half-million dollars.

``I know I won't hang around when I've had enough.''

Randy Bush roomed with Laudner for seven seasons, even last year when they were making the big money. Bush has spoken with his friend and former teammate since Laudner left Orlando.

``I have no idea and it's not fair to speculate,'' says Bush. ``He just needs to talk to people up there and get it sorted out in his mind.

``I talked to him and he sounded great. He told me some jokes and he seemed happy with his decision. He just has to find out what's bothering him.

``I don't understand it, nobody understands it. We're like everybody else. I just want him to be happy - 10 years from now, not just 30 days from now. That's the most important thing, because you can't go back.''

Voluntary retirement in the prime of life is something we have trouble understanding - particularly when one walks away from a high-paying job in major-league baseball. But we're told that Tim Laudner is happily unemployed, happy just to be with his family.

The baseball season starts tomorrow and there are hundreds of hungry hearts waiting to take his place.