Southeast coach Bieser has history with Matheny

At some point during Mike Matheny's visit to Cape Girardeau this evening, the St. Louis Cardinals manager almost certainly will shake the hand of Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Steve Bieser. It won't be the first or last time, as the two baseball head men have built a relationship through the years.

Matheny produces something Bieser wants -- baseball-playing teenage boys.

That's not a product of Matheny's role as a Major League Baseball skipper, but of his role as father of five, four of whom are the aforementioned baseball-playing boys.

"I've recruited every one of his sons so far," Bieser said. "Part of that comes with the parent connection -- letting Mike know where our program is at, and it's a great fit for his sons. We tried on every one, and they had some [other] opportunities and have been successful. But we'll keep going down that path and trying."

Tate is the oldest Matheny boy, having plied his trade at Missouri State before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox.

Luke was next, spurning Bieser for Oklahoma State.

The most recent is Jake, who just last month committed to play college baseball at Indiana.

Blaise is the only one left, having just started his high-school career, but Bieser undoubtedly will try one day to bring a Matheny to town for more than just a quick visit.

The relationship between the two men goes back further than Matheny's role as a supply line for young baseball players.

In fact, it goes back 15 years, when the two men were still playing baseball themselves.

It was before the 2000 season when Matheny arrived in St. Louis as a free agent fresh off a stint with the Toronto Blue Jays. He wanted to be the No. 1 backstop, and he claimed that role with the Cardinals, whether it was expected or not.

"I think in the beginning he was looked at as the backup," Bieser said. "I think everyone in the organization wanted to see Eli Marrero as the No. 1 guy because [the front office] saw him as the future."

Bieser knows because he was there.

Back then, the Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, native had spent a decade as a professional baseball player after starring at Southeast as a collegian.

In the spring of 2000, he didn't know he would play a major role in carrying Cardinals affiliate Memphis Redbirds to the Class AAA World Series later that year or that he would leave professional baseball the following year.

In the spring of 2000, all he knew was he was in major-league camp with St. Louis, and in his mind, he was ready to contribute on the major-league level.

"At that point, I still thought I was a big-league player," Bieser said. "As a bench guy I was pretty successful with the Mets and as a pinch hitter with the Pirates. And then the year I had in '99 [at the AAA level], I thought [St. Louis] had a lot of interest in me.

"I was a free agent and re-signed and at that point was told I had a legit shot. In reality, looking back, I didn't get much opportunity, but going in, I thought it was a legit opportunity."

Bieser had made contributions in 60 major-league appearances across two seasons in New York and Pittsburgh, and his versatility offered extra value. He spent a lot of time catching and playing outfield but ultimately ended up playing every position on the field at some point in his career.

Of course, the Cardinals weren't looking for a catcher. They had a prospect in Marrero, and then there was Matheny.

"That was kind of our first meeting," Bieser said. "We were both going into camp vying for that catcher position -- he was a full-time catcher, and I was more of a utility guy. I don't think he saw a threat in me. My role was a dual guy and a third catcher. I don't think we were competing for the same spot. I was doing a lot of utility-type stuff. Really, my biggest competition at the time was Placido Polanco. My battle was with other guys with a lot of versatility.

"Mike came in and had caught 100-something games the years before in the big leagues. His goal was to be the No. 1 guy."

Matheny became that guy, ultimately catching 611 games in a Cardinal uniform, winning multiple Gold Gloves and helping the team to the World Series. But at that time, Matheny still was trying to prove he deserved that opportunity, and Bieser got a firsthand look.

Bieser was a few years older than Matheny but still was impressed by what he saw in the way the backstop handled his business behind the scenes.

"To see how he was able to balance all the things that were going on in spring training was really impressive to me," Bieser said. "He just had so much faith. Even during camp, we brought in [another catcher in] Rick Wilkins. They were constantly looking for other options. Mike, being the warrior he is, he battled through it.

"The biggest thing for Mike is his faith. He's super strong in his faith and realized all he could control was going out and being the best he could be every day, and things will work out. That's something I really admire about him. He was willing to help me just like I was willing to help him. That's just his personality, and that's what makes him such a great manager today."

The two former backstops and current managers have kept in touch in the time since that spring training, but they don't talk about that spring much. Each is too concerned about his own teams to spend time discussing the short time they shared one.

Now, they talk about the present -- philosophies, coaching ideas and how to help their teams and players better.

When the time is right, Bieser tells Matheny about how his Redhawks would be a great fit for the next Matheny generation. And each time they shake hands, they add to their shared history.