Mom knew Buehrle would succeed

By Jimmy Greenfield / MLB.com

Hardly a homestand goes by that Pat Buehrle doesn't make the trip from St. Charles, Mo., to Chicago in order to see her son, staff ace Mark Buehrle, pitch for the White Sox.

It wasn't too long ago that all Pat had to do to see her 23-year-old son pitch was walk over to the local Little League diamond.

On this particular afternoon at Comiskey Park, Pat and her mother, Donna Deidiker, graciously took time between innings of Buehrle's latest start to share a few stories about their son and grandson, who made them proud long before he donned a White Sox uniform.

MLB.com: OK, to start off, what was the best Mother's Day gift Mark ever gave you?

Pat Buehrle: You'll let me think for a while?

MLB.com: Alright, I'll let you get back to that one. Being Mark's Mom you had to get used to him being in the Majors, but is it harder to watch him pitch at the professional level than it was in Little League?

Pat Buehrle: It's easier.

MLB.com: Why's that?

Pat Buehrle: I know how good Mark is and I've watched him since he was little. He's out there to play ball, he loves to play ball. And he's out there to do a job. And I'm more relaxed because he's just learned a lot since he's been here.

MLB.com: So he just got out of a bases-loaded jam, how relaxed were you?

Pat Buehrle: (laughs) I was getting a little nervous. I was getting really nervous, but I knew he could do it.

MLB.com: Does it amaze you still to see him out there on the field?

Pat Buehrle: It sure does. It's very exciting.

MLB.com: He was drafted pretty low and ascended to the White Sox pretty quickly. When he got called up a couple years ago and called to say 'Hey, Mom, I'm going to the Majors,' What did you say?

Pat Buehrle: I thought he was teasing me. Because he's a big teaser and he'll tease me about everything and anything. I knew he thought it might happen some day and I thought he was just calling. Then he said 'Mom, I'm going!' And I said 'No, you're not Mark.' And he said 'Yeah, I have to leave. I have to get my clothes washed and everything else.' Then he called again around midnight. It was very cool. But I thought he was kidding at first.

MLB.com: It must have been a very exciting time. You said you're less nervous now than in Little League. Most Mom's are more nervous when their kids are young. What was he like as a Little Leaguer?

Pat Buehrle: He was good. He would strike the kids out, they just couldn't hit him. He could not pitch for two weeks to a month and he could always go out and throw a ball and always throw strikes. And of course kids couldn't hit strikes then, but now they can. He's just always been good since he was little. I kept telling everybody you better watch Mark because he's good.

MLB.com: When was the earliest a coach told you you've got something special here?

Pat Buehrle: Well, they used to come after him all along and want Mark to play on their team, all these good teams. I only thought things like that happened in the Major Leagues, I didn't think it happened when they were little kids.

MLB.com: How little was he?

Pat Buehrle: Well, he started a year before he could play ball. He wanted to play so bad that we took him and they said as long as there weren't too many kids to play they'd let him play. He didn't play tee ball, he just started a year before they normally start, which I don't even know what age that is. Five, maybe. Six, seven.

MLB.com: Was he always a pitcher?

Pat Buehrle: He played everywhere. He even caught one year, he wanted to catch so bad. They told him no, left-handers don't catch. He talked them into it, so he got to catch. He played first, he played second, shortstop. He's been in the outfield. He's pitched probably almost the whole time since he started.

MLB.com: OK, tough questions now. What do you think of his blonde hair and his chin beard?

Pat Buehrle: The blonde hair I love. The chin beard, that can go. I've never liked that since he had it because I think he's a very handsome boy and I don't like that on him. But if that's what he wants, he can have it.

Donna Deidiker: He said wanted to look tough, didn't he?

Pat Buehrle: Yeah, that's what he said. He wanted to look tough.

Donna Deidiker: He wants to look mean so they wouldn't think he's a kid when he pitches.

MLB.com: So you think he's a sweet kid?

Donna Deidiker: Oh, definitely.

MLB.com: Does it make him look tough?

Donna Deidiker: No, I didn't think so, but he felt tough.

MLB.com: Would he listen to you if you said 'Hey, I think it ought to go?'

Pat Buehrle: No, because I've already told him. 'Mark, I think you ought to cut that off.' Then he goes 'No, Mom. I'm doing good with it.' So he thinks that's helping him.

MLB.com: Now, do you try to come to most of his home games?

Pat Buehrle: We try to.

MLB.com: How do you think he pitches when you're in attendance? Do you think there's a difference?

Donna Deidiker: I think we give him confidence.

Pat Buehrle: He was winning the first four I went to, all four of them. And he said 'Mom, you've got to be there next week.' And I said 'Mark, I've got to work.' And he's like 'But you must be giving me my good luck.' Well, then he won, so he could see it's not me.

MLB.com: Now, what was Mark like on Mother's Day, did he give you good gifts?

Pat Buehrle: Probably. I really can't remember. I know at school they made Mother's Day cards and stuff, and I saved some of those and that meant a lot to me when he was younger.

MLB.com: What was the worst thing Mark ever did growing up?

Pat Buehrle: I can't think of anything. Mark was a really good kid. Even when he got to high school he didn't go to a lot of the parties that the kids went to, and he even says that now. (Imitates Mark's voice) 'I was never a kid that was into that stuff'. He kind of regrets it now. I never had any trouble with Mark, he was a good kid.

MLB.com: So are you afraid he'll be corrupted by the rough and tumble life in the Major Leagues?

Pat Buehrle: (laughs) A little bit. But not too bad.

MLB.com: When you talk to him what does he tell you about being a ballplayer? Is he still amazed that he's at this level and it's that much fun for him?

Pat Buehrle: Yes, definitely. Every day is a dream to him and he's so thankful he's here. And he really enjoys it. He doesn't feel like he's in the Major Leagues. He just forgets everybody out in the stands and tries to do a good job.

MLB.com: How about you? When you're in the stands watching the game do the fans know that you're Mark's Mom and Grandma?

Pat Buehrle: Yeah, I've had a lot of people walk over to me and go 'You've got to be Mark's Mom.' We wear his shirts and they all congratulate us and tell us how exciting it must be, all that kind of stuff.

MLB.com: But a lot of people wear his shirt. Is that strange to see your name on the backs of people walking around the ballpark?

Pat Buehrle: You know, I haven't really seen very many people with Mark's shirt on other than family. I thought they were supposed to be selling it, but I don't think they are so far.

MLB.com: I think they are, plus you can get it made.

Pat Buehrle: Oh yeah, that's how I got my first one. I got mine made special, mine was the second one made. The first place he pitched was Minnesota. We went to the big mall up there and we had it made up there.

MLB.com: And that was the first time he pitched?

Pat Buehrle: Yes, in the Major Leagues.

MLB.com: And this one you have on now is the same one?

Pat Buehrle: Right.

MLB.com: So you've had this all along.

Pat Buehrle: From the very beginning.

MLB.com: Now, do you still mother him or is it time to let go?

Pat Buehrle: It's time to let go, but I do mother him a little. He doesn't have a wife and he relies on his Mom a lot. We had to get his first house, and we just bought one up here. Me and his Dad picked it out. He wasn't even involved in it. I guess I must do a pretty good job or he wouldn't keep asking me.

MLB.com: So I think he'll keep you around for a little while longer.

Pat Buehrle: I think so. I think he'll always be Mother's little boy.