The way Jim Kaat sees it, he has already won.
Just by being nominated.
"At my age, being retired, to be recognized in this way ... This is more than I could ever have imagined," the 71-year-old former major league pitcher and long-time Stuart, Fla. resident said of being nominated last week for a national Sports Emmy for his part-time work with the MLB Network.
"It's an honor just to be mentioned with the other nominees, especially considering I did only 10 games last year."
Apparently, Kaat did something special in those telecasts, because his competition for the Emmy in the Outstanding Sports Personality - Sports Event Analyst category includes the marquee likes of Phil Simms (CBS), Tim McCarver (FOX), Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Jon Gruden (ESPN) and Jeff Van Gundy (ABC).
And he did so despite being out of the booth for two seasons.
After 50 years in baseball - 25 as a pitcher, 25 as a broadcaster - Kaat retired in the fall of 2006. He had spent 12 years behind the New York Yankees' microphone, but he left the YES Network to spend time with his then-wife, Mary Ann, who was battling cancer.
"We were going to spend our summers traveling," Kaat said, "but all that came to an abrupt halt."
It was during their second summer of traveling around America in a motor home that his wife's condition worsened. She died in July 2008, leaving him retired and alone.
An avid golfer, Kaat would play often, but he needed more.
Finally, his baseball buddy - the same Tim McCarver he's now up against for an Emmy - suggested he go back to work, at least on a part-time basis. So he made a few calls.
Soon afterward, Kaat was in Puerto Rico for MLB International's telecasts of World Baseball Classic games. He then signed on to do at least 10 regular-season games for the fledgling MLB Network.
"The timing was perfect," Kaat said.
Now, he's a nominee for an award that would be the biggest of his broadcasting life.
"When I found out, it was quite a shocker," Kaat said. "I'm not even sure what was submitted."
Just his usual work would be enough.
Kaat won seven New York Emmy awards as a member of the Yankees' broadcast team. Though he was essentially employed by the team, he was anything but a homer as he shared his keen insights and sometimes-strong opinions with his audience.
As a big-league pitcher, Kaat won 283 games and 16 consecutive Gold Gloves. He knows how the game is supposed to be played. And when it isn't, he isn't shy about calling out the offenders.
"New York fans demand that," Kaat said. "They're a pretty sophisticated group. So I was well-received there. I got a lot of nice letters when I retired."
Truth is, the guy is good.
He tells you what you need to know. Often, he tells you something you didn't know, mixing wonderful memories with firsthand knowledge and honest commentary.
"It's always been something that has come relatively easy for me," Kaat said of his transition from the playing field to broadcast booth. "But, just like in baseball, I had a lot of good coaches along the way, guys like Dick Enberg, John Madden, Dick Stockton and, of course, Timmy (McCarver). And, just like in baseball, I've always taken a lot of pride in making sure I was prepared to do the job."
Kaat, who remarried last June, goes back to work next month, when he'll do the first two games - April 8 in Atlanta and April 15 at Yankee Stadium - of at least 10 he's contracted to call for the MLB Network. He and his new wife, Margie, also plan to be in New York on April 26 for the Emmy presentations.
"It's the perfect situation," Kaat said. "Margie likes to travel, and this keeps me involved in a game I've been around my whole life. Yet, we've still got plenty of free time for other things. ... For me to get a second chance like this at my age, I've been very blessed."
He has already won.
Emmy or not.
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