Joey Votto ‘serious’ about retirement plan: Driving a school bus

“I would like to drive a yellow bus when I’m older,” Votto told Brian Kenny during an interview at Great American Ball Park. “I want to be either a crossing guard or drive a yellow bus and drive the kids to school.”

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Votto, who turns 35 in September, said he plans to retire when he’s 40 or 41 and then drive the yellow bus for as long as he lives.

“I’m serious about that,” Votto said. “I think it would be great.”

Most of Votto’s interview centered around his appearance on the new Ted Williams documentary on PBS. Votto expressed regret he never got to meet Williams, who he considers the second-best baseball player of all time behind Babe Ruth. He has carried Williams’ book, “The Science of Hitting,” with him at times and read it several times.

“Anytime I ever have doubts when it comes to hitting, I go to the book,” Votto said. “It’s served me really well. Unfortunately, I never got to meet him, shake his hand. Johnny Bench comes through the clubhouse. Joe Morgan comes through the clubhouse. I’ve met Pete Rose several times. Legends of the game. But my icon, my guy, unfortunately, I did not get to meet Ted Williams. I wish I had. I would have pestered him. I would have hit him up with a bunch of questions and asked him about the book and about the subtleties and nuances of hitting.”

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Kenny asked Votto what he would have asked Williams.

“I think about this often as a 34-year-old about to turn 35,” Votto said. “I would have asked him, ‘Tell me what you did as you got older? I know you lost a little bit of whip in your swing. I know things changed for you physically. Your legs didn’t feel a certain way. You just don’t have the same spunk that you used to.’ For me, I experience that at times. ‘What did you do? What changes did you make?’”