Former Philadelphia Phillies star Lenny Dykstra talks about his risk-taking attitude to reach the top of his game

Former Philadelphia Phillies star Lenny Dykstra recently appeared on OutKick’s The Curt Schilling Baseball Show, where he discussed MLB's new pitch clock rule. The rule stipulates that there is a 30-second timer between batters and a time limit between pitches.

When asked to weigh in on the immediate effects of MLB's pitch clock rule on batters, Dykstra chose to narrate an old story from his illustrious career. His story involved former Atlanta Braves owner's first wife, Jane Fonda.

"When I led off a game on the road, at that moment in time, I controlled everything. So when we used to play Atlanta, I see a long sweeping walk and start right in front of Ted Turner and Jane Fonda."

He added:

“I’d stare right into Jane Fonda’s eyes. And I’d say some things that you probably shouldn’t say on air. But everyone has tradition and people are yelling, 'get in the box, get in the box,' and I’d be like, 'you know what I’d say'...You don’t get voted the ‘most-hated player’ at least five years in a row without doing these kinds of things. I was voted the most-hated player because I made the other guy’s job harder.”

"Give this a listen. I appear on Curt Schilling show." - Lenny Dykstra

Hearing such an incident straight from the horse's mouth makes it evident that Dykstra's audacious tactics helped him achieve on-field success.

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Lenny Dykstra was always a tough cookie in MLB

Baseball's Lenny Dykstra: 1989: Lenny of the New York Mets swings at the pitch during a game in the 1989 season. ( Photo by: Getty Images/Getty Images)

Off the field as much as on it, Lenny Dykstra was renowned for being a tough guy. Apart from his on-field performances, DUI charges and brawls made him popular among baseball fans.

"Lenny: 51 HR, 251 RBI, 459 BB, 169 SB, 829 Hits." - Every Phillie Ever

Dykstra made his Major League Baseball debut for the New York Mets on May 3, 1985, and played for the Amains until 1989. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1989, where he played until 1996. Dykstra was initially unhappy about the switch since he preferred to play in New York, but he eventually won over the hearts of the Phillies fanbase.