Playboy: Are you happy to be out of New York?

Sheffield: No, I wasn't happy to leave New York. From the start, I was embraced by the fans. I made a name for myself by performing on the highest stage. I felt like that was gonna be my last stop, based on my performance. But unfortunately I got hurt, and things changed.

Playboy: Were you surprised when they decided to trade you?

Sheffield: No. I knew that one mistake, or one off year, and I was gonna be outta there, because only one man wanted me there, and that was George Steinbrenner. I knew I had to perform every year at the highest level with no tail-off, because when you get to be my age, and you tail off a little bit, there go the naysayers. But I've been able to prove the naysayers wrong for 15 years.

Playboy: So you're glad to be in the Tigers camp?

Sheffield: I'm very happy to be here. The fans embraced me right away. They're on a high right now, coming off the World Series. They have a wonderful manager, Jim Leyland, a wonderful general manager and a wonderful organization with a lot of history. I just want to come in and be a part of it.

Playboy: How does playing there compare to playing in New York, so far?

Sheffield: It's a lot different. New York is the ultimate high, as far as media attention. Detroit is a more relaxed atmosphere.

Playboy: You write about going to see your uncle Doc Gooden pitch in the World Series in 1986, and then wanting to play in New York. How did that compare to what happened when you made it to New York?

Sheffield: Well, I felt like if you can perform on that level, you've reached the pinnacle, and people will embrace you and you'll be there for a long time, because it's all about producing in New York. That's what I thought. But once I got there, it wasn't about producing. It was about politics; it was about a corporation that wants a certain type of individual. That was a hard lesson to learn.

Playboy: Why didn't the Yankees get to the Series while you were there?

Sheffield: We had a lot of guys that had talent, but we never put it all together offensively. When the pitchers pitched well, the offense didn't do anything, and when the offense did a lot, the pitchers didn't do anything. It was a combination of a lot of things -- you can't put it on one thing.

Playboy: In game 3 of the ALDS, Joe Torre benched you. Why did you think he did that?

Sheffield: I think he was basing it on numbers, and Bernie [Williams] had better numbers than I did against [Detroit pitcher] Kenny Rogers.

Playboy: How did Torre break the news to you that you weren't starting?

Sheffield: Well, I started lifting weights and getting ready and stretched. I knew it was the most important game of the Series, because it would have put us up by one game, and we could have clinched it the next game. Then I went to my locker and I was just sitting there, all ready to go, and Joe Torre walked up to me and told me I wasn't playing -- Jason Giambi's playing first base and Bernie Williams is DH'ing. I just looked at him, and he walked off, and I just tried to hold my composure, just not to disrupt the atmosphere of the playoffs, keep guys in good spirit and not worry about me. I held it pretty good.