WILTON – When Herbie Austin played, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson dominated the diamond. Players made pennies, there was no pitch-count or five-day rotation for pitchers.

“The one who had the best stuff that day pitched the game,” said Austin, a Wilton native who will be inducted into Maine’s Baseball Hall of Fame this summer.

Over the years, Austin watched the game change, and he is ambivalent about the new form it has taken.

“There are a lot of good ball players out there, strong, devoted players who are playing because they love it,” he said. “But a lot are just in it for the money. Some of them have no drive, and they get so much money. It’s a business today, not a sport.”

Like every breathing New Englander, he follows the Boston Red Sox, and although he doesn’t hate the Yankees, he admits he “likes it when they lose.” He liked to watch Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield “when he is going good,” approves of Pedro, is impressed by the Arizona Diamondbacks hurling duo of Curt Shilling and Randy Johnson and thinks Sox-turned-Yank pitcher Roger Clemens is “good no question about it but a bit of a showboat.”

“One guy I really like is Pete Rose. I think he got a raw deal. They are judging him on something that doesn’t have to do with the hall of fame,” Austin said, referring to Rose’s exclusion from Cooperstown because of gambling. “I hope they let him in.”

Another of Austin’s favorites is Beantown’s favorite shortstop and clutch batter Nomar Garciaparra. “He is a guy I think would play ball even if they didn’t pay him a cent. He is a worker,” added Austin.

As for Maine baseball, Austin is proud of Maine standouts Mike Bordick and Bill Swift and thinks it’s hard for Mainers to be competitive because the season is so short, but still believes “there is a lot of talent up here.”