Monday, July 6, 1998

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bret Boone has played like a Gold Glover at second base for three years without getting the hardware. This year, he put up All-Star numbers without getting an All-Star invitation.

"Sometimes you just need to get a break," he said.

Boone got his Sunday when Chicago's Sammy Sosa came up with a sore shoulder that will prevent him from playing the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Boone was named to take his place.

"It's nice," Boone said. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't matter. I don't put that much credence in it. I know a lot of good players don't make it. However, it is an honor."

Boone, who last year set a major-league record for fielding percentage for second basemen, matched his defense with offense this year. Going into the break, he is hitting .285 with 27 doubles, 11 home runs and 51 RBI. He hit .223 with 25 doubles, seven home runs and 46 RBI all last year.

Boone becomes the first third-generation All-Star. His grandfather, Ray, and his father, Bob, also played in the game.

Boone was deserving of a Gold Glove the last two years, but was bypassed in favor of Houston's Craig Biggio. When Boone wasn't named to the All-Star team this year -- Biggio was voted in and Milwaukee's Fernando Vina was picked -- it was beginning to look like Boone would remain the National League's best-kept secret.

"He deserves it," Reds manager Jack McKeon said. "He's been waiting all these years."

Said Barry Larkin: "It's nice to see Boonie get recognized finally. Now maybe he'll get the Gold Glove, too."

Word came in the first inning of the Reds game Sunday with St. Louis that Boone had been named. For the preceding 20 hours or so, it looked like the Reds would not have a representative to All-Star Game for the first time since 1934.

Jeff Shaw, the one Reds representative, was traded Saturday. He will wear the uniform of his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in Tuesday's game. The Reds will be mentioned in Shaw's introduction. "We're still trying to figure it out," NL vice-president Katy Feeney said. "I don't remember All-Stars being traded (just before the game)."

The Shaw trade was not the overriding factor in Boone being named, although Reds General Manager Jim Bowden lobbied to have a 31st player added so the team would be represented.

NL manager Jim Leyland made the call because NL President Leonard Coleman was traveling when word came down that Sosa was hurt.

"The Reds getting a representative wasn't absolutely a necessity," Feeney said. "Jim (Leyland) was thinking he could use another infielder. He only has two at every position."

So will Boone also replace Sosa in the home run hitting contest? "I'll be watching," he said.

But, at least, he'll have a good seat.