Sunday, July 15, 2001
Ten Reasons Why Reds Fans Loved Sabo
1. Drove a 5-year-old Ford Escort during his 1988 rookie season. ''Some of these guys go out and spend $70,000 on a car, $70,000! For $70,000, I could get 10 Escorts. I could have a lifetime supply of Escorts.''
2. Sported a flat-top buzz cut. Once described it on TV to David Letterman as a landing strip for paper airplanes. Once walked out in mid-haircut when he was unhappy with the results. Usually cost him $5. ''A couple bucks' tip, and I get out of there for 7 bucks.''
3. Wore goggles when he played, which spawned the nickname ''Spuds McKenzie,'' because of his resemblance to the dog of Budweiser commercial fame.
4. Moonlighted at McDonald's to supplement his minor-league salary one spring training. ''What the heck. I hated Tampa. We were staying in this terrible hotel on the (Dale Mabry Boulevard) strip. They paid us terrible. I was getting done at the park everyday by 3:30 or 4, and there was nothing to do but watch television. I was bored. I figured, I'll get a job. Make some money.'' Plan worked fine until a few of his teammates came into the restaurant and recognized him in the McDonald's uniform, sweating and flipping burgers. ''They really got on me about that. Man, I took all kinds of grief.''
5. Passed up the tailored suits and designer outfits favored by his teammates. Once bought five pairs of Bugle Boy jeans, then wore them for five years until they wore out. ''They are always getting on me about the way I dress. I dress the same way every day, just different colors. But what the heck, they're clean and I'm comfortable. I follow the dress code. I don't embarrass anybody. I don't see why people should put so much emphasis on clothes.''
6. Once said, ''I'd play for free.''
7. Decided as a 1988 All-Star the $67,500 he was making was ''good money.''
8. In July 1988, appeared on covers of Baseball America and The Sporting News and was featured in Sports Illustrated. ''I don't understand that. I still don't. I just want to go out and play baseball. I have no goals. Whatever I hit, I hit.''
9. Hustled in the mode of his first big-league manager, who said, ''He reminds me of me when I was that age -- the way he plays the game, I mean.'' That manager being Pete Rose.
10. Won the 1988 National League Rookie of the Year Award. ''I don't think I accomplished anything.'' Said after a slump the following spring, ''I made the team as a utility player and I kept telling people that. If people think I'm going to be a superstar, that's where they are stupid.''
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