By John Erardi and John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sometimes it's easy to forget that most players are fans, too.

With Ken Griffey Jr. one home run from No. 500 going into Tuesday's game, Reds relief pitcher Danny Graves was asked to reflect on the favorite milestones that he has seen in person or on TV.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's game

His favorite was the joint chase by the Cardinals' Mark McGwire and the Cubs' Sammy Sosa in 1998 of what was then Roger Maris' single-season mark of 61 home runs.

"When McGwire hit 62, we (the Reds pitchers) were in the Astrodome in the bullpen," Graves said. "I remember that like it was yesterday, because they (the Cardinals) were coming here to play us the next day. I remember us (the Reds pitchers) cheering out in the bullpen because it was such a big thing."

Even the Reds players were doing a lot of scoreboard watching in those days to keep up with the home run chase.

"That (the two-man race) was definitely one of the most exciting things in baseball I've ever watched," Graves said.

As cool as it would be to see Griffey's No. 500 leave the yard, it's going to have to go some to beat No. 493 and No. 494 in Graves' eyes.

"When he passed Lou Gehrig, that was it for me," Graves said. "That was just unbelievable to see that happen. I mean, Lou Gehrig! Unbelievable."

"TEX" TEIXEIRA: Griffey Jr.'s counterpart in the Texas Rangers' lineup - cleanup hitter Mark Teixeira - isn't a junior in the familial sense.

But he is a chip off the old block. His father, John - nicknamed "Tex" - played his collegiate ball at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where Teixeira the younger was born April 11, 1980.

There wasn't any way the kid could be kept in Annapolis, however, after breaking the Maryland prep record for career home runs (29), RBI (105) and runs (128). Teixeira headed for Georgia Tech and hit .409 with 36 home runs and 165 RBI in 140 games over three years. He was the Rangers' No. 1 draft pick (fifth overall) in 2001, and last year hit the third-most home runs ever by a rookie switch hitter (26), behind Eddie Murray's and Tony Clark's 27.

The first baseman already is one of the brightest young lights in the junior circuit, and Reds fans would do well to follow him in the remaining two games here, given his engaging personality and passion for the game.

"It would be kind of an honor to see Griffey hit his 500th here - as long as we win the game," Teixeira said. "I've heard nothing but great things about him, and I know how great he is for the game now that he's healthy again."

Teixeira is a fan of interleague play.

"It's always fun to go to different major-league cities and play against guys you don't usually play," he said. "It's great to switch things up and make the season a little more fun."

Teixeira is part of the crew of young Rangers who had the club eight games over .500 (34-26) going into Tuesday's game. Among the others are third baseman Hank Blalock (day off Tuesday), shortstop Michael Young, right fielder Kevin Mench, catcher Gerald Laird (on disabled list until August) and center fielder Laynce Nix (15-day DL).

SPEAKING OF 500: Look for the Reds to begin selling silver-coated baseballs and T-shirts, each bearing the Reds logo, Griffey's name and "No. 500," immediately after he reaches the milestone. An Enquirer photographer spotted the merchandise headed for the concession stands before Tuesday's game.

NO LETTERMAN: Sean Casey will not appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on June 21 when the Reds have an off day in New York.

The producers wanted to reschedule Casey for another date. But Casey decided he didn't want to give up an off day with his family to fly to New York for the show.

REDS FACT: Paul Wilson, today's starter, is 7-0 but was the victim of a blown save in his last two appearances.

Reds statistics

(Through Monday's game)

BATTERS	AVG	OBA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	E
Casey	.370	.419	243	50	90	23	1	13	47	20	20	1	0	4
Castro	.298	.337	84	11	25	6	1	1	9	5	17	0	0	4
Larkin	.292	.333	195	35	57	8	2	4	23	13	25	2	0	1
Pena	.270	.316	89	10	24	3	1	5	14	5	34	1	0	2
Cruz	.259	.348	58	10	15	3	0	2	15	8	20	0	0	0
Dunn	.259	.422	205	42	53	10	0	18	41	55	81	2	0	2
Griffey	.258	.364	221	40	57	14	0	18	49	35	49	1	0	0
Jimenez	.257	.374	226	32	58	12	2	3	21	42	35	7	5	4
Freel	.245	.361	192	25	47	6	5	1	8	28	32	10	4	7
Larson	.227	.316	66	8	15	5	0	1	8	7	15	0	0	5
LaRue	.222	.333	135	17	30	8	0	5	19	13	38	0	2	6
Hummel	.214	.244	42	2	9	2	0	0	4	2	6	1	0	2
Kearns	.195	.327	87	10	17	2	1	3	13	16	30	1	1	1
Lopez	.175	.195	40	1	7	2	0	0	5	1	16	0	0	3
Valentin	.149	.191	87	8	13	3	0	3	8	5	11	0	0	3
Clark	.000	.000	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Team Totals	.251	.344	2111	307	530	110	13	77	289	272	503	26	12	46

PITCHERS	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Wilson	7	0	3.18	12	12	0	76.1	77	30	27	8	21	43
Graves	1	3	3.57	36	0	26	35.1	37	19	14	9	4	22
Jones	4	1	3.79	33	0	1	38.0	28	17	16	2	18	30
Matthews	1	0	3.86	14	0	0	11.2	9	6	5	3	6	4
Riedling	4	1	3.89	30	0	0	34.2	30	18	15	2	18	21
Norton	0	2	4.32	28	0	0	25.0	28	15	12	2	14	15
Van Poppel	2	2	4.62	13	7	0	50.2	55	26	26	4	10	31
Acevedo	3	5	5.33	13	13	0	72.2	79	44	43	15	15	61
Harang	4	2	5.43	11	11	0	59.2	79	37	36	7	22	44
Lidle	4	5	5.50	14	14	0	88.1	94	55	54	13	22	49
Reith	2	2	7.27	22	0	0	26.0	30	21	21	5	19	24
Bong	0	1	10.80	1	1	0	3.1	9	9	4	1	3	0
Team Totals	34	29	4.97	63	63	27	555.2	614	334	307	79	197	364