By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

ST. LOUIS - The weekend visits to Shea Stadium ended when his young baseball career began.

But Tim Hummel never forgot those childhood days. That's why the next three will be so special.

Hummel file Position: Third base Born: Nov. 18, 1978 in Goshen, N.Y. Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6-2 Weight: 205 MLB debut: Aug. 26, 2003 How acquired: Claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Aug. 26 as compensation for the Aug. 21 trade that sent relief pitcher Scott Sullivan and cash to Chicago. Odds and ends: At Old Dominion University, Hummel became the first baseball player in school history to be named to five All-America teams in the same season. ... In 2003, was one of 13 Reds players to make his Major League debut. ... Was International League Batter of the Week for 8/26-9/2, 2002. (Gary Landers photo)

"Going to Shea as a kid was just the greatest thing," the Reds third baseman said. "You hope and you dream that one day you'll get to play there.

"Now I get to go and play there. It's a childhood dream come true."

Cincinnati begins a three-game series against the Mets today at Shea Stadium, not far from the Rosedale, Queens, neighborhood where his parents grew up.

"I'm assuming it's going to be hectic," said Hummel, who set out Sunday to secure tickets from teammates. "The ticket requests are going to be outrageous."

A converted middle infielder acquired from the White Sox in August, Hummel has become an increasingly appreciated helping hand at third base this season.

The 25-year-old native of Goshen, N.Y., is batting .286 with five RBI and a .317 on-base percentage in 24 games. He has started half of those games at third.

"I think as much as anything you're seeing an individual that has matured and earned the title of professional player at the major-league level," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said. "He's done whatever we've asked of him. ... His relative consistency has made an impression on the coaching staff."

Cincinnati recalled Hummel from Triple-A Louisville on May 9 when starting third baseman Brandon Larson went on the disabled list for the second time this season. Larson came off the DL on June 4, but by then defensive specialist Juan Castro had already been placed on the DL.

Though Larson has started 11 games at third base since, he's platooned with Hummel the past seven games.

"There's really no reason for it," Reds manager Dave Miley said Friday when asked about Hummel making a second-consecutive start at third. "We're playing the hot hand."

Castro likely will be reinstated from the DL before today's game, adding to the defensive mix in the infield.

"Competition is a wonderful thing at any position on any team," O'Brien said. "The fact of the matter is Brandon has been handicapped by virtue of injuries this year. We're still going to give him opportunities to get at-bats.

"That may be in combination with another player or it may be where he demonstrates he's up to the challenge and can handle it on an everyday basis. That part of it about it will play out."

Hummel gets the ol' shaving cream pie treatment from Reds pitcher Todd Jones during a post-game interview last week. (Michael E. Keating photo)

Hummel is hitting .400 with two doubles and four strikeouts with one fielding error in his past four starts at third base. Larson is hitting .200 with one double, a walk, six strikeouts and no fielding errors in his past three starts.

"You just want to play here so bad, naturally you think about it (as competition)," Hummel said. "But if you're going to let that affect you ... then things probably won't work out as well."

Originally a 1997 fifth-round draft pick out of high school, Hummel chose to attend Old Dominion University for three years.

Thirty-eight credit hours shy of his degree, Hummel was selected by the White Sox in the second round of the 2000 draft.

"Looking back now, getting three years of college was definitely more beneficial than rookie ball or Class A," said Hummel, who was named to five All-America teams as a junior at ODU and plans to complete his degree one day.

He progressed from Class A in 2000 to Double-A in 2001 and reached Triple-A in 2002 and 2003. He batted .284 with 28 homers and 214 RBI in 470 minor league games.

It wasn't until the Reds claimed him off waivers to complete the Scott Sullivan trade that Hummel reached the big leagues.

"Obviously things in Cincinnati last year weren't ideal, but it was still major-league experience," said Hummel, who played in 26 games. "I think that helped because when I came back I knew what to expect."

Yet Hummel refuses to get too comfortable in the Reds clubhouse. As recently as Friday he wondered if he would even make the trip to New York.

"I'm just playing the best I can, hoping things go well," he said. "Hopefully I can make it real tough on them and maybe I can stick around."