SEATTLE – The heart throb of Cleveland has settled for a few days in Mill Creek, where the only woman allowed to dote on him is Mom.
Grady Sizemore is home again this weekend, eating Donna Sizemore’s great cooking, hanging out with his Cascade High School buddies and driving to Safeco Field in the black Chevy Blazer he had as a teenager.
“It’s nice to come home and get a chance to see your friends and family, hang out with them and relax a little bit,” he said.
It’s also a good chance to get away from the glare – or is it stare? – that has swept his way in Cleveland.
Sizemore, 23, has become a big deal there, where he’s the starting center fielder for the Indians and a favorite with the ladies. One of the most popular t-shirts there says “Hello, I’m Mrs. Sizemore.”
A recent Grady Sizemore bobblehead giveaway drew about 34,000 to Jacobs Field, the biggest crowd for an April game there since the 2000 season.
He’s not married but he’s also not available, at least to the other 29 major league teams. In March, Sizemore signed a six-year, $23.45 million contract that will keep him with the Indians through 2011.
How wonderful is that?
“It’s nice to know you’ve got a home in Cleveland, a spot on the team and it’s great to be a pat of this organization,” he said.
Besides a .305 batting average he took into Friday’s game against the Mariners, plus the ability to steal bases and play spectacular defense in center field, humility also is a big part of Sizemore’s game.
“He’s very humble,” said Jeff Sibel of the Indians’ media relations staff. “It’s hard for him to talk about himself. He’s all about the team, and he’d rather emphasize the team than anything about himself.”
It’s been difficult this year to avoid the individual attention, though.
Besides the t-shirts and bobbleheads, he’s been one of the most-targeted players for interviews. The Indians ask that media requests be made at least a day in advance.
Sizemore says the attention is nice, but he’s rather just play ball.
“I don’t pay attention to it too much,” he said. “But it’s nice to play for a city that’s behind you and gives you the support. It’s one of those things that I’m learning to adjust to and deal with.”
Sizemore has always been able to minimize the distractions. His mom has said she has trouble reaching him during the season because he spends so much of his time preparing for games.
This year, though, it’s been difficult to get away from it all.
All of Cleveland seems gaga over Grady.
Cleveland Magazine provided some big exposure in its March issue with a story titled “My Date with Grady” after a female writer went to dinner with him.
“I’m still getting used to the attention, as far as getting noticed when I go here and there,” he said. “I keep to myself and I’m a pretty quiet guy.
“When the game starts, it’s pretty easy for me to turn everything off. I’m pretty locked in when I’m competing at any sport.”
This weekend’s series is the Indians’ only trip to Seattle, and Sizemore expected a decent-size group of friends, relatives and former high school coaches to see the games at Safeco Field.
He promised that what they’ll get is the same Grady they’ve known when he grew up. He may be a star athlete with a star athlete’s salary now, but he still sees himself as one of the guys.
“To me, nothing has really changed,” he said. “They’re still my buddies. They don’t look at me any different and I don’t look at them any different.”
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