What a difference a year makes

  • Larry LaRue / The News Tribune
  • Thursday, February 21, 2002 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Larry LaRue

The News Tribune

PEORIA, Ariz. – When photographers raced across the practice fields Thursday, it was easy to assume they were chasing the usual suspect – Ichiro Suzuki.

It wasn’t Suzuki, however, but a dreadlocked Mark McLemore, walking through a sea of appreciative fans, cracking wise and doing what he does as well as any Seattle Mariner.

Having fun.

“I enjoy spring training, I enjoy the fans down here,” McLemore said. “I’ve been to enough of these now that I know when to work hard and when to have fun. What’s it take to spend 60 seconds talking to somebody, teasing someone in the stands, making somebody laugh?”

At 37, McLemore’s career has been reanimated by a marvelous 2001 season, by a year few people outside his immediate family thought he was capable of.

A veteran of 13 big-league seasons, McLemore last year played six positions for Seattle, batted .286 and stole a career-high 39 bases, helping lead the team to a record-setting season.

And it almost didn’t happen.

On Thursday, McLemore was happy to spend a few minutes clowning for the fans and the cameras – taking batting practice in those crazed dreadlocks, hamming it up.

A year ago, there was a morning when he decided to drive to the airport instead of the Mariners complex. McLemore was going home. He’d had enough.

“I didn’t see myself as a bench guy, and going into a free agent year, I knew how the game was played – if I couldn’t play for the Mariners, what kind of offers was I going to get when the season was over?” McLemore said.

Seattle had signed free agent Bret Boone, installed David Bell at third base and had veterans Stan Javier and Al Martin in left field. McLemore was odd man out, and one morning last spring it just didn’t seem fun, anymore.

“I was on my way to the airport and I called my wife,” McLemore said. “She told me, ‘You’re not finished with baseball. It’s not out of your system, yet.’ “

It was, McLemore said, a life-altering conversation.

“Emotional? Yes,” he said. “I knew I could still produce, still help a team win – not just one game but over a season. Then I proved it.”

When Mariners players last year were asked to pick a team MVP, they wrestled with the obvious choices of Ichiro and Boone. But a good many of them named McLemore on their ballot.

“Anything that had to be done, Mark did,” manager Lou Piniella said. “He played third base, shortstop, everywhere in the outfield, second base – and everywhere he played, he hit.”

Shortly after that conversation with his wife, McLemore had another with Piniella, and the two men made each other a promise.

“Lou told me if I hit, I’d play,” McLemore said. “I told him I’d hit. We both kept our word.”

As for Capri, McLemore’s wife of a dozen years, McLemore smiles when asked about her.

“We met in Chicago in 1988 and got married in 1989,” he said. “Three kids and 12 years and numerous other things later, we’re still together.”

Someone asked if, since she talked him out of giving up the game, she got most of his new two-year contract. McLemore laughed.

“She always got all my earnings,” he said.

What Capri and Mark McLemore knew last spring – that he had more to offer the game – McLemore bore out. He doesn’t think much has changed since then.

“I had to prove I could play at age 36, now I’m going to have to prove I can play at 37,” he said. “Next year, I’ll prove I can play at 38. It never ends.

“There are people who think Edgar (Martinez) isn’t going to hit .300-plus this year because of his age, or that Jamie (Moyer) won’t win 15 games. I won’t be playing at age 43, like Rickey Henderson, but I can tell you this – no one else is going to know before I do when I’m done.”

McLemore has read that he is in decline now for close to a decade.

“We’re all dying, does that mean we should stop living?” he asked. “No one knows when it will happen, and no one can tell a Nolan Ryan he shouldn’t still be pitching when he’s 40.

“Last year was the best season of my career, all those wins, the fans, the post-season.”

Now, McLemore and the team want to follow it up with something as special. Not everyone believes they can.

“In this game, everyone has to prove something every year,” he said. “You take that as a challenge, you’re fine. You want me to prove I can still play? Here I come. You think this team was a fluke last year?

“Here we come.”

Dreadlocks and all.

Second doctor tells Heaverlo he needs surgery: Jeff Heaverlo was back in camp Thursday, having received a second opinion that shadowed the first – he’ll need season-ending shoulder surgery to repair fraying in the labrum.

“The thing I love to do more than anything in the world – pitching – is being taken away from me, and that’s tough,” Heaverlo said. “But I won’t say it’s a setback, because that’s negative. It’s an obstacle.”

Heaverlo, 24, will spend the summer rehabilitating his shoulder in Peoria.

“I just extended the lease on my apartment from the two months of spring training to 14 months,” he said. “When the team comes back next spring, I’ll be here. And I’ll be ready to pitch.”

Highlight video: Before the workout, the whole team gathered around television sets in the clubhouse to watch the highlight video of the 2001 season – dropping comments after each moment. When John Olerud was shown hitting for the cycle against San Diego, catcher Ben Davis was the man behind the plate for the Padres. “I put down the right fingers that day,” Davis said, shaking his head. Olerud had a single, double, triple and home run – all on pitches Davis called.

Travel plans altered: The events of Sept. 11 carried over into the off-season for a number of players, those who’d planned to visit Europe but changed their minds. John Halama had planned a European honeymoon but decided against it.

“We talked it over and it just didn’t seem comfortable,” Halama said.

Similarly, Mark McLemore and his wife wanted to visit Spain. “It just wasn’t the time to go,” McLemore said. “I’m not sure there will ever be a time to go, now.”

When McLemore took off his dreadlocked baseball cap during batting practice, he offered it to John Olerud, who studied the thing as if it might be alive. “Don’t think so,” Olerud said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

Kraken rally to force overtime, fall in shootout

Streaking Red Wings too much for young Kraken lineup that showed some promise.

Slivertips’ Clarke Schaefer tries to maneuver around Medicine Hat’s Josh Van Mulligen during the game on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips Week in Review: Everett splits slate in high-scoring week

The Silvertips were outscored 24-18 in four games this week, losing two to the next-best WHL teams

Everett Silvertips’ Landon DuPont during the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips’ DuPont becomes first rookie D to score 50 points in 35 years

The 15-year-old star defenseman joined Scott Niedermayer in exclusive company with an assist Sunday.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto believes players like Jorge Polanco (7) will enjoy bounceback seasons in 2025. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Despite quiet Mariners offseason, Jerry Dipoto confident

With the pre-spring training luncheon and news conference no longer an annual… Continue reading

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Jan. 26-Feb. 1

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Jan. 26-Feb. 1. Voting closes… Continue reading

Monroe’s Halle Keller drives to the hoop during the game against Snohomish on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 3

Stanwood, Snohomish, Monroe girls dominate.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak adds to staff

New play-caller for Seattle’s offense brings in familiarity from Saints.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.