Indians Players Take Boys and Girls Club Kids Shopping - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Thursday, August 02, 2007
Grant Segall
Plain Dealer Reporter

Westlake -- The tall man in the store slipped off the boy's sandal. Having heard the man was an athlete, the boy asked, "What team do you play ball for?"

"The Indians," Grady Sizemore replied with a chuckle. Then the star centerfielder worked a sneaker onto the foot of the youngster, Xavier Holland, 9, and felt for toes. "They're comfortable, right?" Sizemore asked.

Sizemore and nine other ballplayers teamed up Wednesday with Dick's Sporting Goods of Westlake to make 32 children more comfortable on city ball fields and streets. The store let the kids -- members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cuyahoga and Lorain counties -- pick out $100 apiece in free goods, plus a baseball and other souvenirs.

Boys and Girls Club leaders said many members are too poor for mitts, spikes and the like. The freebies help them stay in the game and stay out of trouble.

The players added free advice about the tools of their trade.

"Nike tends to run big," advised Paul Byrd, who was just a few hours away from taking the mound at Jacobs Field. Byrd also whisked a few of the shoppers to a clearance rack. "Don't spend all your money on Jordans," he said. "Try to find a bargain."

A few kids scooped up Heelys, sneakers with wheels.

"If you have to walk home from school, you can get home faster," said shortstop Mike Rouse. What if you have to catch a smash up the middle? "I don't know if they work in dirt," Rouse said.

Dillon Mey, 9, reached for a Pirates hat.

"Pittsburgh?" asked reliever Tom Mastny. "I don't know if I can get you a Pittsburgh hat."

But Mastny relented. Eventually.

The giveaway took place in Westlake partly because many of the players live nearby. The stars impressed the youngsters.

"I always thought they were stuck up," said Jerry Vargas Jr., 17. "But they act normal.

"They're good people," said Tre'von Smith, 9. "They respect us."

"They definitely know how to handle their money," said Jose Rosado, 12.

Two players, Byrd and Jake Westbrook, brought their families along.

Westbrook also put on a nametag like the club members, and then still introduced himself by name.

C.C. Sabathia took part to repay a childhood debt. "I grew up at the Boys Club."

Sizemore, fresh off his introduction during shoe shopping, said he didn't mind the apparent limits of his fame: "It's not really about us. It's about them," Sizemore said. "These are kids you can really help. Try to make their day and get them some things."