Word: carew
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...Carew was shifted to first base. He has since blossomed into a graceful and steady defensive player who-like all the great ones-makes the tough chance look easy. The loner has also become a mature team leader as well as the heart of the Twins offense. Though he has become a superstar, he has remained unassuming, claiming no special privileges-other than the right to coddle his bats. On the contrary, he shags stray balls for batting-practice pitchers-a job usually left to utility players and aging coaches. Once when he failed to run out a long foul...
...skinny, 170-lb. 6-ft. kid of 18 with the sort of lean, whippet's body that did not conjure up images of a slugger. Then he stepped into the batting cage. In a few short minutes, the onlookers needed no images-the reality was too splendid. Recalls Carew: "I was hitting some shots. I mean really hitting the ball." He blasted so many balls into the bleachers, in fact, that Twins Manager Sam Mele-fearing spying Yankee eyes-ordered him out of the batting cage: "Get him out of here before somebody sees the kid!" One month later...
...Owner Calvin Griffith's orders, into the starting job at second base. He batted .292 his first season and was named Rookie of the Year. (The National League's top rookie that year turned out to be quite a player himself: Tom Seaver.) Two seasons later, Carew stole home seven times, tying the major league record. His manager was Billy Martin, now the godfather of Carew's older daughter, Charryse. "I taught him how to steal home," Martin says. "That's all I ever taught him. As for hitting, he knew how to do that...
...early years in the majors, Carew was moody, a loner who made friends slowly and suffered slights poorly. In 1970 a runner crashed into him while trying to break up a double play. Carew underwent surgery for a torn knee cartilage and, thereafter, was gun-shy on the pivot. This did not endear him to Manager Bill Rigney, nor Rigney to Carew. In a rare admission for an athlete, Carew acknowledged his fear and tried to conquer his anxiety on the field. Rigney's public questioning of his courage did not help...
...effects of this injury and his manager's reaction still linger; Carew is reluctant to leave the lineup when hurt. Last week, though he had a minor back injury, he insisted on playing. Opposing pitchers quickly took advantage of his stiff swing by throwing high, inside and, for a change, effectively. Carew's average flagged, but he played...