Despite his success, Overbay stays humble

OAKLAND, Calif. - Success hasn't changed Lyle Overbay.

The former University of Nevada right fielder, now a first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays, has just been asked by the Jays' public relations staff if he would mind accommodating an interview request by an out-of-town reporter.

Due to a public relations miscue, Overbay hasn't been informed of the now impromptu request and there are less than 10 minutes before Overbay's due to take the field for batting practice at McAfee Coliseum, prior to his team's Thursday game against the Athletics (then in first place in the American League's West Division). But nonetheless, Overbay agrees to the interview and stands smiling in the Blue Jays' dugout.

Gracious with his time, the 6-foot-2, 236-pound Overbay answers questions unhurriedly, occasionally looking away while considering a query before delivering his response with a grin. He is exactly as Wolf Pack Gary Powers described him.

"He's a very humble guy," Powers said. "The thing I admire most about Lyle is that he's the same guy today that he was as a freshman in college. He's humble and appreciative."

The humility is genuine and the appreciation is well-founded: The 29-year-old Overbay, originally from Centralia, Wash., is now pulling in $2,525,000 a year playing for the Blue Jays, who are in third place behind the Yankees and five games behind the first-place Red Sox.

He has also been married to his college sweetheart, Sarah, for almost six years and has two sons, 2 1/2-year-old Adam and 18-month-old Alex.

After putting up All-America numbers for the Wolf Pack in his senior year (he played for Nevada from 1996-99, batting .358, with 39 home runs and 257 RBI), Overbay was picked up by the Diamondbacks in the 18th round of the 1999 draft. He worked his way up through the minors and was called up by Arizona in late-September of 2001.

"It was in San Francisco when I got called up," Overbay recalls of his welcome-to-the-Major-Leagues moment. "It was just being a part of the big-league experience. That was the year that Barry Bonds hit all of those home runs. They (the Giants) were in the hunt for the playoffs. So were the Diamondbacks. Being part of that atmosphere was awesome."

Overbay played sparingly in '02 and part-time in '03, when he batted .276 in 86 games, with four homers and 28 RBI.

Traded to the Brewers in the off-season, Overbay played his first full season in '04, batting .301, with 16 homers and 87 RBI, and displayed the same attributes that made him such a success at Nevada.

"He was such a hard worker," Powers said. "He's a very competitive guy. He's an even-keeled guy who controls the ups and downs of the game. Because of that he can be successful."

Overlay's willingness to go all out - he wears a 2 1/2 inch scar under his chin from chasing a foul ball into a Plexiglass wall in St. Louis - made him a fan favorite in Milwaukee. When he played wearing a patch on his wound to keep it clean, he soon found out he wasn't alone.

"It took me about half a game to figure out that the people in the stands were wearing (patches on their chins as well)," Overbay says with a disbelieving grin. "It was fun."

Overbay was traded to Toronto in the off-season. And in spite of competing in arguably the toughest division in the American League - and Major League Baseball for that matter - Overbay has stepped up his game yet another notch.

Through Friday Overbay was batting .302, with 16 homers and 60 RBI and is on pace to have his best season yet.

"I'm just kind of getting used to a new league," Overbay says. "Not having faced these pitchers, you wonder what to expect. I feel good where I'm at as far as numbers go, but there's always room for improvement. The biggest thing I'm learning now is the pitchers, learning what they're doing."

According to Powers, Overbay has the right skill-set to make himself a success no matter where he's playing.

"He has the intangibles that make the difference between an average player and a good player," Powers said. "(At Nevada) he had a great aptitude for the game. He could really pick up things quickly. He could make adjustments to hitting. It didn't blow his mind to do things differently and get better. He knows his swing and his strike zone."

Having that swing and knowing his strike zone has benefited Overbay, no doubt, but being part of lineup that includes cleanup hitter Troy Glaus (whom Overbay bats behind in the order), Vernon Wells and two other batters that hit over .300 - Reed Johnson (.357) and Frank Catanalotto (.326) - also hasn't hurt.

"The American League is different that the National League - they have to pitch to you," Overbay says. "They don't want to walk you. They're trying to get you out by making you put the ball in play. They don't want to work around you. We have so many weapons in our lineup, that anyone can hurt you."

Now 57-46, the Blue Jays have proved themselves to be a contender and are still a viable threat to make the playoffs.

"We're playing good baseball," Overbay says. "We played a good first half. But I think the best is ahead for us. You look at the first half and figure out what your expectations for them (the players) are. (Outfielder) Alex Rios (who was placed on the disabled list with a staph infection June 28) has always had all the talent in the world. It was just a matter of putting it together. When he gets back, when (left-handed pitcher Gustavo) Chacin gets back, we'll be able to fire on all cylinders and make the push we need to make."

Even with the exchange rate and the fact that baseball is America's game, Overbay said he feels right at home in Canada.

"The biggest thing is that it's a different country and you have to deal with customs and all that," he says. "It's a hockey country, but you have a lot of true baseball fans. It's fun to be up there. They're into the game. They know the game. Sometimes you don't see that in the U.S."

Overbay says there's one disappointing thing he sees in both countries, but there's no way to communicate that to the fans.

"The biggest thing is with autographs," he says. "You try to make everyone happy, but you just can't do it. It sucks. It's a fine line. You have to prepare yourself for the game and sometimes you just can't take the time to do that (sign autographs). I was the same way growing up - 'Why don't you sign for me?' They don't understand the pressure and the stuff you have to do for the game. You don't know it till you do it on your own."

Overbay says he no longer feels the pressure he felt in Milwaukee and that it mostly stems from his solid play.

"I know if you hit and do the things you are capable of, there will be a place for you to play," he says. "In Milwaukee, (current Rookie of the Year candidate) Prince Fielder was pushing me. I knew it was just a matter of time before I'd be traded. It worked out for both of us. He's going to be good for baseball. You don't want to root against him.

"By the same token, you gotta perform ever day. It's a tough business to be in. It's all about winning."

Although Overbay's happy to be among the few who play in the Majors, don't call him satisfied just yet.

"I definitely want to win the World Series," he says of his remaining goals. "That's what you all play for. You just take it day by day. If I can get 10 years in, that would be a good steppingstone for me. But if someone's paying you to play, you can't pass it up."

The "steppingstone" Overbay is referring to is playing baseball and how it relates to his career after he retires.

"I want to get some more experience and get better and go on to coaching," he says. "Probably not at this level, but maybe high school or junior college."

And even though he's now used to the huge crowds that come with playing in the Bigs, Overbay still has some fond recollections of a certain little place called Peccole Park.

"There are always memories - the atmosphere, the drunken season ticket holders," Overbay says with a grin. "They were great fans, loyal. You get that kind of stuff (from visiting Nevada fans) in the Bay Area, 'We're rooting for you.' Nevada is where I learned how to play the game."

It's time for batting practice and Overbay jogs out onto the field to prepare for that night's game. He's not taking his success for granted.