Eckstein's desire is biggest around

5-foot-7 Cardinals shortstop lets his skills do talking

Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 1, 2007 at midnight

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JUPITER, Fla. - The move was subtle and effective, enabling 5-foot-7 shortstop David Eckstein to quite literally rise to the occasion. He stood on tiptoes in his shower clogs as he gave St. Louis teammate Jason Isringhausen, who is 6-3, a ritualistic hug shortly after reporting to spring training.

Finding a way to get the job done is the essence of Eckstein, who weighs 165 pounds. He has parlayed a little-engine-that-could drive into six seasons in the big leagues, the past two with the Cardinals. Eckstein was named the most valuable player last year in the World Series, which the Cardinals won in five games against Detroit.

Opponents regard Eckstein as a pest or worse. Cardinals backup catcher Gary Bennett, who played against Eckstein at the Triple-A level, recalled how Eckstein leaned into a lot of pitches and said, "You'd get angry, to use a printable word."

Bennett and the rest of the Cardinals revere Eckstein, 32, as a teammate because of his concern for the greater good, his constant hustle, endless drive and knack for making the most of his ability.

"I wasn't blessed with the height, the speed, the strength, the arm or whatever," said Eckstein, an All-Star each of the past two seasons, "but I just try to find a way around it.

"And the one good thing about this game is there are roles for everybody. And if you actually know the game and put yourself in the right position, you read the pitches and everything like that, you can compensate for some of the things you don't have."

Eckstein, who paces back and forth while waiting on deck, manages to turn that fidgety preparation into a calmness at the plate. His career marks include a .283 batting average and .351 on-base percentage and only one strikeout every 11.8 at-bats.

"I think there's a tendency to undervalue his tools," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He's got wonderful hands. He's got great hand-eye (coordination). He'll give you a tough at-bat and put the bat on the ball. Eckstein's a good player. You don't make it just because you're gutty."

The Boston Red Sox didn't think Eckstein would make it. They drafted him in the 19th round in 1997 out of the University of Florida, where Eckstein was a walk-on player before earning a scholarship. After hitting .300 in each of his first three seasons and rising to the Double-A level, Eckstein was waived by the Red Sox in August 2000 after hitting .246 in 119 games for Triple-A Pawtucket.

"Being let go by (the Red Sox), I felt I let them down, because at least they could've traded for someone that helped them win a World Series (before finally doing so in 2004)," Eckstein said. "But they got absolutely nothing for me."

That's a selfless outlook, lacking any resentment or bitterness and typical of Eckstein. He played four years with the Anaheim Angels, helping them win the 2002 World Series by hitting .310, and last year he hit .364 the hard way to help the Cardinals win the Series.

Eckstein began the Series with 11 hitless at-bats but finished 8-for-22 with three doubles and four RBI in the three consecutive victories that brought the Cardinals their 10th World Series title.

When the team visited the White House last month, Eckstein, on behalf of his teammates, presented a Cardinals jersey to president George Bush. He praised Eckstein by saying, "Listen, David, I've made a career out of people underestimating me."

Shortly after that compliment, Eckstein received another from one of his peers. At the annual St. Louis Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner, Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, a St. Louis native and the Most Valuable Player in the National League last year, praised the Cardinals for winning the Series and singled out Eckstein.

"He's the epitome of what baseball is today," Howard said. "I love your game and love how you go about playing the game. You are what a lot of kids should look up to. I wanted to let you know that. With that said, feel free to stumble on the way to first."

Eckstein said Howard's kind words were "very humbling" and "very honoring." Eckstein has heard legions of children as well as high school and college players tell Eckstein they, too, lack size but the fact Eckstein is succeeding gives them hope they will get a chance to play professionally.

"People come up and say, 'I just love the way you play the game,' " Eckstein said. "I take that as a compliment and, trust me, I will never change. It's the way I go about it. But I understand every time I step on the field I need to play that way."

In April, Eckstein will receive his second World Series ring. He gave the first to his father after keeping it in a safe deposit box and wearing it once. At the suggestion of the players' union, Eckstein wore it at his arbitration hearing in 2004. He made sure the arbitration panel saw it and ended up winning $2.15 million.

After that 2004 season, Eckstein became a free agent and signed a three-year, $10.25 million contract with St. Louis that expires after this season. So it could be said Eckstein is playing for a contract this year, except he's bound to play no differently than in any other season.

"One of the biggest fears within me is letting down the team because I'm not prepared," Eckstein said. "When I step on the field it's not really for me, it's for the team. And that type of fear of not letting someone down is what really drives me when I step on the field."

In perspective

Eckstein said his parents always stressed to their children the importance of doing any activity to the fullest.

And if Eckstein needed more tangible motivation, that, too, came from his family. His two sisters, one of his brothers and Eckstein's father all had kidney transplants. Because of that, Eckstein said, "I feel it's an honor to put the uniform on."

Eckstein said his mother donated a kidney to his sister, Susan, in 1989. Two years later, Christine and Kenny each received a kidney from organ donors. A family friend donated a kidney to Eckstein's father in 2005.

"My sister Christine puts it in perspective really well," Eckstein said. "If I have a bad day or something, she's like, 'Hey, at least you had the opportunity to go out there and do that.' "

Small group

David Eckstein last year became only the fourth shortstop and first from the National League to be voted the most valuable player in the World Series. Shortstops who have won that honor in the Series:

Player, team Year

David Eckstein, St. Louis 2006

Derek Jeter, N.Y. Yankees 2000

Alan Trammell, Detroit 1984

Bucky Dent, N.Y. Yankees 1978

In the line of fire

Eckstein has been hit by pitches 104 times, which among active players ranks 11th. However, Eckstein has played six seasons, considerably less than the players ahead of him.

Player Years HBP

Craig Biggio 19 282

Jason Kendall 11 209

Carlos Delgado 14 149

Jason Giambi 12 127

Damion Easley 15 120

Gary Sheffield 19 119

Derek Jeter 12 115

Jeff Kent 15 113

Luis Gonzalez 17 107

Alex Rodriguez 13 106

David Eckstein 6 104