This Year, It’s Not Saberhagen’s World or His World Series

I feel like I have the world at my feet. I feel like I’m walking on sunshine. --Bret Saberhagen, a year ago. When you’re not going as well as you should be, everybody shines the light at you and asks why. --Bret Saberhagen, a month ago. Hopefully 1987 will be brighter. It can’t be gloomier. --Bret Saberhagen, a day ago. Bret Saberhagen has seen the light. He has walked on it, and it has walked on him.

Right now, Saberhagen is the walkee.

One year ago today, he saved the World Series. Last October 22, his Kansas City Royals were down 2-0 in the Series, and Bret pitched ‘em back with a brilliant complete-game 6-1 victory.

Four days later, his wife, Janeane, gave birth to their first child, Drew William. The day after that, Bret shut out the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7, throwing a five-hitter.

He was named World Series MVP and winner of the American League Cy Young Award. He met President Ronald Reagan and TV king Johnny Carson. He got a raise from $160,000 to $925,000.

America loved Bret Saberhagen. Gee, what a nice kid. He was baseball’s Mary Lou Retton.

He was a young 21 then.

“You’re so young, so young,” marveled Royal infielder Greg Pryor in the clubhouse after Game 7. “But you did it.”

Now, Saberhagen is an old 22.

In the season just passed away (RIP, Royals), Saberhagen went from a 20-6 record to 7-12, and all his other vital statistics went in the same direction--due South.

I phoned Bret on Tuesday afternoon at his home near Kansas City, to shine my light at him and to find out how he’s been taking his classic fall.

Mostly he’s been taking it lying down.

“I had my tonsils taken out on the 13th and I was flat on my back for seven days,” Saberhagen said. “I’m just starting to get up and around. I’ve got baby-sitting duties today.”

Two days after the tonsillectomy, Saberhagen suffered an allergic reaction to his pain medication. In the middle of the night, he broke out in hives and his body began to swell and itch.

Now Bret’s feeling a little better, thank you. He said he has been watching football games on TV. And yes, he has watched the playoffs and World Series games.

Does he find himself thinking back to the ’85 Series?

“No, not really,” Saberhagen said. “It’s kind of nice to be able to relax. I wouldn’t mind playing in the Series every year, but it’s enjoyable not having the pressure.”

What went wrong in ‘86?

“You name it, it was a problem,” he said.

He had pain in his right foot most of the year, and pain in his right shoulder. Doctors never could determine the exact nature of either pain. The problems didn’t seem to cost him any zip on his fastball, but they hurt Saberhagen’s control, which is vital to his pitching style and success.

“It was all part of the aches and pains of a dreadful 1986,” Saberhagen said. “The problems were off and on. I’d feel good and throw terrible, I’d feel terrible and throw good. I just couldn’t put it together.”

He was Kansas City’s mystery man. Around the front office, there was talk that maybe success had spoiled Bret Saberhagen. The fame, the banquet circuit, the bright lights that shine on a 21-year-old instant hero had adversely affected him, went the whispers.

In 1985, people talked about how remarkably cool, poised and easy-going the kid was. In 1986, some observed the same behavior and said he just didn’t seem to care.

Certainly his attitude toward the criticism will have some effect on his ability to come back next season. As Yogi Berra said, “Ninety percent of baseball is half mental.”

I asked Saberhagen if the experiences of the last year had resulted in any observations on the fickleness of fate, fame, fans or life itself.

“No, not really,” he said.

What do you want from a 22-year-old athlete? Aristotle?

Certainly he seems to be handling his athletic setback with the same poise as he handled his fame.

Maybe it’s a matter of perspective. Bret has watched former manager Dick Howser battle a malignant brain tumor. The Saberhagens built a home a year ago, on a golf course, and two months ago Janeane gave birth to a daughter, Brittany.

Maybe when you’re getting a close-up look at life and death, baseball no longer looks like life and death.

Bret didn’t seem depressed Tuesday. He said he was looking forward to watching Game 3 of the World Series with his wife and kids. Normally he’d drink a beer, but because of his throat, he’d probably go with a soft drink. One year ago next Monday, the beverage of choice was champagne.

“Does it seem like a year ago?” Saberhagen said, repeating a question. “It seems like a lot longer than that.”