ROOKIE OF THE YEAR : It Has Been Etched in Dodger Blue the Last Four Years but Hollandsworth Takes the Fifth When Talk Turns to Possibility of Winning Award

The neighbors stop by for updates. The phone rings every night with calls from all over the country. The family room is littered with newspapers and magazines, and the computer is hooked up to the Internet.

The satellite dish is spinning. And there’s that portable pager that keeps track of the baseball games, updating not only by the inning but by the batter.

The Deer Ridge community in San Ramon, Calif., hasn’t been quite the same since that neighborhood boy started playing baseball for the Dodgers.

The house on Athens Drive is the only one in the development with a satellite dish, and it may be the only one in the entire Bay Area with a wet bar stocked with trophies, plaques, baseballs, bats--everything but alcohol. On the TV is a Plexiglas case with two baseballs, one marked, “First hit,” the other, “First homer.”

“I guess you can say life has changed a little bit for us,” said Gary Hollandsworth, laughing.

Gary and Susan’s oldest child, Todd, happens to be probably the best rookie in baseball.

Not only has he been instrumental in the Dodgers’ drive to the National League West Division title, but he has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to become the fifth consecutive Dodger to win the league’s rookie-of-the-year award. As the Dodgers open their series with San Francisco tonight, Hollandsworth is batting .301 with 12 homers, 63 runs and 59 runs batted in.

“I was just to the computer to pull down stats on all of the other rookies,” Gary Hollandsworth said Sunday night. “I would never tell Todd that, but I keep checking on everyone else.”

Said Susan Hollandsworth, “We talk about the rookie-of-the-year award all of the time. Well, at least all of the time when Todd’s not around.”

Hollandsworth, who looks like a cover boy from an old Saturday Evening Post, hates talking about the rookie award, although he would love to win it.

He just doesn’t like talking about his accomplishments, and his knowledge of the rookie award is definitely limited.

For instance, Hollandsworth had no idea that the voting will be conducted after this weekend, when the regular season ends.

He didn’t know the result will be announced in early November.

He didn’t know the winner receives the Jackie Robinson trophy in January at the annual Baseball Writer’s Assn. of America dinner in New York.

“Maybe I’ll think about all of that stuff when the season is over,” Hollandsworth said. “But not now. We’ve got a pennant race to worry about. Then, the playoffs. And hopefully, then the World Series.

“Can you imagine if we go to the World Series, win the World Series, and I’m voted the rookie-of-the-year award?

“I might as well step down right then and there. I mean, it can’t get any better than that, can it?

“Come on, this whole thing has been like a dream as it is.”

*

Hollandsworth, 23, sits in the patio of a San Diego restaurant, showing an odd mixture of disbelief and embarrassment.

He’s trying to remember how much money he makes as an outfielder for the Dodgers.

“I think it’s like 119, no, $126,000,” he says. “No, that’s not right, either. I know it’s somewhere in there.

“But you know, when I signed, I didn’t even know what I got. I didn’t even ask. My agent took care of it for me, and I don’t even remember if he told me.”

For the record, Hollandsworth makes $136,000. It is about $500,000 less than is paid relief pitcher Rudy Seanez, who has not pitched in a major league game this season. It is about $200,000 less than catcher Carlos Hernandez, who was demoted to triple-A Albuquerque and taken off the roster. It is about $60,000 less than Billy Ashley, and Ashley has been relegated to the bench by Hollandsworth.

“I don’t worry about that stuff,” Hollandsworth said. “I know the Dodgers will take care of me when the time is right. Believe me, that’s not even a priority.”

Not that Hollandsworth doesn’t know the meaning of a buck. He would rather buy his suits during the spring sale at Sears than look for an Armani. He lives in a tiny apartment near the ballpark, not wanting to pay the high rent to live at the beach. He traded in his Explorer on a Corvette, then decided that his Explorer was more practical and sent the Corvette home.

He didn’t spend his $110,000 signing bonus out of college, instead investing it into stocks and bonds. He would like to buy a house because he needs the tax break.

“Todd’s always been very careful with his money,” said his father. “I remember once when he was 13 years old, he came running down the stairs to tell us that he won $1,000 on a radio show. We said, “Right. Right.’ It turned out to be true. Todd was the fifth caller on this radio show, and won $1,000.”

So how did Hollandsworth celebrate?

“He bought a $100 pair of tennis shoes,” his father said, “and used the rest to buy stock in UPS. You know, he made a nice profit.”

*

That is what Hollandsworth is about. What you see is what you get.

You can like him or not but he isn’t going to change to fit someone’s image.

That may be why Hollandsworth is so highly thought of by veterans in the Dodger clubhouse.

“You can’t help but like the guy,” said first baseman Eric Karros, the first of the Dodgers’ four consecutive rookie-of-the year winners. “There are guys around here who haven’t done [anything], and they act like they’ve been an MVP of the league. But this guy has done something, and he acts like he’s done nothing.

“When you think about all of the pressure, and all of the weight he’s carrying on his shoulders, he’s done more than any of us [previous rookie-of-the-year winners]. Nothing was expected of us. We were just happy to be playing.”

Said center fielder Brett Butler, “As soon as I met him, I knew he was a no-nonsense type of guy. He doesn’t put up with any garbage. He doesn’t get caught up in the facade. He’s a genuine person. If you play games with him, he won’t have anything to do with you.

“He’s going to be a very special player, but I also think he’ll be one of those guys who are taken for granted. He won’t be boisterous. He won’t be controversial. He won’t be flamboyant. He’ll just be one of those throwback players that are refreshing to be around.”

Hollandsworth’s striving to help the team attracted Butler and they became good friends in spring training.

When Butler left the team May 1 to have his tonsils removed, Hollandsworth figured he would see him back in a week. When former manager Tom Lasorda told the team that Butler had cancer, Hollandsworth was devastated.

“I completely lost it,” Hollandsworth said. “I was scared to death. I remember going to Brett’s place and packing all of his stuff. I really didn’t know whether I’d even see him. Then, of course, he comes back and plays.

“I always believe things happen for a reason. Think about it. Think of the reason Brett came back last season. If I don’t break my thumb [sliding into third], you think the Dodgers trade for Brett [in August]? And if Brett doesn’t get sick this year, you think I even play? I might have been in the minors, and if I struggled down there, who knows what would have happened.

“I tell you, this whole season is unreal.

“To go through what I was going through early in the year--sitting on the bench, on my way to Albuquerque, and now this? Come on, this is something you can’t even dream of.”

The season had started well enough for Hollandsworth, who got two hits and drove in three runs on opening day. But soon, everything fell apart.

He was never more embarrassed than the afternoon of April 5 at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Brian Dorsett hit a fly ball to him, Hollandsworth caught it, then started running toward the dugout. But there had been only one out when he caught the ball and the blunder permitted two runs to score.

“I still can’t believe that happened,” Hollandsworth said.

Soon, he was batting .205 and sitting out four consecutive games. He figured the next time Lasorda called him it would be to send him to Albuquerque.

Instead, he was summoned April 27 to pinch-hit in the seventh inning against Jaime Navarro of the Cubs. He led off with a double and eventually scored, sending the game into extra innings. He was back in the lineup the next day, and since has missed only five games.

“I can still see that pitch, clear as day,” Hollandsworth said. “A high fastball, up and away. That’s when it all started. When I got that hit, Eric Karros ran up to me in the dugout and said, ‘This is it. You’re on your way. That’s what got me started. You’re going to take off from here.’ ”

Hollandsworth has batted .333 with nine homers and 43 RBIs in his last 76 games so when Manager Bill Russell needed a leadoff hitter six weeks ago, he turned to Hollandsworth. Hollandsworth agreed to give it a try. The experiment, with the exception of Butler’s brief return, has lasted ever since. He is batting .341 as the leadoff hitter with 21 runs, five homers and 17 RBIs.

“This guy is special,” third baseman Tim Wallach said. “He reminds me of Larry Walker [of the Colorado Rockies] a lot. And he’s going to just get better. The thing I think we all admire in him is that he just wants to win. When you worry about your personal stats, you’re going to struggle. If you want to win games, you’ll succeed.

“Believe me, this guy is a winner.”

Perhaps the biggest adjustment Hollandsworth will have to make is controlling his intensity. He goes at one speed--full ahead--and eventually he’ll have to taper his emotions, the Dodgers say. This is not a football game and he no longer is the star running back and outside linebacker he was in high school. And, as he learned last year, he can help no one while sitting on the bench because of a broken hand for two months and a broken thumb for another six weeks.

“He has a lot of excess energy,” said Reggie Smith, Dodger hitting coach. “But you also don’t want to take anything away from his aggressiveness. He is something special. You like the fact that he has no fear of failure. Failure is unacceptable to him.”

Hollandsworth can’t understand why people are surprised he’s excelling in the midst of a tight title race.

“I thrive on challenges,” Hollandsworth said. “I live for this. If you play like it’s added pressure, your game will diminish. To me, it makes the game easier. It keeps my focus.

“That’s why people ask about the rookie of the year, and I’m telling them the truth when I say I’m not thinking about it. I got other worries, like trying to help get this team into the playoffs.”

That’s why when Gary and Susan Hollandsworth hit town this weekend for the Dodgers’ final series against the Padres, they will, as usual, stay in a hotel. Hollandsworth calls his parents twice a week, but this is no time for social gatherings.

“My family and friends understand,” Hollandsworth said. “That’s why I block my phone in the hotels. I’ve got to concentrate. When the season is over, then I’ll have all the time in the world.

“But right now, we’ve got a division title to win.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Rookie of the Year

Eric Karros, 1992

Mike Piazza, 1993

Raul Mondesi, 1994

Hideo Nomo, 1995

COPYRIGHT, LOS ANGELES DODGERS 1992-1995

How Hollandsworth Ranks With Other Rookies

How Hollandsworth compares to his main competition:

*--*

Player Avg OB% AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Hollandsworth .301 .359 455 63 137 26 4 12 59 Jason Kendall, Pirates .299 .368 398 51 119 23 3 2 39 Rey Ordonez, Mets .260 .292 493 51 128 12 4 1 29 Edgar Renteria, Marlins .310 .360 410 65 127 16 3 5 28

*--*

How Hollandsworth compares to previous Dodger rookie-of-the-year hitters:

*--*

Player Avg OB% AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Hollandsworth .301 .359 455 63 137 26 4 12 59 Raul Mondesi, 1994 .306 .334 434 63 133 27 8 16 56 Mike Piazza, 1993 .318 .374 547 81 174 24 2 35 112 Eric Karros, 1992 .257 .307 619 74 153 27 3 23 80 Steve Sax, 1982 .282 .335 638 88 180 23 7 4 47 Ted Sizemore, 1969 .271 .328 590 69 160 20 5 4 46 Jim Lefebvre, 1965 .250 .339 544 57 136 21 4 12 69 Frank Howard, 1960 .268 .321 448 54 120 15 2 23 77 Jim Gilliam, 1953 .278 .383 605 125 168 31 17 6 63 Jackie Robinson, 1947 .297 .383 590 125 175 31 5 12 48

*--*

Most similar rookies of the year to Hollandsworth, and their career numbers:

*--*

Player Avg OB% R H 2B 3B HR Hollandsworth .301 .359 63 137 26 4 12 Gil McDougald, Yankees, 1951 .306 .396 72 123 23 4 14 Gil McDougald, Career .276 .358 697 1,291 187 51 112 Thurman Munson, Yankees, 1970 .302 .389 59 137 25 4 6 Thurman Munson, Career .292 .350 696 1,558 229 32 113 Rod Carew, Twins, 1967 .292 .342 66 150 22 7 8 Rod Carew, Career .328 .395 1,424 3,053 445 112 92 Gary Matthews, Giants, 1973 .300 .369 74 162 22 10 12 Gary Matthews, Career .281 .367 1,083 2,011 319 51 234

Player RBI Hollandsworth 59 Gil McDougald, Yankees, 1951 63 Gil McDougald, Career 576 Thurman Munson, Yankees, 1970 53 Thurman Munson, Career 701 Rod Carew, Twins, 1967 51 Rod Carew, Career 1,015 Gary Matthews, Giants, 1973 58 Gary Matthews, Career 978

*--*