Hairston Follows Dad, Grandfather Into Pro Ball

Orioles second baseman Jerry Hairston knows the history and a lot of stories about the old Negro leagues.

And then there was the time when New York Yankees slugger Joe DiMaggio had already struck out twice against black pitcher Satchel Paige and upon entering the batter’s box for the third time, he told Hairston’s grandfather, Sam, a catcher with the Indianapolis Clowns and Birmingham Barons, that Paige was the best he had ever played against.

Sam Hairston was the first African-American to play for the Chicago White Sox, in July 1951.

“I remember seeing those old uniforms and how hot they were,” said Hairston, whose father, Jerry Sr., was an outfielder with the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1970s and ‘80s. “[Sam Hairston] could tell lots of stories about the old Negro leagues. He never got much of a chance to play in the major leagues, but he thought he was just as good as the white players. My grandfather, though, was not a bitter man.

“But I’m aware of his struggles and those of black players before me,” said Hairston, who wears his uniform socks high in honor of Negro leagues players who sported a similar style. “One thing I do not do is take playing this game for granted. There are former players alive who knew my grandfather, so when I play, I want to represent him well at all times.”

Hairston, 24, not only represents a third generation of Hairstons to play professionally, but he also epitomizes what the Orioles are trying to sell to Baltimore fans in what looks like a trying season: youth, potential and hope.

He’s one of the new kids, along with pitcher Sidney Ponson, reliever Ryan Kohlmeier, catcher Brook Fordyce and outfielders Melvin Mora and Luis Matos.

This kid Hairston plays second base.

Only this year, it’s his job to lose, unlike last season, when he had to sit behind Delino DeShields, who has been moved from second base to the outfield.

Hairston said he thinks about his grandfather every day. He died in 1996 at age 77. He once predicted that a third-generation Hairston would play professionally.

“He would be so proud of me right now,” said the youngest Hairston about his grandfather. “But there won’t be any difference in the way I prepare for the season. By April 1, I hope to get enough bats in to be ready for the season. There is no added pressure about being a starter.

“In this game, as in any sport, there is built-in pressure,” said Hairston. “You always have to be at the top of your game or you get replaced.”

That’s true in theory, but not always in major-league sports.

Hairston played well enough to make the roster coming out of spring training last year, but the Orioles had playoff hopes. They wanted veteran leadership.

They wanted more old geezers.

Hairston didn’t fit the profile. DeShields, 32, was close.

Hairston was optioned to Rochester six days after the season began.

Nearly a month later, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder to repair a slight tear. He missed seven weeks with Rochester.

An aspiring career had crashed.

“It was nothing career-threatening,” Hairston said of the injury. “But it was frustrating not being able to play for a couple of months and spending all of that time in rehab.

“It was a frustrating season all the way around. I got sent down early, and that was tough to take. I understood I was a young guy and may not have been ready to play every day. It was something beyond my control.”

That’s a good company line, but don’t buy it. Everyone has an ego. Pro athletes just have much bigger ones. When they get demoted, they burn. Hairston, though, just never gave up.

When the team recalled him Aug. 11, he played reasonably well, hitting .256 in the last 49 games he started. One can see he was taught well. All the basics all there. He has great range, but he needs to cut down on the dramatics. He can turn a routine ground ball into an Oscar-winning performance. Robbie Alomar, move over.

He also needs to become more consistent at the plate, erasing those 2-for-25 and 0-for-23 streaks he suffered last season. At one point, Hairston’s average dropped 51 points to .224.

Was he tired? Did major-league pitching start catching up with him?

These are questions Hairston eagerly wants to answer.

“Wherever I’ve played, I’ve always tried to establish myself,” said Hairston, who also has an uncle, John, who played for the Chicago Cubs in the late 1960s. “I’m going to work hard and help this team win as many games as possible. I can control myself, I can control playing the best that I can.”

Hairston seems settled in. He got married Oct. 28 and now resides in Baltimore. He is fully committed to the Jehovah’s Witness faith, which he said played a major part in his getting through last season.

DeShields is there for advice, and Hairston has a great double-play partner on the other side in veteran shortstop Mike Bordick.

“He is a very talented player,” said Bordick. “It was a good experience for him to get a taste of the big leagues last year, and he’ll play now with more confidence. He is the total package. He is a great middle infielder with experience at shortstop, second base, and he has real good speed. I’m looking for some real good things out of him.”

So might someone else.

His name is Sam Hairston.

“I’m sure he is looking down on all of this and pretty happy about this,” Hairston said of his grandfather.