Nothing Flashy About Him

John Olerud strolled into the clubhouse wearing sunglasses with orange lenses and flames on each side--not his usual look.

“He was like a Harley driver,” recalls Tom Lampkin, the Mariners’ backup catcher. “I was like, ‘Ole, those aren’t you.’ ”

The 32-year-old Seattle first baseman, known more for his conservative style and low-key demeanor, isn’t the flashy kind.

Even when he’s joking, his sense of humor is so dry that his teammates say it’s often several minutes before they realize he’s said something funny.

“I’m not the guy yelling in the clubhouse,” he says. “I concentrate on what I can do on the field. I’m definitely in the category of lead by example.”

And the sunglasses? They were a gift to Olerud from the manufacturer.

“I just walked in with them to see what kind of reaction I’d get from the guys,” says the always clean-cut Olerud. “They said, ‘Nah, it’s not you.’ I gave them to Lampkin and traded them for some toned-down ones.”

With Olerud, the Mariners know exactly what they’re getting each day, says catcher Dan Wilson.

Olerud was named an All-Star for the second time in his career this season, starting for the American League in its 4-1 win at Safeco Field this month. It was Olerud’s first All-Star selection since 1990, which was his second major league season.

He is Seattle’s third-leading hitter, helping the Mariners to one of the best starts in baseball history. Through Wednesday, he was batting .313 with 103 hits, 13 home runs and 61 RBIs.

The a left-handed hitter and fielder won his first Gold Glove last year with a .996 fielding percentage. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, he has great reach at first base and can be an intimidating force in the batter’s box.

“He brings a very steady, consistent approach, and he gets results,” Lampkin says. “He’s always been steady. He’s an RBI guy. He can hit it out of the park, he can hit for average. You can’t ask for much more.”

In fact, players in the bottom half of Seattle’s batting order like Lampkin and Wilson are trying to increase their offensive output to take some pressure off Olerud and others in the top of the lineup.

His teammates know they have something special in Olerud. He is loyal to them, to the organization, to the city, not to mention his family.

“He’s a solid person, very grounded,” Lampkin says. “A lot of guys trust him, and know they can go to him with a problem.”

There’s no question Olerud has been a good fit with the Mariners. He returned to his roots in Seattle last season after playing three seasons with the New York Mets and the previous eight in Toronto. He signed with the Mariners as a free agent in December 1999.

Olerud and his father, John Sr., both played baseball at Washington State.

During his junior year in 1989, the younger Olerud needed surgery to remove an aneurysm at the base of his brain. He still wears a batting helmet in the field, for additional protection.

Olerud has relatives who still live in the Seattle area.

“It’s great to be back home and have the team doing so well and to have the All-Star game,” Olerud says. “It’s been a great year.”

He knows that everything had to work out just right for him to play in Seattle.

“You never know. The position has to be open in a year you’re a free agent, and they have to want you to come back,” he says.

It’s hard to find a negative word spoken about Olerud.

“He’s an amazing hitter,” says Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly. “He’s very quiet, very steady. There’s not a lot of flash or hoopla with John Olerud.

“He’s one of the most prolific hitters I’ve been around. You know you’ll get a good at-bat every time.”