Fielder finally gets a chance to shine

[UPI / FRED McMANE]

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The smile on the face of Cecil Fielder is
as big as the man.
It has taken Fielder 12 years to get to the World Series and he is
enjoying every minute of it.
After tours of duty in Toronto, Japan and Detroit, Fielder has shown
a World Series audience just how good a player he is as he has played a
key role in New York's bid for a championship.
The 6-3, 250-pound first baseman/designated hitter has been one of
the club's top players during the postseason and entered Saturday
night's Game 6 with a .421 batting average for the Series.
Not only has he excelled at the plate, but he has performed well in
the field, too. Despite his awesome girth, he showed quickness and good
hands at first base during the club's three-game sweep of the Braves at
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
He serves solely as the designated hitter when the Series is played
at Yankee Stadium.
``Cecil is quality,'' said Yankees' manager Joe Torre. ``When he came
over in that trade he was welcomed. The players couldn't wait until he
got here. He is a presence in this clubhouse.
``What he's done in this postseason, I think, is add another
dimension to his game and I think it's great.''
Fielder credits his peformance in the World Series to a phone call he
had with his former manager at Detroit, Sparky Anderson.
``I told him I was a little drained. I was on an emotional high and
not able to sleep real well because every postseason game was so
important,'' said Fielder. ``What he told me helped me. He said, 'listen
here, you've worked hard and your team has worked hard to get to this
point. You got to the World Series and you've got to try to enjoy
yourself.'
``I think if I hadn't spoken to him, I might be a little uptight. He
said all the years he went to the World Series he was able to say he
enjoyed it and that's what I'm doing.''
Anderson was in five World Series as a manager, winning twice with
the Cincinnati Reds (1975-76) and once with the Tigers (1984). His Reds
team lost to the Baltimore Orioles in 1970 and to the Oakland Athletics
in 1972.
Fielder was a reserve on the Blue Jays when they blew a three games
to one lead to the Kansas City Royals in the 1985 American League
Championship Series and that was as close as he had previously come to
reaching the World Series.
The Yankees acquired Fielder from Detroit on July 31 and he hit .260
with 13 homers and 37 RBI for them. What he provided most of all,
however, was a strong influence in the clubhouse.
``I just think the way I handle myself is probably my biggest plus
with this ballclub,'' Fielder said. ``You've got to go out there and be
professional. You've got to go out there and try to do something, try to
stay in control. I just try to tell myself everyday before I go out
there that this is just another game.''
What has made Fielder happiest is the chance to compete for something
important. With the Tigers he never got that opportunity.
``In this situation I've got an opportunity to go up there and hit
when things are going to count,'' he said. ``We're all competitors. In
Detroit I didn't have the opportunity to compete. I could go out and do
my individual thing, but that's not what it's all about. This has been
an incredible experience.''