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No. 52 Hal McRae

At the site where his childhood house once stood, Hal McRae is presented with a "Hal McRae Blvd." sign from the Avon Park street that was renamed in his honor. Tribune file photo (1981)
Hal McRae: Sebring Douglas "63 Highlights:A native of Avon Park who played baseball, football and basketball at pre-integration Douglas High in Sebring. ... Had contract offer from San Francisco Giants, but signed baseball scholarship with Florida A&M. Fifth-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 1965, the inaugural amateur baseball draft. ... Played 23 years of professional baseball, including 19 seasons in the major leagues with the Reds and Kansas City Royals. ... Played in the 1970 and '72 postseasons with the Reds before being traded to the Royals. ... Hit .300 six times, including a career-high .332 in 1976, which was second in the American League to Kansas City teammate George Brett (.333). ... Led major leagues with 133 RBIs in 1982. ... Twice led the AL in doubles (54 in 1977, 46 in 1982). ... Hit .400 in 17 World Series games. ... Three-time all-star and three-time Designated Hitter of the Year. ... Named to the Royals Hall of Fame in 1989. ... Was manager of the Royals from 1991-94, posting a 286-277 record (.508). He produced a winning record in three of his four seasons. Today: McRae, 54, finished his third season at hitting instructor for the Philadelphia Phillies. He and wife Johncyna (Jo) live in Bradenton. They have three children … Brian (32), who played last season for the Mets, Rockies and Blue Jays; Cullen (26), the video director for the Florida Marlins; and Leah (22), who attends Florida A&M.

There wasn't a nearby field, so Hal McRae grew up playing street stickball in Avon Park. The neighborhood kids gathered round, learning how to hit on a narrow field of pavement. McRae's mother sat on the porch and watched her son's performances on Castle Street.

Seventeen years ago, Castle Street was renamed "Hal McRae Boulevard.''

A fitting tribute for McRae, a hometown hero who found the path to major-league success.

"I'm honored to be remembered like that,'' McRae said. "Truth is, I was just doing something I really enjoyed. Hitting was never a job to me. It was a joy.''

McRae, who attended the pre-integration Douglas High in Sebring, earned a baseball scholarship to Florida A&M. He played 19 seasons in the big leagues, including 15 with the Kansas City Royals. He had 2,091 career hits, came within percentage points of winning an American League batting title in 1976, hit .300 six times and played until age 42.

"One of the best, most professional hitters I've ever been around, no doubt,'' said Royals Hall of Famer George Brett, McRae's former teammate.

McRae, who began as a shortstop and then shifted to the outfield, became perhaps the best designated hitter in baseball during the 1970s and early '80s. When the DH rule began, many players hated it. McRae embraced it.

"Some people considered it being half a ballplayer,'' said McRae, 54, now hitting instructor with the Philadelphia Phillies. "Once I learned I could be successful doing it, and I realized I was helping the team by letting somebody else play the outfield, there was no looking back.

"I still had my glove. I considered myself a competent defensive player. I wasn't some old broken-down guy who was just hanging on as a DH. It just so happened that my best role was as the DH. You can't argue with our team's success.''

When McRae arrived with the Royals in 1973, it still was considered an expansion franchise. Players from different organizations with no idea how to win.

But the core group - McRae, Brett, Frank White and Fred Patek - grew up together and captured three consecutive AL West titles in 1976-78. In 1980, the Royals finally downed their nemesis, the New York Yankees, and reached the World Series. In '85, they rebounded from a 3-1 game deficit vs. St. Louis to win the Series.

McRae experienced all those benefits, while becoming one of the most feared hitters of his era. Also one of the most feared baserunners.

"I really enjoyed sliding head-first, taking out the middle infielders, running into the catcher,'' McRae said. "I credit that outlook to my baseball coach [Costa Kittles] at FAMU. He was really a football coach. I was never afraid of contact.''

And he was never afraid of digging in, either. From Castle Street to Royals Stadium, McRae's career was a smash hit.

Up next, No. 51: Robinson's Desmond Allison, a two-sport star in high school, becomes a freshman starter with Kentucky basketball.