Sean Casey: As good off the field as he is on it

Thursday, December 08, 2005
By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The sadness in Kathy List's voice was palpable.

So was the excitement in Jim Casey's voice.

The emotional reactions to Sean Casey joining the Pirates -- and leaving Cincinnati -- definitely ran the gamut yesterday.

"It's a big loss -- a huge, huge loss," said List, executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. "Sean and his wife [Mandi] ... It's a loss for the Reds and a loss for the community."

List paused.

"Our loss is your gain -- plain and simple," List managed.

"I'm totally ecstatic!" said Jim Casey, who with his wife Joan might have the most to gain. "I'm absolutely enthralled! Euphoric! My grandkids are coming to town!"

As is their dad, Sean, 31, father of three, including 2-week-old Carli Renee.

Sean Casey, the Upper St. Clair High School graduate acquired from the Cincinnati Reds for left-hander Dave Williams in trade that is expected to be formally announced today, will play first base for the Pirates next season.

But that's just for starters.

A whole lot more comes with Sean and Mandi.

"They're a Big Couple of a young boy here," List said, referring to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program that pairs couples with disadvantaged youths. "Sean was matched as a 'Big' before anybody even knew who Sean Casey was, and he's stuck [with it] for six years. The boy is in high school now.

"The relationship has survived offseasons, travel, road trips. Sean's integrity and sincerity are unquestioned. Sean is the real McCoy. What you see is what you get."

People see Sean Casey all over the place, not just first base.

For example, in Cincinnati in 2003 Casey started "Casey's Crew" -- a ticket program for disadvantaged youngsters. He provided 24 complimentary field-level tickets to each Saturday home game.

He was heavily involved with Make-A-Wish visits at Friday home games.

He often visited Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Shriner's Hospital for Children, sometimes on official Reds-sponsored trips, sometimes unannounced on his own.

Casey does other charitable work, but the point has been made.

Casey told the Dayton Daily News last season that his charity work springs from his faith.
"We're all on this Earth to make a difference while we're here," Casey told Hal McCoy, the Hall of Fame Reds beat guy from the Dayton paper. "When we're gone, we're gone. There is scripture that says, 'The Kingdom of God is now.' In Matthew 25:31-48, Jesus is talking, and He says ... when I was hungry, you fed Me. When I was thirsty, you gave Me drink. When I was homeless, you put a roof over My head.' "

"In all honesty, he's the finest person I've ever known," said Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, the Reds' play-by-play voice for 30 years. "I've never met a baseball player -- never met an athlete -- who is as nice, as good and as giving as he is.

"There are certain people, when you're around them and you get that feeling, 'Nobody can be that nice,' but not with him. Sean's legitimate. There's not an ounce of phoniness in his body. I've never seen him be anything less than kind to anyone."

"He's very caring," said Frank Porco, who tutored Casey on hitting at the Bethel Park Grand Slam batting cages years ago and still helps Casey with his swing. "He calls me all the time wondering how I'm doing. He's very family-oriented, very down-to-earth. He's not a phony."

The trading of Casey to the Pirates could be like the Reds trading Tony Perez, another first baseman, to the Montreal Expos after the 1976 season. The Reds, who won the World Series in 1975-76, finished second in their division in 1977-78, and former Reds general manager Bob Howsam later called the Perez trade "the worst I ever made."

"Casey meant so much to the team," Cincinnati outfielder Austin Kearns told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "He was a leader in the clubhouse and out on the field. It's always a risk when you trade a guy like that."

Casey's leadership ability became evident early in high school in Upper St. Clair. He belonged to "Natural Helpers" -- which according to Upper St. Clair baseball coach Jerry Malarkey was "a trusted group of students other students could talk to about anything." Casey's work there -- not to mention his baseball ability -- endeared him to Upper St. Clair residents.

This past season, during a Reds visit to PNC Park, Malarkey and the school retired Casey's high school jersey, No. 22. Malarkey didn't know how many people would attend the ceremony, mentioning to Casey the night before there might be 30 people there, perhaps 100.

More than 400 people showed up, including a few of Casey's Cincinnati teammates and a couple of Cincinnati front-office staffers.

The ceremony lasted 90 minutes.

"And, for most of that time, people talked about what kind of person he is and his leadership," Malarkey said.

"I think it's great [that Casey is joining the Pirates]. It will be a real spark for baseball in Pittsburgh. He will be a tremendous, tremendous influence in the community and in the clubhouse."

Casey's enthusiasm for life, people and helping has earned him the nickname "The Mayor." It has been reported that he got that monicker in Cincinnati. Actually, he acquired it in 1994 while playing for Brewster, Mass., in the Cape Cod League.

Casey shook hands with and talked to so many fans and relatives that summer that, according to Jim Casey, Brewster manager Mike Kirby told his first baseman: "Casey -- play baseball. You're not the mayor."

Sean Casey will be in Pittsburgh next summer to play baseball. What will it be like for him to play in his hometown?

Listen to John Wehner, the kid from Carrick who broke into the major leagues with the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium July 17, 1991, and who is now one of the team's broadcasters.

"For me, it was heaven," Wehner said. "But, at first, it was kind of tough. There were a ton of distractions. Just being in the big leagues for the first time was excitement enough.

"It will be a little different for him. He's established in the big leagues. His family and friends have seen him play here. I think it will go pretty smoothly for him. I'm sure it's going to be neat for him to put on a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. This is the team he rooted for growing up."

There's an interesting tie between Wehner and Casey. Wehner hit the final home run in Three Rivers Stadium; Casey hit the first home run at PNC Park.

"Yep," Wehner said with a laugh. "We went back-to-back."

(Paul Meyer can be reached at 412-263-1144.)