ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701100007
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
BALTIMORE
THE GIANTS LOST his respect, but the Orioles, Mets, Astros, Dodgers, Indians, Marlins and Twins want to win his loyalty.
Seven baseball teams are wooing Michael Volpe with letters and media guides. A Baltimore Orioles official plans to take the Virginia man to lunch. And the Houston Astros gave him a Top 10 list of why he should join their side.
Volpe is no fresh-armed pitcher or muscled slugger. He's just a baseball fan - a self-declared free-agent fan.
Volpe declared himself a free agent after the San Francisco Giants, a team he had supported for 36 years, traded away Matt Williams, his favorite player.
Volpe wrote a form letter to the 27 other major league teams in November offering his service as a fan to the team that can best answer the question, ``Why should I become a fan of your team?''
Since then, the Orioles, Astros, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets and Minnesota Twins have put themselves in the bidding.
Orioles public relations director John Maroon planned to woo Volpe today with lunch and a personal tour of Camden Yards.
``I'm going to close the deal,'' Maroon said.
But Volpe said he likely won't make up his mind until the beginning of spring training in late February or early March.
The 44-year-old business management consultant from Falls Church, Va., said he decided to end his lifelong devotion to the Giants after the team traded Williams to the Cleveland Indians. Volpe said he admired Williams for being a role model for his children and an uncomplaining star who gave his best each day.
After the trade, Volpe boxed up three decades' worth of Giants memorabilia - baseball caps, T-shirts, a sweater, a jacket and a media guide - shipped it all to the team and fired off a letter to the club's vice president.
``I am divorcing you and your team from my baseball life,'' Volpe said. ``Since California is a community property state, I have decided to part with many of the items acquired during my long-term relationship with the Giants.''
In his letter to the other teams, he asked how they planned to improve, how much they valued their fans and which players they could hold up as role models to Volpe's sons, who are 12 and 9.
Letters soon arrived from six teams.
The Astros gave Volpe a David Letterman-like Top 10 list of reasons to become an Astros fan, including No. 2: ``home of the original AstroTurf.''
``Let me express my sympathy for your loss,'' wrote Erin Skelley, Astros assistant director of advertising. ``As a longtime Astros fan, I understand the pain you are going through.''
The Orioles offered Volpe two words to reassure his concerns about team stability and a role model: Cal Ripken. They also cited Roberto Alomar as ``one of the finest citizens of the game,'' despite a spitting incident during the American League playoffs.
Both the Mets and the Twins pointed to the team's young players and managers Bobby Valentine and Tom Kelly. The Mets threw in a media guide and some player photos for Volpe's sons. The Cleveland Indians also mailed a media guide.
The Dodgers gave Volpe a media guide and information to familiarize him with the team.
The Marlins cited star players such as Gary Sheffield and Bobby Bonilla but could not promise that none of its best players would be traded or leave due to free agency.
``We will treat you with kindness, and with respect and will never take for granted your support,'' wrote Marlins general manager David Dombrowski. ``Thank you very much for your interest, and hope you become a Florida Marlins fan.''
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB