THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1994 TAG: 9406220028
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KERRY DOUGHERTY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940622 LENGTH: Medium
Not Ken Geroe.
{REST} ``Mitchell wants to be baseball commissioner, best job in the world,'' says Geroe. ``The Supreme Court couldn't compare.''
If Geroe was offered the same choice - Supreme Court justice or baseball commissioner - he'd be headed for the ballpark in a New York minute.
``It's a dream job; I can't think of anything I'd rather do,'' says Geroe, sitting in his Virginia Beach law office surrounded by baseball memorabilia and wearing a black and white baseball necktie.
It isn't just an idle dream for this 39-year-old baseball fanatic. In 1983, as Bowie Kuhn was about to retire, Geroe applied for the job.
In his letter of application, Geroe outlined his ideas to improve the national pasttime. He dubbed his plan ``A Return to Sanity.''
As baseball commissioner, Geroe said, he would urge the National League to realign its divisions along geographical lines, would oppose inter-league play during the regular season, would avoid expanding the leagues and would support player salary caps.
Geroe put forth his most compelling argument for the job: ``As perhaps the ultimate return to sanity, this commissioner would never fail to wear an overcoat when chilly and, moreover, would forbid the playing of post-season night games. Baseball is a summer game, best played in temperatures conducive to effective performance.''
Did he receive a reply?
``Sure did,'' Geroe says, grinning. ``Thanks, but no thanks.''
Geroe, who is married and the father of four young children, is the vice chairman for finance of the Democratic Party of Virginia. Eleven years since he first applied for the job, Geroe still covets the commissioner's position. The job has been vacant now for two years - since the resignation of Fay Vincent.
He didn't apply for the commissioner's job this time because he was waiting for a liver transplant.
``If I were baseball commissioner, I'd go to ball games almost every night,'' he says, warming to the subject. ``You usually only see the commissioner at the All-Star games and the World Series. I'd go to lots of regular season games, get to know the fans.''
He's been one.
One of Geroe's earliest memories is watching the '59 World Series games between the White Sox and the Dodgers. With his grandmother.
``She was a rabid baseball fan,'' Geroe says. ``She also grew up in Brooklyn. She practically lived at Ebbett's Field, so she was really torn watching these guys in Dodgers uniforms without `Brooklyn' above it.
``I think I got most of my love of baseball from my grandmother.''
Geroe, who grew up in Ocean View, played Little League ball and tried to make the varsity team at Norfolk Catholic.
``I was the last guy cut my junior year,'' Geroe says. ``It was heartbreaking. I knew I wasn't going to start or anything; I just wanted to make the team. It would have been better to get cut earlier, before I had all that hope.''
Now he watches his own son play ball. Dan, 8, plays Little League, and Geroe takes time from his busy law practice to coach. He says he tries not to put any pressure on his son.
``I don't even keep score; I don't care if the team wins or loses,'' he says. ``I want the kids to love baseball. If you push them too hard, they won't love it.''
Geroe not only coaches kids, he travels to Orioles games and goes to Harbor Park whenever possible.
``Being baseball commissioner is a sacred trust. I can't think of a better job.''
by CNB