On Board with Kevin Barker

If the size of one's heart was factored in the voting, then Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Kevin Barker would be a perennial MVP.

Many were moved to tears by the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech. Barker, a former Hokie baseball star, was also moved to action.

Barker and his Chiefs teammates wore Virginia Tech caps during their game last Saturday against the Louisville Bats. The hats were then autographed and are now up for auction with the proceeds going to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. The silent auction will run through Sunday, May 6.

Many Major and Minor League teams have made similar gestures, but Barker took it a step further with the help of Virginia Tech baseball coach Peter Hughes. Hughes donated a Hokies jersey for Barker to wear during the game. The jersey bore No. 32 honoring the 32 victims of the shootings in Blacksburg, VA.

"The people there went through a horrible experience," Barker, a Virginia native, said. "I can only imagine what the people that were affected are going through. I don't know how much I can do but whatever it is I hope it can help. We're trying to do as much as we can for a really good cause. I am fortunate to be in a position to help raise funds and awareness for the families of the victims of this tragedy. It might not be much but maybe the thought counts."

Barker's Hokies uniform was also autographed by the entire Chiefs team and is also a part of the silent auction.

"Kevin lives by the golden rule that you would do unto others like you would have others do unto you," Barker's former Virginia Tech baseball coach Chuck Hartman said. "He has an incredible big heart. He isn't like a lot of modern society where it's all me, me, me."

"We have been overwhelmed at the University," Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver said during a phone interview. "This is just one example of how the alumni of this university feels about Virginia Tech and want to do something to help out with the circumstances. We're very appreciative and extremely pleased."

"Virginia Tech is a beautiful family oriented school," Barker said. "You wouldn't have thought anything like that could have happened there. If it can happen there it can happen anywhere. I don't know what can be done to prevent things like this from happening in the future."

Barker was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1996, the same year he was selected as an Athletic All-American at Virginia Tech. He has bounced from the Brewers to the San Diego Padres to the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies before landing with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Barker's fascination with baseball started to fall into place early in his life.

"I was really good at baseball growing up," Barker said. "I played five sports in high school. I was a really small guy. I didn't hit my growth spurt until my sophomore year in college. I could hit and run even though I was small. I love to play sports. My Dad thought I was good and put me in all kinds of camps to push me in that direction. It was a fortunate thing, but I should have been a pitcher. It was a family effort. My Mom was there to help in the decision making."

"Kevin is a hard working kid," the now-retired Hokies' coach Hartman said. "His work ethic is outstanding. He was a tremendous player for us and one of our main cogs."

Regardless, Barker's timing in life was a bit askew when it came to keeping put in the majors.

"I haven't been in the right spot at the right time," Barker insists. "In the big leagues you have to know someone. Someone that likes you because there are a billion players just like I am that are trying to get to the big leagues or trying to stay there. If you look at my Minor League numbers there aren't that many with better numbers."

Coach Hartman offered a different opinion. "Kevin was given a label when he performed so poorly for a year or two," Hartman said. "Kevin has talent but he made sure he was going to use that talent through his work ethic. That shows his character. He's bothered by it and hasn't given up."

"Two to three years ago I used to go home and beat myself up over it," Barker said of his lack of Major League time. "I would be watching television and I would say I was better than this guy or that guy. It's pointless to do all that. I'll continue to do the best I can do and hopefully someone will step up and say this guy can play and put me in the big leagues."

In the meantime Barker will try and help the Chiefs as much as he can.

Off the field Barker leads a simple life, especially during the off-season when he enjoys a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains from his home in Denver, Colo.

He treasures his pickup truck, cell phone and girlfriend, but not necessarily in that order. Once-divorced, Barker has found his perfect match, who is a a reporter for a regional sports television station.

"I'm a pretty simple guy," Barker said. "I bought one of those really weird computerized cell phones and can't figure out how to use it. A cell phone is about as big as it gets for me. I do love my pickup truck."

He lso has a wide taste in music and loves Mom's home cooking.

"I talk a little funny being from Virginia," Barker said in his distinctive southern drawl. "People think I like country music. I do like a little country but I like rock as well. Rap is a bit much for me but there is some I like. I like it all. It depends what kind of mood I in."

"I haven't been home in so long I am kind of getting used to no home cooking, but when I did it was Bar-B-Que chicken, with stove top stuffing and rice. It was THE meal when I came home from college. I haven't had that in a while. I kind of miss it."

The fact that Barker, like current teammate Chad Mottola, has been around as long as he has is a story in itself for the soon to be 32-year old. "Everyone here is trying to live a dream," Barker sighed. "I guess I'm still trying to do that. If I didn't feel like I could play in the big leagues and play every day I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't waste these people's time and I wouldn't waste my time."

"There are 30 other teams," Barker continued. "I'm not just playing for the Blue Jays or the Chiefs. I'm playing to get in the big leagues with somebody. I'm one of those guys that hasn't stuck, but someday..."

Barker knows that despite his inability to land a long-term gig in the majors, the game revolves around the fans. He'll be one of the first to step up when needed.

"It's not a hard thing to go out of your way to sign an autograph," Barker said. "If someone is nice to me I'll be nice to them. You just try to give back."

Barker encourages fans to help now that their needed.

"The Hokies were good to me when I was there and it's my family," Barker implored. "I'll do anything I can do to help. I hope the fans will get off their best intentions, open their wallets and bid on the items."

"He's always had a lot of concern for people and always has been a gentleman," coach Hartman said.

To bid on a hat or the jersey, visit the Whistlestop Souvenir Store between now and Sunday, May 6, or call the Chiefs at 315-474-7833. As this story went to press Barker's hat was at $45.00 and the jersey had a bid of $260.00.