In the Sports World today too many times does the spotlight get brought to rest on people like Arod, Roger Clemens, and Scott Boras who care nothing but themselves and how much money they can get. I want to give Kudos to a guy who goes out of his way. So I hope that people read it and come away with the notion of this guy is a Class Act. You can read about it here.

Fans catch treat at Varitek home

     

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff  |  November 2, 2007

NEWTON, Mass- This Halloween, Jason Varitek gave trick-or-treaters something infinitely more valuable than a king-sized Snickers bar. The Red Sox captain sat in a lawn chair at the top on his driveway and handed out autographs, signing baseballs, hats, shirts, pillow cases stuffed with candy, and a green alien glove from a youngster's costume.

Christopher Roberts, 10, dressed up as the catcher - a white number 33 Red Sox jersey, baseball pants, and red colored socks pulled up past his calves - only to find himself standing face-to-face with his hero.

"He signed my shirt, right on the first three," Roberts said.

Two police cruisers came to direct traffic and control the crowd, which swelled to some 50 youngsters and parents on a leafy block in the tony village of Waban, in Newton.

"Varitek looked really tired," said Ch ris O'Connell, 45, who brought his sons Joshua, (dressed as a Japanese ninja), 9, and Zeke, (Darth Vader), 7, to get autographs. "It was great - for him to be sitting out there after 9 o'clock on Halloween says a lot about the guy."

It was another example of a Red Sox player transcending his superstardom to reach out to fans, much like the time two players delivered Mexican food to a crowd waiting for playoff tickets on Lansdowne Street last month.

At the local commuter station a few blocks from Varitek's home, the village's affection for the Sox catcher is articulated on handwritten signs hung on a fence - "Waban Loves V-Tek!" and "Tek is the best" - that he passes on his route to Fenway Park.

"Waban has been good to us and respected our privacy," Varitek said yesterday in an interview at his home. "It was a good opportunity for me to say thanks."

The Variteks had a small Halloween gathering at their home that included the families of two other Red Sox players - third baseman Mike Lowell and Doug Mirabelli, another catcher. After the guests left, Varitek's oldest daughter, Aly, 7, had an idea: Dad should go out and sign autographs while she handed out Butterfinger candy bars.

"I couldn't really tell you how many there were, but it was a lot," Varitek said with a heavy sigh. "But it ended up being a good thing."

For trick-or-treaters, it was better than good. It was better than Christmas.

Dressed in an all-black demon biker costume, Maxx Teitleman, 9, had to think fast to find something for a signature. He handed Varitek the blue pillow case he had taken from his bed to collect candy. "I'm not going to use that pillow case again anytime soon," Teitleman said.

At the O'Connell house, Joshua woke up the morning after Halloween in disbelief. He spotted the baseball signed by the catcher of the 2007 World Series champions, but still ran down stairs with a question. "I asked mom if it was a dream," he said.

Now that's why this guy is a true home town hero.  Varitek has always been one of my favorite Sox players.  He's been there from the first run and then some.  The guy is still an amazing athlete and a pretty good hitter for his age.  Definately one of the best AL catchers in my book.

That is truly something you don't see every day either.  I think he was trying to show his kids a good example and such, and prove to them no matter how big or how great you get you can't forget the people who show support day in and day out for you.  What a story.  I'm definately proud to call myself a Sox fan and relate to guys with such honor and class.

very cool

BRAVO Mr. Varitek!!!

It doesn't take much to mean a lot

That's very cool. Jason Veritiek played minor league ball in Wilmington for one season with the short lived Port City Roosters who played in the Single A Carolina League in the mid 90'S.

Big T

Varitek has always been an exceptional role model.

Not to detract anything from his "mixing with the little people," but did anyone catch his selfless gesture of pocketing the last pitch from the World Series?  Say he gave it to Pepelbon, who says he has no idea where it is...  Someone should check his trophy case...

The entire team is like this, they are all a class act.  Last year Curt Schilling helped out a family on Extreme Home Makeover.