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BY GEORGE CASTLE
Times Correspondent | Tuesday, January 22, 2008 | (No comments posted.)
When Brenda Harvey meets Nick Swisher for the first time in more than 20 years soon, the first thing the Crown Point resident will do is see how much Swisher the motivated little boy remains in Swisher the grown man.
"Does his career measure up to the dream he had a kindergartner? Is this how he envisioned it?" Harvey said of some of the first questions she'll ask Swisher.
Harvey had an early scouting report on Swisher, now 27, as his young kindergarten teacher in Worthington, Ohio. At the time, Swisher said he wanted to be a big leaguer just like his father, former Cubs catcher Steve Swisher.
Harvey e-mailed The Times with her favorite memories after Swisher was traded recently to the Sox from Oakland.
In turn, The Times contacted the Sox with her story. A team official said he would try to arrange a meeting between Harvey and Swisher at SoxFest in Chicago this weekend.
"I remember thinking, 'Poor little boy. He doesn't know the slim odds of becoming a professional baseball player,'" Harvey said. "I'm so glad he proved me wrong!"
Swisher's precocious drive and leadership may have helped him achieve his dream.
"I remember Nick as being a very friendly, well-rounded little boy," Harvey said. "He was smart, had a quick wit and was an independent thinker. A polite kid, and well-behaved. He was very popular with the other little boys, especially at recess as he always had his ball and glove.
"Anytime we drew pictures of what we liked, or told stories about what we did over the weekend or dreamed about what we wanted to be when we grew up, Nick was always focused on baseball."
Harvey is particularly proud of Swisher's philanthropic work. He had grown his hair 11 inches over the 2006-07 offseason to go toward making up a wig to be worn by a woman afflicted with cancer. His long locks were cut off by his father in a well-publicized event last May 18 in Oakland.
The younger Swisher was an ambassador for the Entertainment Industry Foundation Women's Cancer Fund. The publicity from the shearing benefited Pantene Beautiful Lengths non-profit fund, which provided the wigs for women who lose their hair during cancer treatments.
"He doesn't have that ‘all about me' attitude so many young, professional athletes have," Harvey said. "I am most impressed how he willingly uses his position to help others. He is a very giving young man; willing to give of his time, talents and money to help others less fortunate.
"That's a real tribute to his family. They've raised a fine young man who is a great role model for young children."
Nick Swisher at a glance
* Swisher ranked sixth in the American League in walks in 2007 and was seventh in pitches seen per-plate appearance (4.25).
* Swisher had a .381 on-base percentage overall and .458 against left-handed pitchers.
* Swisher had 25 homers and 95 RBIs in 2006.
* Swisher is the son of ex-catcher Steve Swisher, an original Sox draftee and one-time (1976) Cubs All-Star.
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