Published: May 03, 2008 10:12 pm      

BISONS: Herr had plenty of childhood lessons

BUFFALO — Almost everyone has had that grandfather-type in their life. You know, that older male to identify with and look up to.

Not many can say that legendary Major League Baseball skipper Whitey Herzog was that figure, though. Perhaps that’s why when Aaron Herr talks about the time he spent as an adolescent in the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse he gets a huge smile on his face.

“He always let me do whatever I wanted,” Herr said of Herzog. “I even had my own locker.”

Herr, now an infielder with the Buffalo Bisons, served as a batboy for a number of teams as a youngster while traveling with his father, Tom Herr. The elder Herr was a 13-year MLB veteran that was named an all-star in 1985 and won a World Series with the redbirds in 1982.

Growing up around the game, Aaron fell in love with America’s pastime. He says he was never pushed toward the diamond by his father, he naturally gravitated to the sport.

“It was the only thing I wanted to do with my life,” he said.

After dabbling in football, basketball and even golf, the younger Herr began to fully dedicate his efforts to baseball during his sophomore campaign of high school. He parlayed those efforts into a first-round draft choice of the Atlanta Braves in 2000. Herr spent four years meddling in the Braves organization before a one-year stop with the Cardinals organization. Then in 2006, Herr was signed by the Cincinnati Reds, where he spent time with both Double-A Chattanooga and Triple A-Louisville.

Last season, Herr earned International League all-star honors after belting 19 home runs and 31 doubles for the Bats. After the season, though, Herr was granted free agency and began to explore his options. He said he found “four or five” teams that had an interest and ultimately chose the Indians because they promised an invite to Spring Training.

“I had a gut feeling that Cleveland was right for me,” he said.

With the Tribe infield packed, though, it was almost a foregone conclusion Herr would be headed to Triple-A. Sure enough Herr was re-assigned to Buffalo and the Bisons are sure glad to have him.

Most of Buffalo’s roster has started this year slow, but not Herr. The infielder leads the Bisons in several offensive categories, including triples, home runs, RBIs, total bases and batting average. It’s all just a part of his annual approach to the game.

“It’s important to try and get off to a fast start,” Herr said. “That helps get my numbers where I set my personal goals before the season.”

That idea of being goal-oriented is another byproduct of Herr’s relationship with his father. He said they still talk on an almost daily basis, mostly focusing on the mental aspects of the game.

“He keeps me on an even keel,” Herr said of his dad. “It’s a blessing to be able to have someone to call every night.”

Herr’s immediate focus, though, is helping Buffalo get on the right track and begin to climb the IL North standings. By continuing to produce at the rate he’s been doing thus far, Herr believes good things will happen to both the team and, perhaps more importantly, himself.

“Ultimately, it’s all up to me and how I play,” he said of his prospects of reaching his ultimate goal of the big leagues. “I’ve just got to keep working hard and hopefully the right situation will come along.”

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.



AARON HERR

• POSITION: Infielder

• AGE: 28

• 2008 STATS: 25 games, 94 ABs, 14 runs, 26 hits, 5 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 4 HRs, 18 RBIs, .277 BA

• STORY: The son of a former major leaguer, Herr got an early start with baseball when he served as batboy for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1980s. Now, the Bisons infielder, is trying to make his own niche on the diamond.