Fielder's 'Field of Dreams.'

Ebony, Feb, 1998 by Joy Bennett Kinnon, Vandell Cobb

While he was talking about his cars recently to two guests, an elderly White couple buzzed his front gate with a special request. Fielder, who is well-known and loved by fans for the patient and gracious way he responds to autograph-seekers, even when they interrupt his family time, invited the couple in. The fan apologized and requested an autographed baseball from Fielder, which was not unusual, but what he wanted to do with the autographed baseball was unusual. He said his brother had just died and he wanted an autographed Cecil Fielder baseball to put into the coffin.

Fielder gracefully obliged, but said later that this was one of the strangest autograph requests he has ever gotten.

The baseball star, who played with the New York Yankees last year, has also played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers and in the Japanese leagues. He likes the Melbourne area because it is off the beaten path and near spring training camps. Everyone knows him, but locals allow him his space when they spot him at the local convenience store or garage during the four months of his off-season when he isn't traveling.

Fielder's five-year, $36 million contract with the Yankees made him the highest-paid player in Yankee history, but he takes his 302 career home runs to Anaheim, Calif., this year after signing a one-year contract with the Angels. The 34-year-old slugger, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, hopes to play at least three more years before considering retirement. But he is looking forward to the day he retires to his Florida "field of dreams."

"I have everything I need right here," he says, adding, "we can basically be at home and have a good time."

Come to think of it, my glass gets fuller every day.