Baseball superfan chases diamond dreams

Ludlow usher Ed Kijek gets to meet and greet baseball's elite If there were trophies for rubbing elbows with the greatest names in baseball, Ludlow resident Ed Kijek would certainly have the lifetime achievement award. The roster of ballplayers that he has encountered - and walked away with photos to prove it - could probably fill an All-Star team. Kijek has a golden ticket to the world of professional baseball that many fans would dream about: he's an usher for the Toronto Blue Jays at their spring training camp near Clearwater, Florida. The superfan has been photographed with dozens of famous players. The litany of household names Kijek has hobnobbed with includes Red Sox star Dustin Pedroia; Yankees ace Mariano Rivera and team captain Derek Jeter; former Toronto pitcher Roy Halladay and centerfielder Vernon Wells; and "The Big Hurt" Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox. Gary Burnham, a regional standout who operates a baseball clinic in Hartford, is another ballplayer who Kijek considers a good friend. The baseball fan's extroverted nature is the reason why Toronto head office recently promoted Kijek from the title of usher at spring training camp to the management role of head usher. "They made me head usher because I'm a big talker," Kijek explained. "They've seen what I can do. I talk to a lot of people and make them feel comfortable." He's been helping fans to their seats in Florida for nine years as of this spring, and while the job doesn't pay very much, it's the fringe benefits that really keep Kijek interested. He's able to sit in the luxury boxes if he wants to travel to Toronto for a Blue Jays regular season game and also gets primo seats at Fenway Park when he's in Boston. Kijek, who turned 75 this year, first played baseball at Springfield Trade School, which is now Putnam Vocational. "I did play ball, a lot of baseball," he said of his youthful days on the diamond. At one time, Kijek played in an American Legion game against Al Kaline, a future Hall-of-Famer. But somewhere along the way, his pursuit of playing in the big leagues was stymied by injuries. "Later on, I even went into fast-pitch softball, although I don't play that anymore," Kijek said. As a former Big Y employee, meeting baseball stars is something he never expected. He officially retired from his full-time day job in 2000 after working for 40 years at the Palmer Big Y. It wasn't long after leaving his post at Big Y that Kijek went to see the Toronto Blue Jays at their Florida spring training complex. He soon met Worcester resident J.P. Ricciardi, who is the Blue Jays General Manager. Ricciardi opened a few important doors, introducing Kijek to all the movers and shakers of baseball's springtime event. "I like to be as close as possible to the sport," he said. It wasn't long after that when Kijek was hired by the Blue Jays. "I love the sport of baseball," he said. His first encounter with Halladay, the former Toronto pitching ace - who now plays for the Philadelphia Phillies - was another shining moment. "It was very exciting," Kijek recalled. "I went to the complex and saw him running. I said, 'Can I ask you what your name is?' He's very sociable, very outgoing.and of course, I am too." Kijek's own celebrity status extends far beyond spring training games. He always seems to get the red carpet treatment, even when visiting the Green Monster. "When I would go to Fenway Park, or Rogers Centre in Toronto, [Halladay] would always say hello to me," said Kijek. "I have good seats next to the dugout at Fenway and behind home plate in Toronto." The local fan is often joined at ballgames by his wife Peggy; the couple is poised to celebrate their 53rd anniversary in May. They have two daughters, Lisa and Lori, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He's also on good speaking terms with Toronto manager Cito Gaston, who Kijek says is "the greatest guy. He always says, 'Hi Eddie.' He never forgets my name." Another of his favorites is Vernon Wells, a famous centerfielder who's considered a "homegrown" product of the Toronto farm clubs. "He used to play football," Kijek said of Wells. "He's a really pretty quiet guy, not very talkative." A famous - or perhaps infamous - baseball character he once met is Pete Rose. Of course, a perk of the spring training gig is that Kijek is constantly being given game-used baseballs, some of which may have collectible value. He chooses to pass these onto local youngsters. By his own estimation, he hands out about 25 baseballs from spring training games every year at the Palmer Big Y. Kijek also still does occasional part-time work for that store, sometimes serving as its "official greeter." He's a true fan of the game; part for the way it is, and another part for the way it used to be. Kijek has kept the baseball glove his parents bought for him in the 1950s. Choosing the most memorable moment is a tough call for Kijek, but he reflects fondly upon a meeting with former Houston Astros manager Jimmy Williams. "He was in the batting cage before spring training," recalled the Blue Jays usher. "I said, 'Who's that throwing the ball?' When I heard it was Jimmy Williams, I told him that I'm from the Springfield area. When he saw my bow legs, he said, 'You must have been a fast runner.'" When he met Red Sox player Dustin Pedroia, American League Rookie of the Year in 2007 and MVP in 2008, Kijek was somewhat surprised that they are nearly the same height. "I asked him how tall he was, and he said five-foot-seven. He's not much taller than me; he's like a little kid. I don't know where he gets his power." Kijek was also interviewed by Canadian television stations, which prompted fans in the Great White North to look for him when they fly south for spring training games. He said that Canadian fans often joke with him about how much they like their healthcare system as compared to ours. Fellow local ushers that he now oversees include Wilbraham resident Carl Dygon and Ludlow resident Arthur Ribeiro. "I love it," Kijek said of his tireless passion for the game. "I never made the big leagues, but now I'm a big-leaguer. I couldn't make the major leagues, but you could say I'm living my dream."