PERSONAL:
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- Gregg's mother, Cherie, was formerly the women's golf coach at Southern California.
- His Mom told a couple of tails from Gregg's youth to Alyson Footer of MLB.com before Mother's Day in 2002. "He was just a fun-loving, great kid. When he was in high school, he was always doing something. He got caught trying to steal burritos out of the food machine because he got his arm caught in it. He went to an all-boys high school and he had a Spanish teacher that he had a big crush on. He did really well in Spanish that year. In fact, one thing people don't know about Gregg is that he speaks Spanish fluently. He doesn't tell anyone," Mrs. Zaun said.
- Greg is the nephew of former Oriole, Dodger, Indian, and Brewer catcher, Rick Dempsey. He wears the same uniform number, 24, as his uncle. And another uncle, includes a $2.25 million option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout, meaning Zaun is guaranteed $2.15 million.Pat Dempsey, played 11 seasons in the minors and is a senior long drive champion..
- Greg is a free spirit and a real character. Like his uncle Rick, who was also a character, Zaun is trying to fulfill the legacy of both quality comic and catcher. Greg plays a mean air guitar. He delights in having a good time and keeping his teammates amused.
"If they're playing something really good on the radio, I'll hit the air guitar just to keep things loose, and see if I can entertain some of the fellas with the guitar and facial expressions. My favorite is the closed eyes, with the eyes rolled back in the head -- that utter look of pain. You wonder when you watch some of the guitar players in bands, just exactly how painful it is to hit that certain note."
- In 1993, Zaun and teammate T.R. Lewis started taking real guitar lessons.
- In addition to his music, Greg has other ways of entertaining his teammates. "I'm constantly embarrassing myself. I think I do it for (my teammates') benefit. Sometimes, I'll say some pretty kooky things to draw attention."
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It was Greg's other uncle, Pat, a minor league player for the Indians, Orioles and Yankees, who had a key role in his nephew's baseball development. "I was around the game quite a bit with Pat," Greg recalled, "spending some summers in the minor leagues."
He was in Nashville in 1983 and Toledo two years later. "In 1985, I got to be the bullpen catcher for the Toledo Mud Hens." Not only did the 14-year-old Zaun improve himself as a catcher by warming up such pitchers as Les Straker and Mark Portugal, both of whom later pitched in the Big Leagues, he also learned what it was like to be a minor leaguer. He was already conditioned when the Orioles picked him in the 1990 draft.
- Greg tried to add bulk to his thin frame by going on a 5,000-calorie-a-day diet. "I was on those powdered drink mixes," he said. "I ate like a horse. And I was at the gym every night, doing serious weightlifting." It was a wonderful plan, but the 15 to 20 pounds he gained made it so Zaun couldn't throw at the start of the 1993 season.
- But another thing Greg did before the 1993 season was very beneficial. He read two self-help books: "The Mental Game of Baseball" and "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People." He never guessed words would prove more valuable than weights, but that's what happened. "I went slow, a chapter a day," Zaun said. "It took me the whole offseason to finish the books. I'd highlight, make notes so I could go back to it later. It helped me quite a bit. I was able to calm myself down." It was a turning point for the very intense Zaun.
- After the 1994 season, Greg reported to Zulia of the Venezuelan Winter League. But he had a tough time during the championship series. In one Zulia loss, Caracas made off with eight stolen bases. And when Greg went back to his hotel, he discovered that thieves had made off with his passport and $1,400.
- Greg has a "lucky" horseshoe nailed to his locker on which he performs a pre-game bat rubbing ritual. When he was called up to the majors in July 1995, from Rochester (the Red Wings were in Pawtucket, at the time) he had the horseshoe Fed Ex-ed to Baltimore. In his first game he got two hits. "When I first made the roster, I had two goals: one was to have a Big League-looking girlfriend and (the other was to) get a Big League travel bag. I got the travel bag," Zaun said.
- Greg once placed second in the Orioles spring training talent show by putting two entire pouches of Red Man in his mouth.
- Starting at the beginning of 1996 Spring Training, Greg worked to kick his 10-year tobacco habit. Ever since he was 14, he was rarely without a pinch between his cheek and gum. "I was up to two cans a day, and that's quite a bit," Zaun said. "If I kept it up, I can't see myself at 34 and still having teeth."
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Greg did movie reviews for ESPN's website in 1997, and really enjoyed it.
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Greg suffered with an itchy case of poison oak in June 1999.
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When he played right field in the Hall of Fame game at Doubleday Field in July 1999, he entertained the fans during the game. He played right field that day and sprinted to his position "like Sammy Sosa used to do at Wrigley," Zaun said.
Then, when he came to bat in the fifth inning against Royals P Jeff Austin, fans in the right field bleachers were all screaming at Zaun.
"I'm having a blast with the fans and I'm getting all amped up," Gregg said. "I go up to the plate, Jeff Austin was pitching, and I take the first pitch, because right when I get up there, you could start to hear it kind of grow: 'Call your shot! Call your shot!'"
Zaun stepped out of the box to think it over, and he decided to do his best Babe Ruth impression. Legend has it that the famous Yankees slugger pointed to the bleachers before homering at Wrigley Field during the 1932 World Series in Chicago.
"I can't believe I did that," Greg, who had 12 lifetime Major League homers at the time, said. Many of the 9,000 fans chanted "MVP, MVP, MVP" as Zaun rounded the bases, and when he returned to the field he sprinted around the warning track exchanging high-fives with people sitting in the front row.
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Greg has gotten more serious as he has gotten older. "It's hard to command respect from a pitching staff if you're always joking around, constantly trying to amuse people," Zaun said. He realizes there is a time and place for the zaniness.
- Greg felt one time for zaniness was a the Royals' Opening Day luncheon, sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, in mid-April 2000. When he was introduced, he did his John Travolta dance-imitation.
"I tried to show some class," Zaun said. "I had a three-piece suit, and I showed them the vest."
- Zaun became the Astros' player representative in May 2002.
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Zaun changed his workout program for the off-season before the 2003 season. He had suffered with elbow problems all through the 2002 campaign. So, his first order of business was to abandon his prior philosophy that bigger is better. No more bulking up -- "that just ended up tying me down" -- instead, Zaun concentrates on flexibility. He's taking a pilates class twice a week to improve his agility and he's eating better, with the help of a personal chef.
"I hired a cook to measure out my food and cook the meals for me," he said. "I changed my diet completely. I've tried to be a little more health-conscious. Instead of grabbing a cup of coffee and a dip (of smokeless tobacco), I'm eating fruits and vegetables. I feel better every day because of it."
- Greg's marriage crumbled in 2002, ending in divorce, which was final December 1, 2003. Out of respect for his ex-wife, Zaun doesn't want to say too much about the divorce.
- Zaun is cut from a different cloth. He is tattooed, pierced, and a bit straggly. But he is a serious baseball player and a clutch one, too.
- Zaun's mother, Cherie, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease early in 2003. After talking with his younger sister, Kimber, he established the Gregg Zaun Foundation and decided to hold a black tie gala during the All-Star break. The event will be held July 15, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston. Proceeds from the event will benefit the National Parkinson's Foundation. Individual tickets for the event start at $200. More information is available 817-416-6453, or at www.greggzaunfoundation.org.
- "I'm pretty much a couch potato now," he said. "That's my idea of fun. I like to sit in the dark and watch TV and go to the movies and eat popcorn. It's a nice break from reality for me."
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A fan of comedies, spy movies, and dramas, Zaun's favourite remains Tim Robbins' turn as unwavering prisoner Andy Dufresne in the The Shawshank Redemption because of its life lessons in faith and resilience.
"Sometimes movies are just diversions and sometimes they're inspirations," he said. "For me that's an inspirational movie." (Toronto Sun-7/24/04)
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During the off-season before 2005 spring training, Zaun was married. But he only had half a glass of champagne in the after-ceremony toast. And he had one glass of wine on his honeymoon. Once a serious wine connoisseur, Greg has stopped drinking alcohol almost totally.
"I've completely lost my taste for it and I like my life the way it is right now. I'm not going to complicate things by going back to that kind of lifestyle."
Of course, the wedding vows play into that peace of mind. Zaun said his wife, Jamie, has been a source of strength for him both before and after they got married.
"Things haven't changed too much -- she's still a tremendous influence in my life," he said. "She's my biggest fan and she's always there to support me. She understands what I go through on a daily basis and she's just tremendously supportive. You can't ask for anything more than that. She's a great friend and a great partner."
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During the 2005 season, Zaun had a fan club visit him. They call themselves the "Zaunbie Nation." That group carried a homemade sign and wore personalized jerseys that said "Zaunbie" on the back, and they got to meet their hero before the game.
The backstop said he's never had a vocal fan following before, but the concept is starting to grow on him.
"When you labor in obscurity for most of your career, it's nice to be noticed," he said. "It takes a lot of effort by those guys to put the gear on and come out to support me. It's fun and it's always nice to look up there and see them rooting for you. It gives me a lift -- there's no doubt about that.
Asked if he had ever received a compliment like the fan club's vocal support: "No way. Not even close," he said. "Nobody every really took much of an interest in me, mostly because I wasn't playing. It's nice to be noticed now, and it's flattering to know that people enjoy you playing the game. I know exactly where they are. It's like going to a Raiders game, only my name's on the cardboard." (Spencer Fordin-MLB.com-6/17/05)
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The Mitchell Report: In 2003, Zaun bought testosterone and steroids and was accused by Montreal Expos bullpen catcher Luis Perez of using the substances in 2002.
Included in the Report is a scanned image of a check, which Radomski said was sent to him by Zaun to purchase Deca-Durabolin and Winstrol -- two specific types of anabolic steroids. The check is difficult to read, but it bears Zaun's signature and is made out to Radomski.
According to the Mitchell Report, Radomski indicated that he believed Zaun was referred to him by former pitcher Jason Grimsley. Radomski could not recall who ordered the steroids for Zaun, who never spoke directly with Radomski about the transaction, according to the document. The drugs were then allegedly delivered to the Kansas City clubhouse.
Earlier in the newly released Report, Mitchell wrote that Luis Perez, a bullpen catcher for the Montreal Expos, told investigators from the Commissioner's Office during an interview in January 2003 that he personally supplied Zaun with anabolic steroids. Former Kansas City manager Tony Muser was also cited in relation to a conversation with Zaun in which the catcher denied steroid use.
Mitchell attempted to set up a meeting with Zaun to further discuss the allegations, but the catcher declined to speak with the former senator. Godfrey said that Zaun may issue further response in the coming days.
"If you want to investigate what is going on in the game of baseball right now, fine. But what happened years ago, who cares?" Zaun was quoted as saying. "I don't think this is anything more than an attempt for certain people in the game of baseball to leave their mark on the game somehow.
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Zaun wants to play until he's 40. Then he wants to get 20 seasons in the bigs, which will take him to 2014, when he will be 43. Then he wants to outdo Carlton Fisk, who was still catching at 45, and be known as "the oldest guy" to start a game behind the plate.
"I know I'm (getting old), and I know I'm a catcher," Gregg said. "But a lot of people forget that the first eight years of my career were spent on the bench. So I got the benefit of those years of experience, being there watching the games and playing behind some pretty good catchers, without the mileage on my body.
"I would like to be mentioned in the same breath as a guys like Julio Franco (who played until 48) as far longevity goes. … All the rigors of the position, the pain, the stuff you go through to play, I don't know anything else. I really don't. I really don't know what else there is to do."
Zaun has had a couple of seminal moments along the way.
He realized, while playing behind Ivan Rodriguez on the 1997 world champion Marlins, that he wasn't going to be that good and accepted his limitations, which made him a better player.
He learned from Brad Ausmus during 1½ seasons in Houston how to really call a game.
He contemplated retirement after being released by the Expos in spring training 2004, and again a couple of weeks into a minor-league gig with the Blue Jays, but he got an unexpected chance, at age 33, to start, and manager Carlos Tosca kept him out there.
He acknowledged his immaturity and addressed it, giving up drinking for four years, curtailing his off-field activities and settling down with his new wife, Jamie.
"As long as I'm physically able to compete and I still feel like I'm better than the other guys, I'm going to keep going out there," Zaun said.
"I'm not one of those guys who was like some humongous star player and is worried about his legacy, that the last three years with low numbers are going to tarnish a great career. I don't care. I really don't." (Marc Topkin-St. Petersburg Times-8/14/09)
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Zaun likes an old-school look and a new-wave mask. He hits bare-handed because he doesn't like the feel of the batting gloves on the bat, and he usually wears his socks up and pants to the knee when he starts. He began wearing the hockey-style mask in 1998 and was grandfathered in to sport a custom paint job, though he will go generic now because the Orioles' orange wouldn't really work.
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Gregg was was his own agent. For several years he was one of a few players who handled their own negotiations. But after jousting with Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi on a two-year, $7.25 million deal, he noted how "these guys play rough in the deep end." Now he has an agent, former Dodgers GM Dan Evans.
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Zaun plays the drums. Ex-Ray Eric Hinske taught him when they were in Toronto and gave him an electric setup. "I always thought I'd like to be a rock star if I wasn't a baseball player," Zaun said. "And I tried for years to play the guitar, and I stunk. My hands are bludgeoning instruments — I have no dexterity whatsoever — so hitting a drum is way more natural."
TRANSACTION REPORT
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June 1989: He was drafted by Orioles in the 17th round out of St. Francis High School in Glendale, California.
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August 22, 1996: The Marlins sent P Terry Mathews to the Orioles to acquired Greg.
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November 23, 1998: The Rangers sent a player to be named to the Marlins to acquire Zaun. And Gregg was not unhappy being in a position to backup Ivan Rodriguez. "After playing so awful (in 1998), I'm just happy to still be in the Big Leagues. I know if I just keep my mouth shut and be a good backup, I can play a long time," Zaun said. He had complained early in March 1998 that he should have been given a big raise or traded to a team that would use him as a starter, because he wasn't a true backup. But Zaun then flopped terribly in his first shot as a starter when the Marlins dealt Charles Johnson to the Dodgers.
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November 2, 1999: The Tigers sent pitchers Justin Thompson, Francisco Cordero and Alan Webb, OF Gabe Kapler, C Bill Haselman and Frank Catalanotto to the Rangers to acquire Zaun, OF Juan Gonzalez and P Danny Patterson.
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The Royals sent a player to be named, or cash, to the Tigers on March 7, 2000, to acquire Greg. Before he left the Tigers' clubhouse, Zaun taped a serious message to C Brad Ausmus' locker: "The clubhouse in Detroit really was big enough for both of us. You didn't have to get me traded."
- February 7, 2001: Zaun beat the Royals in arbitration, getting a salary of $1.15 million, instead of the $850,000 the Royals offered.
- December 8, 2001: Greg signed a two-year contract with the Astros.
- August 2003: The Astros released Zaun, but the Rockies signed him a week later, August 26, 2003.
- December 7, 2003: The Rockies chose not to offer arbitration to Zaun, making him a free agent.
- January 13, 2004: Zaun signed with the Expos. He turned down offers from the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland A's in hopes of getting more playing time with the Expos.
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January 6, 2005: Zaun signed a contract that paid $950,000 for 2005, with a vesting option for 2006 (the contract becomes guaranteed if he plays in 70 games in '05) worth $1million.
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November 28, 2006: Zaun signed a 2-year, $7.25 million contract with the Blue Jays.
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November 3, 2008: Greg filed for free agency.
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January 16, 2009: Zaun signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Orioles. The deal also includes a $2 million pickup option for 2010, vs. a $500,000 team buyout.
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August 7, 2009: The Rays sent 1B Rhyne Hughes to the Orioles, acquiring Zaun and more than $300,000.
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November 9, 2009: The Rays did not pick up the $2 million option on Greg for 2010, instead paying him a $500,000 buyout and making Zaun a free agent.
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December 4, 2009: Gregg signed with the Brewers, receiving a one-year, $1.9 million contract. The includes a $2.25 million option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout, meaning Zaun is guaranteed $2.15 million.
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January 19, 2011: Zaun signed with the Padres.
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