Community honors its baseball hero

By MARK MAYNARD
The Independent

ASHLAND December 15, 2007 01:05 am

— In light of Thursday’s blockbuster Mitchell Report announcement that shook the baseball world — naming All-Stars who allegedly used performance-enhancing drugs — the sport could use a few good role models.
Hello, Brandon Webb.
Webb put a refreshing face back on baseball Friday in his hometown.
A section of U.S. 60 in Ashland — from the city limits to Beech Street — was designated as the Brandon Webb Highway during a ceremony on the parking lot of J&J’s Family Restaurant.
Community leaders in Ashland and state legislators were there for the unveiling of the sign by Webb and his wife, Alicia.
“It sounds good, doesn’t it?” Webb said with a big grin. “This is my hometown. I grew up here and know everybody in the city.”
Webb has a home in Arizona and one in Ashland, which is the one he truly considers home.
“It’s great to spend the offseason and the holidays with family,” he said. “I have so much support coming from Ashland and this area.”
Webb’s family — wife Alicia, daughter Reagan, parents Phil and Drema and grandfather Bob Carr — were on hand for the celebration.
State Rep. John Vincent, R-Ashland, sponsored the bill to have the highway name changed to Brandon Webb Highway.
“It’s a rare opportunity actually to change the name of one of our roadways that run through Kentucky,” Vincent said.
However, the measure that was introduced passed through the House and Senate and then was signed by new Gov. Steve Beshear.
Vincent said Webb is more than just a terrific baseball player, too.
“One of the things you can say about Brandon Webb is he’s not just a good baseball player,” Vincent said. “He’s a great role model for our kids, such a caring individual and an accommodating person.”
Webb said being a role model is something that happens, like it or not.
“It comes on you quick,” he said. “You don’t know if you’re a role model or not. Young people are watching you. Whatever thing they see, they do. I do the best I can in that area to not send any bad messages.”
Webb said he saw some of the highlights from the Mitchell Report but wasn’t going to read the entire 409-page document. He didn’t have any comment about those named in the report except to say “it was a pretty bad situation.”
From the fans’ perspective, Webb compared it to the strike in 1994 that canceled the World Series that season.
“Like the strike, it may take a few years to wash it away,” he said.
Webb’s rise to the top of his profession has been well-documented. He became the first Kentuckian to win the National League Cy Young Award in 2006 and finished runner-up for the prestigious award last season.
Webb finished 18-10 with a 3.01 earned run average in leading the Diamondbacks to the National League West Division title and a spot in the National League Championship Series against the Colorado Rockies.
“Best year I’ve had in baseball, no doubt,” Webb said. “We went from being the worst team in the West to winning the division in three years. It was great to get a little bit of a taste of the playoffs. It makes you want to do it again.”
The D-Backs, one of the youngest teams in baseball, will return practically their entire roster. Webb leads a pitching staff that includes veterans Randy Johnson and Doug Davis.
As for being runner-up for the Cy Young Award, Webb was more than satisfied.
“I’ll take second every year,” he said. “I had a great year, but (Jake) Peavy (of the San Diego Padres) had an even better year. He deserved it. He won the so-called triple crown of pitching (victories, ERA and strikeouts).”
Many of Webb’s former youth league coaches were among the fans who showed up at Friday’s ceremony.
French Harmon, who coached Webb in Mickey Mantle and Connie Mack, drove from Somerset with his family.
“He has great parents and worked so hard,” Harmon said. “He loved baseball. It was all-year around for him. I’m proud to have been part of his life.”
Alicia Webb said “the city is too nice. He’s very lucky to have all the support he does here.”
Vincent said the renaming of the highway was a fitting honor for Webb.
“He deserves this,” Vincent said. “I can’t think of a better role model for the youth of Ashland and Kentucky. He’s an outstanding young man. I think our entire community takes pride in everything he’s accomplished.”
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.

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