Sabo came out of nowhere to win the Reds' third base job when Buddy Bell began the 1988 season on the DL, endearing himself to the fans and manager Pete Rose with his hustling style. He received his nickname, Spuds, for always wearing protective goggles that made him look like a bull terrier. Sabo led NL third basemen in fielding and double plays his rookie year. On April 7, 1988, he tied the ML record with 11 assists at third base in a nine-inning game. He went on to capture NL Rookie of the Year honors and pinch run in the All-Star Game in his home park, stealing a base. He finished third in the NL in doubles (40) and tied for fourth in steals (46).
Sabo started slower in 1989, and went on the DL on June 25 with a hyperextended left knee suffered in a collision with Mike Scioscia, just as his bat was starting to heat up. He returned September 1, but pain in the knee forced him to undergo arthriscopic surgery on September 23. He rebounded strongly in 1990, making his second All-Star Team and hitting .563 in the World Series to help the Reds sweep the Oakland Athletics in four games. He followed that up with another All-Star appearance in 1991, hitting a career high .301.
Sabo battled injury in 1992, playing in only 96 games, and struggled at the plate, batting just .254. Sabo bounced back with a decent 1993 season, mashing 21 home runs, but signs of major slippage were evident. He struck out a career high 105 times, batted just .259, and perhaps most alarmingly, stole only six bases. Not surprisingly, 1993 was his last season as a regular player. (WOR/GL)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 6, 1983: The Twins select pitcher Tim Belcher with the first pick in the annual June free-agent draft, but Belcher will reject their $125,000 signing bonus offer and pitch for Team USA in the Pan American Games instead. He is the only first-rounder who doesn't sign. Belcher will be the first selected in the January 1984 draft. The Twins 2nd round pick, P Billy Swift, also doesn't sign. The Reds take Kurt Stillwell with the 2nd pick overall and Chris Sabo on round 2. Roger Clemens is taken with the 19th pick. The A's get Terry Steinbach, Brian Dorsett, and Greg Cadaret on the 9th, 10th and 11th rounds. The Phillies pick Ricky Jordan on the 1st round. The Reds pick up Stillwell in the 1st round, Sabo and Joe Oliver in the 2nd round, Lenny Harris (5th) and Jeff Montgomery (9th).
»April 7, 1988: Reds rookie Chris Sabo ties a major-league record with 11 assists at 3B in Cincinnati's 8–1 win over St. Louis.
»October 9, 1990: The Red Sox fail to hold a 1–0 lead for the 3rd consecutive game as Oakland opens up a commanding 3-0 lead in the ALCS with a 4–1 victory. In Pittsburgh, Paul O'Neill and Chris Sabo each homer to lead the Reds to a 5–3 win and a 3-1 lead in the NLCS.
»October 19, 1990: Cincinnati moves within one game of a shocking World Series sweep by beating Oakland 8–3 in game 3. 3B Chris Sabo slugs a pair of home runs for the Reds.
»July 26, 1991:
Cincinnati 3B Chris Sabo pushes an autograph seeker into a window in Busch Stadium following a 5–1 loss to the Cardinals.
»July 29, 1996:
In the Reds 2–1 loss to the Astros, Reds IF Chris Sabo shatters his bat in the 2nd inning strewing pieces of cork over the field. He'll be suspended for seven games for using a corked bat.
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