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much," said the handsome, articulate Leach during the Labatt‘s Blue Jay caravan stopover in Kitchener last week. "I‘m truly happy with my contract and the faith the Jays have put in me, and I just hope to keep producing for them. Besides, I try not to compare salaries, both Jessie and George are tremendous players who deserve everything they get." While Leach, a native of Flint, Michigan, is modest about his contributions to the Jays since coming over from Detroit Tigers in 1984, many press box pundits hailed his ‘"comeâ€"toâ€" playâ€"everyâ€"day approach", last season as a team highlight. In fact, his clutch hitting, diving catches and hustling attitude earned him verbal, if not formal, consideration for team MVP honors in many corners. There‘s no question his 10 pinch hits and .309 average in 246 at bats went a long way in helping him secure a guaranteed contract for this year. **You wouldn‘t believe what a great feeling it isâ€"now I can go down there (spring training in Dunedin) after a good year and not have that big worry hanging over my head." _ _ That feeling is not a luxury Leach has had since graduating twoâ€"sport (baseball and football) allâ€"American from the highâ€"profile University of Michigan Wolverines almost a decade ago. In fact, after making a "sound decision‘‘ choosing baseball over football as a career pursuit based on financial and statistiâ€" cal considerations, Leach had to make the huge adjustment to being a "bench player‘"‘ playing in front of a "home‘‘ Detroit Tiger crowd well aware of his college heroics. ‘"I never really fit in with the Tigers. All through high school and college I had always been a firstâ€"string player in both sports, and all of a sudden, I wasn‘t anymore," said Leach, noting that the Tigers, which he first joined in the 1981 season, has an outâ€" field populated by names like Herndon, Lemon and Gibson among others. ‘"And the pressure of playing one hour away from your home in front of people who expected a lot out of you, well, it made it very tough, and 1 felt eventually that I had to get out of there." Unfortunately, getting out wasn‘t the pleasâ€" ant exdperlence he had hoped for. Leach was cast adrift at the end of 1984 spring training by At a time when million dollar salaries and a one cab, one fare meâ€"firstmanship seem to be the order of the day, Rick Leach is a delightful throwback to a baseball era when pride, teammanship and a strong work ethic were top priorities. Not that the 29â€"yearâ€"old Toronto Blue Jay pinch hitter/fielder rejects all that the 1980s game has to offer. Far from it, he‘s on cloud nine after signing his firstâ€"ever "guaranteed contract‘‘ three weeks ago. But he knows that being a strong team player and working his butt off dayâ€"in and dayâ€"out are the only ways to get his light out from under the bushelâ€"and he‘s more than prepared to make that "sacriâ€" So much so that despite his modestâ€"byâ€"comâ€" parison twoâ€"year pact (second year option) he recently inked with the Toronto club, Leach doesn‘t begrudge in the least the millionâ€"plus contracts being sought by teammmates Jessie Barfield and George Bell. ‘"*Even as a young kid I neverâ€"dreamed of signing a contract that would pay me the money I‘ll be making to play a game 1 love so the Tigs, and when he asked why he wasn‘t tnded'lnsmflwo.f_s‘lpflx“l_)flmu _rg'leued! was Chronicle Editor s 6e But the flip side is, few teams ever win without the dedication of role players like Rick Leach. The Jays know it. He knows it. And that, for once in his professional career, must make him a very happy man. Notes: Rick Leach was asked by Labatt‘s caravan emcee Tom Cheek if he felt his adversity could be compared to that endured by star pitcher Dave Stiebh last season. Deadpanned Leach: ‘"My adversity would have been a lot easier to handle if I had a contract like Dave Stieb."...Cambridge‘s Rob Ducey, on a meteoric rise through the Blue Jay system, recently joined the caravan after a successful winter in Venezuela, and proved just as adept at the oneâ€"liners as his more experienced mates. After naming his ©1992 roster‘‘ he and his father made up for the Jays (himself included), Ducey brought howls of laughter when he omitted Jessie Barfield from the lineup. "DH‘" jumped up Barfield in his own defence. "Who‘s the manager?" barked Jimy Williams, barely able to suppress a smile...When Ducey described the awesome power of Knoxville teammate Glenallen ‘"Drill"" Hill who powered two homers over the left field roof at that stadium, Barfield shouted out ‘"what‘s the big deal, I did that five times." Barfield was priceless when handed the microphone to ‘"interview‘"‘ George Bell as the two good friends joked back and forth...Bell seems determined to change the perception of himself as a surly, meâ€"first individual. It can only help him gain respect from his peers, the league hierarchy and the media...Is it any wonder Jimy Wl{lhms stammered somewhat when detailing his plans for a second baseman for 1987. Williams indicated he couldn‘t survive with a partâ€"time injured player, and that became evident Monday when Damo Garcia was sent along with Luis Leal and their two hefty contracts to Atlanta for pitcher Craig McMurtry, a headâ€"scratching transacâ€" tion at best. Look for outstanding youngster Mike Sharpeson to be groomed for second with veteran Garth lorg also seeing action at the midâ€"station while Kelly Gruber and Rance Mulliniks share the hot corner. _ ___ _ . _ ‘"T‘ll never forget the time in spring training Jessie and I were out shagging balls and shooting the breeze and he told me how proud he was of what happened to me and the way I bounced back after being sent to Syracuse. What a good feeling it is to know that your teammates are genuinely pulling for you to do well." Being a partâ€"time player, Leach admits it is difficult, especially having to work extraâ€"hard preâ€"game to prepare for more than one position. But Williams obviously is impressed with his honest work ethic and ability to come through, and Leach has nothing but kind words for the attitude of his mates to his role. That is the case with Blue Jay utility man Rick Leach. He may never sign a million dollar contract, may never get private chautâ€" feur service to and from the park, and may never attain superstar status. But after a strong 1985 spring training, he again faced the disappointment of relegation to the minors when a complex numbers game forced Jays to keep both Manny Lee and Lou Thornton on their 25â€"man rosterâ€"or else lose them back to the teams Jays had claimed them from. But Leach, unlike others, accepted the demotion, went down to Syracuse, and merely became player of the year, getting an early foot in the 1986 door with the big club. He stayed in the bigs all of last season, and credits manager Jimy Williams, batting coach Cito Gaston and his mates for helping him feel comfortable with his utility role. Technically, Gaston deserves the most credit, according to Leach. ‘‘When I came here I was what you call a standâ€"still batter as compared to the approach taken by guys like George (Bell) and Jessie (Barfield) who ‘move back to come forward‘ with more bat speed and power. When I first tried it I was skeptical because you get comfortable with certain things, but it has proved beneficial to my hitting." told essentially ‘"nobody in baseball wants you."" The double shock was devastating. ‘"‘There I was, just 26 years old, and I was basicallyoutotbanbul{Alotofthlnygo through your mind when that happens." But Leach persevered and got another break the same season. After signing a Triple A contract with the Jays‘ Syracuse Chief farm team in April of ‘84, Leach found himself with the Toronto club when they purchased his contract three weeks later. He stayed in the majors the rest of that season. _ * 20e fring gualty to you!‘ 55 Erb St. E. 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