Lemke’s Nothing Special, Except To His Teammates Second Baseman Has Been October Constant For Braves

While the media hovered around players like Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones, Mark Lemke crouched in his locker Monday, all alone, content in his anonymity. The words on his T-shirt did his talking.

“Shut Up and Play!” it said.

Through all the division titles, all the National League pennants, all the World Series since 1991, there has been only one constant in the Atlanta Braves lineup: No. 20, Mark Lemke, second base.

“There’s no question he’s over-looked,” Glavine said. “He’s probably one of the most underappreciated guys on this ballclub. I guess it’s because he doesn’t do anything flashy.”

No, Lemke could hardly be described as flashy, on or off the field. Dependable. Solid. Steady. Those are the words that sum up his contribution to the defending World Series champions, who open the N.L. Championship Series Wednesday night against St. Louis.

Let Glavine and Greg Maddux and John Smoltz win the Cy Young awards. Let Fred McGriff and Jones and Ryan Klesko hit the long home runs. Lemke thrives in the hidden part of the game - turning the double play, bunting, hitting behind the runner.

“He’s not the most overwhelming of presences,” Glavine said, looking at Lemke sitting at his locker in an out-of-the-way corner of the clubhouse. “There’s a lot more high-profile guys in here that people tend to gravitate to.

“But he’s the type of guy you need on a team like this: day in, day out, doing the little things you need to win. Often, that gets overlooked. But there ain’t a pitcher in this clubhouse that doesn’t appreciate what he does for us.”

Lemke was taken aback when told about his unique role with the Braves. While there’s been at least two starters at every other position, his is the only name that’s been written on the lineup card every October since the Braves began their decade of domination in 1991.

“Really, until it was brought up, I’ve never really thought about it,” he said. “I just keep moving on, keep going from year to year, just try to hang on as long as I can.”

While other players come and go, the victims of salary purges, age or free agency, Lemke has found a comfortable niche with the Braves. He is 32, in his seventh season with Atlanta, yet he has never commanded the really big dollars that would cause the team to reassess whether it can afford to pay him.

“I guess I’ve been in a good position either years-wise or salary-wise where I’ve never had to be a big expenditure to the club,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to get through that.”

Lemke is usually noticed for his defense. The Braves insist he is one of the best second basemen in the league, even though he’s never won a Gold Glove. Others might have better range, but no one is more adept at turning the double play.

“He is much better than (Ryne) Sandberg ever thought of being all those years when Sandberg was voted the Gold Glove,” manager Bobby Cox said. “It’s not even close to me.”

At the plate, Lemke has never been a big-time hitter, but he’s no Mario Mendoza, either. His career average is .248, and he stayed on course this year by hitting .255, with five homers and 37 RBIs. But he also was the fifth-hardest player to strike out in the N.L.