'Spark plug' lights up Vegas

LAS VEGAS -- He was the spark plug for the Boston Red Sox during the 1980's. Playing second base and hitting second in the lineup, Marty Barrett was beloved by Red Sox Nation.

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"The thing that I liked most about playing for Boston was the fans appreciated baseball so much," said Barrett. "There is such a rich tradition there. They understood the game probably better that any city in the country on how it should be played. That's how I made my living was trying to play the game smart. It was nice to know they appreciated it so much."

Barrett played a total of 10 years in the major leagues with nine seasons in Boston from 1982-90 and one more year in 1991 with the San Diego Padres with whom he played in only 12 games with before retiring.

"It definitely was a dream come true," Barrett said. "To play in a city like Boston where Carl Yastrzemski was one of my favorite players growing up was nice. I knew a lot about the players when I got up there. I was a big fan of Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Carney Lansford, and Tony Armas. They were just unbelievable guys and I felt really fortunate."

After retiring, Barrett stayed on with the Padres organization coaching for their Triple-A team, the 51's, which played in Barrett's hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1995, Barrett took an opportunity to manage for the first time with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Class A affiliate of the Padres.

Barrett had the chance to manage current Chicago Cubs' players Derek Lee and Matt Clement.

"I had a great time doing that," Barrett said. "I really enjoyed it because you get the guys attention when you are the manager. They look you in the eye. In (Class) A ball the kids really have a hunger for learning and hearing from someone that's been in the big leagues and what it takes to be in the big leagues."

After the one season managing the Quakes, Barrett decided he wanted to remain in Las Vegas to spend more time with his family. He still lives there with his wife Robin and three children - Eric, 23, Katy, 18, and Kyle, 15.

"I got asked to manage in Double-A, but my son (Kyle) wanted me to coach his Little League team, so I decided to coach him for the next six years," said Barrett. "It's been really fun watching my kids grow up. I've got to see so many things that I wouldn't have seen if I was still in baseball. I wouldn't give that up for anything."

Barrett was a key member of the 1986 Red Sox World Series team, which came within one out of winning it all.

"We should have won that World Series," said Barrett. "That's the only thing that's tough. It would be really great to have that team, which was so special, to have a World Series ring. It just didn't happen.

"It was one of those dream years you can have as a team. We weren't really picked to do a whole lot and Roger Clemens had his breakout season and a lot of us had career years. The team chemistry was unbelievable."

Barrett has continued to stay busy with baseball in the Las Vegas area. In fact, the Little League in North Las Vegas, where Barrett grew up, honored him by naming their chapter after him. Barrett has also served as the color commentator on cable television and did some radio announcing for the 51's.

Also, each year right before Christmas, Barrett, along with Greg Maddux, Mike Maddux, Rick Downs and other local guys in baseball, get together to help out the Las Vegas Baseball Academy by running a camp.

Outside of baseball, Barrett has started to dabble in the real estate market in Las Vegas. He and his partner build custom homes for clients.

"It's been a nice learning experience and very educational," Barrett said. "It's been really fun and keeps me busy."

He would also love to return to the game once Kyle is out of high school, and Boston is one place to which he would love to return.

"After my youngest, who has three more years of high school left gets out, I would like to get back in the game," said Barrett. "I would love to come back to Boston. I think they have a good enough team where they have a very good chance to win a World Series in the next two or three years or win a couple. I think they have a decent chance and hopefully it will happen.

"If they could ever do that it would be a dream come true."

If you would like to hear where a former New England sports star is these days, please e-mail Jon Goode at jgoode@lowellspinners.com