Here I thought Mo Vaughn was destined only to spend his post playing days in the company of some lovely ladies, as they showered him with their silicone. Not true, friends. You see, Mo Vaughn is picking up where his idol Jackie Robinson left off, buying some dilapidated housing projects and giving them a nice little makeover. Despite some extra padding, he is instantly recognizable as the Hit Dog, the 1995 American League Most Valuable Player for the Red Sox, with whom he spent the best part of a 12-year career that included stints with the Angels and Mets. Vaughn is still slightly gimpy walking down stairs, a reminder of his arthritic left knee that forced him to retire at age 35.When you're a professional athlete, your career is rather short-lived. By the time you reach your mid to upper thirties, your skills have passed you by. (Unless you are Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds, of course.) So what do you do when you have a considerable amount of time left on your life clock? Coach? Hang out on the couch? Do endorsements for local car dealers? Well, it's nice to see Mo is spending the back half of his life trying to make a difference.
Since forming the company with his lawyer, Eugene Schneur, in December 2004, Vaughn has contracted to remodel 1,142 units in the New York metro area, some in projects that have been plagued by murders, drug dealing, and third-world conditions. They have also purchased property in Cheyenne, Wyo., and are negotiating in Miami and Las Vegas.
But it was not until they purchased the Whitney Young Manor in Yonkers, N.Y., earlier this year that Vaughn discovered the property was the first development built by the Jackie Robinson Construction Company.
"He was very serious . . . about his construction company," wrote Arnold Rampersad in his book, "Jackie Robinson: A Biography." "He was very pleased when his group at last broke ground on its first major effort: Whitney Young Manor, a development of 197 units in Yonkers, New York, named after the former National Urban League director, who had drowned tragically on a visit to Nigeria."
Keep on keeping on, Mr. Vaughn.
Via Bugs and Cranks. I Dislike Your Favorite Team also had this some time back.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-24-2007 @ 8:09PM
CANDY said...
I was at Studio Night club for Victor Calderones last party there on Saturday. I saw thing guy give his pack of cigarettes to this girl hanging out with mo vaughn she ended up giving everyone his pack. I see him request that someone share a cigarette with him, not knowing he made the request to mo Vaughn's girlfriend since she took one without asking, all of a sudden mo Vaughn starts freaking out like a big monkey and he blew it out of proportion I felt embarrassed to witness that little episode. It was obvious that since the guy was smaller but extremely better looking than mo vaughn, mo vaughn felt threatened that maybe his girlfriend would find this guy attractive and resorted to being a bully. This is not the first time I have seen Mo Vaughn try to pull weight on only smaller people than him in the dance bars and these people look scared because of his size which I think he feeds on because he keeps going like chicken with his head cut off. Its obvious that this mo vaughn has no class and etiquette and the world should know.
Reply
6-24-2007 @ 8:09PM
CANDY said...
Your comments: I was at Studio Night club for Victor Calderones last party
there on
Saturday. I saw thing guy give his pack of cigarettes to this girl
hanging out with mo vaughn she ended up giving everyone his pack. I
see him request that someone share a cigarette with him, not knowing
he made the request to mo Vaughn's girlfriend since she took one
without asking, all of a sudden mo Vaughn starts freaking out like a
big monkey and he blew it out of proportion I felt embarrassed to
witness that little episode. It was obvious that since the guy was
smaller but extremely better looking than mo vaughn, mo vaughn felt
threatened that maybe his girlfriend would find this guy attractive
and resorted to being a bully. This is not the first time I have seen
Mo Vaughn try to pull weight on only smaller people than him in the
dance bars and these people look scared because of his size which I
think he feeds on because he keeps going like chicken with his head
cut off. Its obvious that this mo vaughn has no class and etiquette
and the world should know.
Reply