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Mo Vaughn is a Housing Humanitarian

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.

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."
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.

Keep on keeping on, Mr. Vaughn.

Via Bugs and Cranks. I Dislike Your Favorite Team also had this some time back.

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