He wasn’t always the biggest guy on the field.

Sure, other players were faster, had a better arm and could hit the ball farther. But few had a bigger heart or the can-do attitude of John Cangelosi.

The former White Sox third baseman played 13 years in Major League Baseball, set an American League rookie record with 51 stolen bases in 1986 and won a World Series in 1997 with the Marlins.

Cangelosi, the current owner of the Cangelosi Baseball Academy, spoke to the Northern Star when he appeared as the keynote speaker at the annual NIU baseball leadoff dinner Feb. 10.

Northern Star: What was it like to win a World Series?

John Cangelosi: That is your dream come true right there. Nothing you do in the real world the rest of your life will be bigger than that. I’m just fortunate and blessed to have won the Series that I played in.

NS: How do you describe the drama of the playoffs?

JC: With the World Series, the whole playoffs actually, it is an entire month of pivotals.

NS: Big-time ups and downs?

JC: There is an entire month of ups and downs. It is stressful, exciting and draining all at the same time.

NS: The Marlins had an interesting dynamic going on too.

JC: The World Series is the best in team concepts. With the Marlins, we had a lot of free agents and in the first half of the season, our offense didn’t play so well. Our pitchers were doing well, but our offense was a concern; we just hadn’t clicked yet. Gary Sheffield had struggled at the start, as did most of the guys.

We had a closed-door meeting, hashed some things out, and over the second half of the season were one of the best teams in baseball.

NS: You played for some of the best managers in the game.

JC: I did. Jim Leyland, Tony LaRussa and Bobby Valentine are three of the best baseball minds in the game.

NS: As you work with young players, which manager do you find yourself resembling most?

JC: Probably Jim Leyland. He was a psychologist; he would walk into a room and command the respect of 25 guys instantly. He was able to get 25 guys making a lot of money to play together. We loved to play for him because he was a great motivator; he really lets you know the way you need to play.

NS: Are you surprised he took Detroit from the abyss to the World Series last year?

JC: Not at all. With Leyland, you’ll be in the middle of a winning streak and he’ll close the doors and dog you out about little fundamental things. He would always pick the right time to let you know what you need to do. Sometimes if you were struggling, it would be a pat on the back. Guys don’t always want to hear about how bad they are doing when they are struggling. They know it.

NS: Who was the best pitcher you ever faced?

JC: That’s a good question. They were all good; they’re big leaguers, you know? But if there was one guy, I’d have to say Kevin Brown. He just threw such a heavy ball. I don’t know my statistics against him, but when you made contact with his pitches it just stung your hands; it made you not want to make contact. It was like hitting a bowling ball.

NS: Could you describe your baseball academy?

JC: It’s an exposure camp for high school-aged kids. But more than that, we practice at the facility and tune up the kids games. Then we go and play on Saturday and Sunday in front of coaches. Of the 200 or so players, 70 percent have gone on to receive college scholarships.