by Ross Forman

David Dellucci was scheduled to sign autographs at a Phoenix card show in May, 1998, and, well, admits he wasn’t too thrilled beforehand. Still, when asked on a local radio show about the appearance, especially since he would be attending along with Jeremy Roenick of the Phoenix Coyotes and several members of the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers, he said, "That’s cool."

Then the radio host said, ‘There’s also a wrestler attending (the show). What do you think about that, signing along with Kevin Nash?’

Dellucci was thrilled. "That’s awesome," he said. "I can’t wait to meet him."

Nash and Dellucci, as it turned out, sat next to each other at the show, and thus formed a lasting friendship: baseball outfielder, wrestling superhero.

David Michael Dellucci is a big-time fan of Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash, the pro wrestling superstar who is among a select few (like Hulk Hogan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage) who has been the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) World Champion and the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) World Champion. Nash also is a big-time fan of Dellucci, now in his fifth major league season (the last four with Arizona).

"I try to watch (pro wrestling) as much as I can, but it’s kind of difficult during the season due to (the fact we play) so many night games. But my family and friends let me know what’s going on (with the various storylines)," said Dellucci, the popular Diamondbacks outfielder who bats and throws left-handed. "Nash is, by far, my all-time favorite wrestler. I also like Scott Hall and others. Most of the guys are really good guys, especially out of the ring, such as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin from the WWF."

"Nash is a great guy; we became instant friends at that show and, I’ll admit, it’s neat being friends with Nash, who I have always admired."

Born on Halloween 1973, Dellucci was drafted by Baltimore in the 10th-round in 1995 after a standout career at the University of Mississippi.

The Diamondbacks, in the Expansion Draft, selected him before the 1998 season.

Dellucci opened the ’98 campaign at Triple-A Tucson, batting .306 with one home run and 11 RBI. He was recalled by Arizona less than a month into the season, and went 2-for-4 (against Atlanta) in his Arizona debut. He led the National League in ’98 with 12 triples, and finished the season with a .260 average, five home runs and 51 RBIs in 416 at-bats.

"I’m not a big power hitter; I’m the type of player who puts the ball in the gaps," he said. "I love to dive, make diving catches. That’s probably what I’m most-know, most-popular for – my diving catches."

"Nash wants me to hit 60 home runs in one season and is doing everything in his power to help me. I know, if he gets a new bench-press tip, he’ll call me."

Nash was a regular at Arizona games in 2000, when the near-7-foot, 300-pound wrestler lived in Scottsdale, Ariz. He has since moved to Atlanta, but still talks with Dellucci regularly, even with, uh, batting tips, Dellucci said laughing.

"Once, when we were playing in Cincinnati, Nash was wrestling in Cincinnati," Dellucci said. "There was a knock on my (hotel) door, so I checked to see who it was – and all I saw was this guy’s chest. I had a good feeling who it was."

"It was great to hang out with him, always is. Kevin and I have become great friends."

Heck, when Dellucci was once in the hospital for a baseball-related surgery, Nash visited him at the hospital. "That really meant a lot to me; it really showed me something about him as a person, and that’s why I consider him one of my best friends," Dellucci said. "When you see him on TV and see how he acts in the ring, you kind of don’t expect him to be a super-nice guy out of the ring. But he is; he really is."

"Kevin Nash is 42, and obviously in great shape. Once you hang around with him for a while, you see that he acts, oh, like an 18-year-old. He’s a really good guy, really down to earth."

And what are your favorite Nash stories?

Hmmm, Dellucci paused. Then paused some more. "There are very few that can be repeated," he said, smiling. "I’ve just always had a good time hanging out with him and his son, Tristen."

Nash often saluted Dellucci from the stands before home each at-bat. "I’d just tell people he’s my bodyguard," said Dellucci, who has yet to change his walk-to-the-batter’s-box music to Nash’s ring entrance music, like Oakland’s Jason Giambi has done.

Dellucci played in only 63 games in 1999, collecting 43 hits (including one homer) in 109 at-bats. He also had 15 RBI and two stolen bases.

Dellucci played in 34 games for the D-Backs in ’00, with 15 hits in 50 at-bats, which included a five-game hitting streak in September.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Dellucci said he "constantly" discusses training tips with Nash, "though our training is a bit different; I don’t often press people over my head." The two also discuss their ties to the Southeastern Conference; Nash played basketball at Tennessee.

And the two also discussed Dellucci’s June appearance in Sports Illustrated. "That was pretty neat. It’s good to get some publicity when things are going well," he said. "Nash called after the issue hit. Heck, anytime my name or picture is in a newspaper or magazine, Nash will call very soon afterward. I know he’s not afraid to give me a few hitting tips here and there."

Dellucci, who has attended about 10 wrestling matches over the past few years, has a signed photo of Nash – from Nash. It says, "To David, the other Big Sexy, Kevin Nash". Dellucci, meanwhile, has signed bats and balls for Nash. And, Dellucci added with a laugh, "I don’t know if he’d want the world to know, but now (the world) knows, he used to have one of my baseball cards (attached to) the mirror in his bathroom. That was pretty cool."

Dellucci does not have a Nash card on his mirror, though.

Nash also has a specially-made Dellucci jersey. I mean, really specially-made. It’s a size 60 with six inches added at the bottom. Nash often wore that on national cable TV, such as WCW Monday Nitro and WCW Thunder on TNT and SuperStation TBS, respectively. "That was tremendous, really awesome seeing him on TV in my jersey," Dellucci said. "I had so many phone calls after he wore it. He knows that I support him and what he does, and I know he supports me and what I do."

A native of Baton Rouge, La., Dellucci graduated from Catholic High School in 1992, where he was team MVP in both baseball and football. He also was an All-State baseball player.

At Mississippi, Dellucci had three outstanding seasons, with two All-Conference selections. Plus, in 1995 he was named All-American, setting 10 school records in the process and leading the SEC in hitting. And thus, he was named Athlete of the Year at Mississippi in ’95.

Credit to kevinansh.net for this article

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