Name recognition's never been a problem for Mike Victorino, who knows everyone on Maui—even before all this hype about his son, Shane, Philadelphia Phillies center fielder. So it's off to the World Series for dad, too, election or not.

Heck, Mike should lose votes if he doesn't go instead of kissing a few more babies in his bid to keep his seat on the County Council. Constituents would have to question his family values, not to mention his sanity.

Family, though, is always the priority for Mike, and that's why his eyes were red with sorrow as well as joy after Shane led the Phillies over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS.

After the game, he had to tell his son that his 82-year-old grandmother, Mike's mother, Irene, had died.

Shane, eyes red, too, knew before his father said anything.

“;Vovo died, yeah?”;

“;Yeah,”; Mike replied.

There was nothing Shane could do but play on, and, he and Mike agreed, that's what Vovo would want.

“;I didn't know emotions could swing so much in 4 hours,”; Mike said. “;But now she's got the best box seats in the world. She's probably laughing, thinking, 'How the heck did my name get in the national news?'”;

It's not the poise of performing with a heavy heart. Nor is it the home runs, stolen bases and great catches that had touched the father most after the Game 5 win sent the Phillies to the World Series.

When Shane told Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal to keep his head up while Furcal was in the middle of a three-error inning, some thought the display of sportsmanship bizarre.

Mike Victorino loved it.

“;I saw it on TV later and was very proud of him,”; the father said. “;I was like, 'Wow, he's arrived.' “;

Something else made him shake his head and beam even more, though.

“;They intentionally walked him, twice,”; Mike said. “;We're not talking about Ryan Howard, Chase Utley or Pat Burrell. Talk about the ultimate respect. To me that was the highlight of the game.”;

Ten years ago, Shane was the best all-around high school athlete in Hawaii, starring in everything he played. Blazing speed, great moves on the football and soccer fields. Not the kind of size you see in most blue-chip baseball prospects—but more than enough speed, arm, eye-hand and competitive spirit to make up for it, at least for Eric Tokunaga, then the Royals' scout here.

“;Eh, this boy get chance for the big leagues,”; Tokunaga told Mike.

If you know Eric, you know he believes a lot of kids from Hawaii can make it, and some have. But Mike wasn't buying, not yet.

“;Braddah, what you smoking?”; was his reply.

When the Dodgers called, Mike thought it was a prank. But he came around as Shane progressed, polishing his skills at Great Falls, Yakima, Wilmington, Vero Beach, Jacksonville and Las Vegas, his knowledge of the game catching up to his raw talent.

The minors teach humility. But he maintained his fire, and also learned to harness his speed and how to switch-hit.

Along the way the Dodgers let Shane go, and surely regret it now.

He keeps it up, he'll contend in his own election next year, for the All-Star team.