MLB.com: Who were your favorite players when you were a kid?

John Grabow: Will Clark. I kind of grew up, ironically, as a fan of the Giants and the Dodgers. I played first base growing up and he was the player I wanted to play like. He was a left-handed hitter who had a sweet swing and always played great defense. He was a quiet hitter but always batted around .300 every year and put up great numbers.

MLB.com: What would you be doing if you weren't playing baseball?

Grabow: I really don't know. It would probably be something along the lines of engineering. I liked to build things when I was younger. I used to race remote control cars and I always had a knack for putting things together. When my dad took me to his business I would always be in the shop messing around with stuff.

MLB.com: What has been the proudest moment of your life?

Grabow: The day that I got called up to the big leagues I was at Sacramento playing [for Nashville] in the Pacific Coast League Championship. My whole family drove there to watch the game and we got swept. I was in the locker room when our manager, Trent Jewett, told me that I was going up to the big leagues, so I got to tell my parents to their face that I was going to the big leagues. That's probably the most memorable and favorite moment of my life.

MLB.com: What has been your most embarrassing moment?

Grabow: When I was a rookie I had to dress up as a cheerleader. The next year I had to wear a Tweety Bird backpack wherever we went. I had to go through an airport basically wearing a cheerleader outfit that was like two sizes too small and I had to serve drinks on the plane. The next year they did some more hazing where I had to wear a Tweety Bird backpack during batting practice to carry all of the snacks to the bullpen.

MLB.com: What was your first job?

Grabow: I got my first job, other than baseball, when I came home after my first [Minor League] season. My mom said I either needed to take some college classes or get a job. I went to Teammates Sporting Goods in Arcadia, Calif., a place I used to go to in junior high and high school to get my sporting equipment, and they told me they were looking for someone to work. I ended up working there for three or four offseasons.

MLB.com: What was your first car?

Grabow: I had a 1973 Volkswagen Super Beetle. It was a rare car because it didn't have a clutch. It was a shift-o-matic, so it had four gears but no clutch. You had to take your foot off of the gas to shift.

MLB.com: Who would you most like to meet, past or present?

Grabow: It would be Cy Young. He was like the Babe Ruth of pitchers. The numbers he put up were ridiculous. I'd like to be able to pick his brain about how he was able to pitch so many complete games. I'd like to see what his routine was.

MLB.com: What would fans be surprised to find out about you?

Grabow: That I am an ordinary person on and off the field. I'm a very approachable person.

MLB.com: Who has been your biggest influence?

Grabow: My biggest influence has probably been my mom. She's raised me to do the right things as far as being responsible, being on time every day and being patient with baseball. When you are going through bad times she taught me to just keep on sticking with your routine and keep on working hard. Away from the field, she taught me the ways of life and how to do the right thing.

Ed Eagle is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.