400 greet Omar Vizquel and paintings at The Butler

Nineteen of Vizquel's works will be on display until Aug. 8.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel stood at the podium inside the Butler Institute of American Art on Monday and was asked to name the highlight of his career.
"My highlight is tonight," he said, smiling.
The answer drew laughs -- and plenty of applause -- among the 400 people who came to Monday's preview reception at the Butler, which is displaying 19 of Vizquel's paintings until Aug. 8.
"This is a completely new world for me," said Vizquel. "I never thought I'd have the opportunity to show my pieces. I did this because a lot of people asked me when they could see some of my paintings."
Some people, of course, actually came for the paintings. More came for the autographs.
Everyone came for Vizquel.
"I'm surprised there's so many people here," he said. "That's nice. It's a really great museum. Not too many people know about it. This is really one of the nicest museums in the area."
His first
It's the first museum exhibit of paintings by Vizquel, who started painting when he was 25. Most of the paintings are portraits. Only one -- a bullfighting painting -- involves sports.
"I devote so much of my life to baseball that when I come home, I just try to forget about it," said Vizquel, who has been with the Indians since 1994. "It's been a refuge away from baseball."
That said, Vizquel isn't looking to stop playing.
"I still believe I'll be able to play for another two or three years," he said. "I just never like to stand still in one place. I always have to be doing something. Especially in the off-season."
Designed his house
Vizquel also designed his off-season house in Seattle -- "the house is still standing," he said -- and said he is experimenting with different art styles.
"I'm still in search of my own style," he said.
Vizquel, who would have been traded back to Seattle this winter had he not failed a physical, is in the last year of his contract with the Indians.
When asked if he would be back, he smiled.
"I wish [Indians GM] Mark Shapiro was here to answer that question," he said. "I've said it before, I'd like to stay here. I want to end my career in Cleveland."