VISTA -- It may not be the most-frequently-asked question for baseball star David Newhan, but a curious Little Leaguer asked it anyway Wednesday as Newhan autographed the boy's felt pennant: "Did you really play 200 days in a row? I drop dead after three weeks."

As the keynote speaker at the 20th annual Vista Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, Newhan, who plays both the infield and outfield for the Baltimore Orioles, told about 150 community members and local officials that he is used to hard work. At 5 feet 10 inches and 180 pounds, Newhan said, "I'm not the biggest guy in the world, I'm not the fastest -- I can run pretty fast -- but in major league sports there are these huge guys. You've just got to overcome."

After being released by the Texas Rangers earlier this season, Newhan signed with the Orioles as a free agent in June and went on to make news with a 23-game hitting streak and a .311 batting average in 373 at-bats. He drew the most attention, though, for the home run he hit in his first major-league at-bat in three years after injuring his shoulder in 2001.

Newhan's father, Ross, a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times for almost 40 years, is one of the few journalists to have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Many sports fans recognize the 31-year-old athlete's name because of his father's column.

David Newhan said his father's influence contributed to his desire to play major league baseball. But getting to the big leagues proved to be no easy task.

"I was never the best guy on any team I've been on, but I kept moving up because I've always gone at it as hard as I could, I've always given a wholehearted effort," said Newhan. "That takes no talent at all."

After playing in the minor leagues in many obscure corners of the United States, Newhan finally got his chance with the Padres in 1999.

"I felt fortunate to be the 25th guy on the team, down at the end of the bench," he said of his debut.

He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2000. The following year, just as his big league career began gaining momentum, Newhan tore his shoulder during pre-game warmups.

"I tried to snag a home-run ball over the wall and ended up hitting the wall at a weird angle," he explained. "My arm got torn up, and I tore my shoulder -- it was just one of those fluke things."

Newhan missed the rest of the 2001 season and all of the next two seasons as well. By the time he signed with Texas as a free agent last November, he was unsure of his chances of making it back to the big leagues, but his performance as a utility fielder and especially at the plate this past season put to rest any doubts.

Newhan and his wife, Karen, live in Oceanside and are members of Vista Christian Fellowship. They are expecting their first child in January.

Organized by Vista Christian Fellowship and the Vista mayor's office, Wednesday's breakfast attracted many of the community's prominent figures.