A SERIES STREAKER; RELUCTANT GRISSOM FINDS OCTOBER TO HIS LIKING.

Byline: Claire Smith The New York Times

Mr. October.

Marquis Grissom of the Cleveland Indians laughed at the thought that he had officially usurped the nickname from Reggie Jackson. ``He hit three home runs,'' Grissom said, referring to Jackson's crowning moment in the World Series, when he hit three against the Dodgers in the 1977 Series finale.

Yes, Jackson has those home runs. He also has about 12 more personalities than the quiet Grissom. What Jackson does not have is the acknowledgment as the most proficient hitter in baseball's Fall Classic.

Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Yogi Berra, Stan Musial, Ted Williams - they don't have it, either. But Grissom, thanks to a .441 World Series batting average (26 for 59), is the leader among players with at least 50 at-bats.

With five hits in the first two games in this World Series, Grissom has not only boosted the average to that rarefied height, but has also reconfirmed his place as one of the best post-season hitters.

More impressive, Grissom now has a 14-game hitting streak in the World Series dating to 1995, matching Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates (seven games each in 1960 and 1971) for the second-longest hitting streak in World Series history. They are three behind Hank Bauer of the Yankees (1956-58).

``I'm so into the game I'm not worried about no record,'' the always modest Grissom said with a smile. ``I'm not worried about nothing but winning right now.''

Still, the streak is there, impressive and alive. Grissom extended it Sunday night with a fifth-inning single against the usually exquisite Kevin Brown in the Indians' 6-1 victory over the Marlins in Miami, which evened the series at one game each.

Grissom was 3 for 4 before the night was done, and has five hits as the World Series heads into the third game. His .714 average in this series, his two runs scored and his sheer ability to agitate opponents once October rolls around illustrate why he, and the playoff-seasoned David Justice, were high on the Indians' wish list last spring.

``Our objective was to get to the postseason, and we were adding a big postseason player,'' Indians general manager John Hart said in explaining the rationale for the March 25 trade with the Atlanta Braves in which he exchanged center fielder Kenny Lofton for Grissom and Justice.

``Also, the situation there was that Kenny wasn't going to sign and was just going to go out on the market. So we wanted a center fielder, and we got one of the best in the National League and one of the best in baseball from the defensive standpoint. We got a good offensive player. We didn't get a prototype leadoff hitter, but we also got a guy who has always come up big in the post-season.''

Why Grissom has that ability seems a mystery to a player who, unlike Jackson, is not comfortable singing his own praises. Grissom, who could never mouth the claim of being the straw that stirs any team's drink, as Jackson once did, didn't even hazard a guess about his high output two games into this World Series.

``I'm not afraid to fail,'' Grissom said. ``I think that's a key thing. I go out there and try to have fun rather than worrying about what's really going on. You go out there and continue to play baseball. The game doesn't change just because it's the World Series.''

Fortunately for Cleveland, Grissom doesn't change just because his uniform does on occasion. A former member of the Montreal Expos, the Georgia native saw his dream come true when the Braves acquired him in 1995. Then came his trade.

``I was just in shock, but not sad that I was leaving Atlanta,'' Grissom said, diplomatically. ``I just missed home, being in my bed every night. But I came over here and the guys welcomed me with open arms from day one.''