Steve Balboni has been to the show.

That’s why he was signing more autographs than any of the players on the field last night before the Cyclones 14-5 poudning of Vermont at KeySpan Park.

In 1985, the burly slugger belted 36 home runs for the World Series champion Kansas City Royals, a team chock-full of talent, leadership and personality.

As a rookie, Balboni broke in with the Yankees, where he played from 1981-83 and 1989-90. He played with some of baseball’s all-time greats including Don Mattingly, George Brett, Brett Saberhagen, Dan Quisenberry and Reggie Jackson. And now he’s back in the minors, this time as the manager of the Class-A Vermont Expos.

He still signs autographs for the older fans holding mint-condition cards in their hands, and whose eyes light up when they see him. Balboni, now 44, gets a kick out of being able to remain in the game well past his playing days which ended over ten years ago.

“A lot of the kids probably don’t know who I am,” Balboni said.

In his first season as the manager of the little Expos, Balboni has had his share of ups and downs, much like when he was a player leading his team in both home runs and strikeouts.

After starting the season 8-0 with Vermont, the ‘Spos have dropped their last 11 in a row going into last night.

“I’ve tried everything,” Balboni said. “Being nice, being not-so-nice, yelling, screaming, you name it. We’ll come out of it though.”