Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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sport: I Cincinn still con -1 wim yoi By Bretl Friedlander Gamecock Staff Writer ATLANTA ? To say that Pete Rose is a complete ballplayer would be the ultimate understatement. The 37-year-old Cincinnati native is a sure bet to make baseball's Hall of Fame. His list of accomplishments is almost endless. He is one of only 13 major leaguers to ever reach the 3000 is tne most effective switch hitter in the history of baseball and ranks in the all-time top twenty in at bats, hits, singles and doubles. He was named the National League's Rookie of the year in 1963; Most Valuable Player in 1973 and World Series MVP in 1975. He has won three N.L. batting titles and has been named to the league all-star team 11 times, starting at four different positions. WHILE HIS STATISTICS are impressive, they are only a small indication of Pete Rose's greatness. What sets him apart from all other players in the game is his intense pride and all out will to win. It is the reason he has earned the nickname of "Charley Hustle." Much of the Cincinnati Reds' success over me past tew years has hinged on the play of Rose. His enthusiasm is the spark that often lifts the team when it is down. "I just enjoy playing the game," Rose said. "As long as the game continues to be fun for me, I wouldn't want to trade places with anybody in the world. I'm not worried about getting old as far as baseball is concerned, I'm worried about losing my enthusiasm. I can't see that ham)enin& anvwherp in the near future." Even though Rose is respected by the other players around the league for his hustling style of play, he is booed in most cities by the fans. The third baseman does not let it bother him though. He said that the fans probably boo him out of respect because of the way he plays. "It would bother me only if they s Major of"! ^ri I? rvn i ail O JAU5M ipetes iingsters booed me in Cincinnati," Rose explained. "If I played in any of those other cities, they would enjoy watching me play because I'm so aggressive. For example, in New Vnrlf ahnnt o mnntti T il. . w. ? ?.?#uuv u lltVIIUl Ugv/, A lilt LIU CC homers and two singles in a game and the fans didn't know what to do. They stood up and clapped and booed all at the same time." ON MAY 5, 1978, Rose joined baseball's elite by stroking his 3000th career hit in Cincinnati against the Montreal Expos. For Rose, this event had special meaning, but as usual he put his team ahead of his personal accomplishments. "My goals are always to help the team win and make the play-offs," Rose said. "Personally it was a big achievement in the matter of time it took me. It only took me 15 years and a month," he said. nuoc IO OlIILCIC tJUUUl IllJj gO<ilS. He believes that although baseball is an individual sport, it is also a team game. While each player gets paid on the merits of his own accomplishments, the team's fate rests with eight other individuals. "Your rewards are what the team receives at the end of the season," he said. "Whether it's a World Series check or just going home to watch TV." ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT PnCA id ' - ? L'- !A-* 9 *1 iwov 10 piuuu ui is ins swu.cn mi* l ting record. When he got his 2881st career hit last summer in St. Louis, i he passed Frank Frisch as the ' number-one switch hitter of all time. Rose also passed Rip Collins last year to become the top switch hitting home run hitter in National League history. ' Rose, who generally hits better lefthanded, began switch hitting at I the age of nine. He said thp I greatest inspiration of his life who was his father, who taught him the art. "The reason this record means so much to me is that not many guys in baseball or any other sport become the all-time best at whatever they do," Rose said. "I couldn't become the best home run hitter or RBI man, but I worked hours and hours on the nature of j my game, and that is switch hit- I ting. The whole secret is not to be ' something you aren't." While there have been reports floating around that Rose was playing out his option with the' Reds, he quickly denied them. Being from Cincinnati he said that | he could hardly think of any other < place to play baseball. "Cincinnati | is where it all began, it's the j See ROSE, page 13 * lf>njoru f> hm v v/ V/C/4. e r J ^ /- hR| Pete Rose ieball Bronx B manage despite By Matt Ward Gamecock Staff Writer NEW YORK ? Even after winning a world championship, the New York Yankees are still at each other's throats. Controversy which marked last year's successful season is still occurring to the Bronx Bombers as they attempt to defend their title. After a relatively quiet April the bickering and disturbances have started again. First, there was the feud between Yankee manager Billy Martin and centerfielder Mickey Rivers. Martin claimed Rivers was not hustling and was iamng to give it his best when out on the field. Somehow the altercation between Martin and Rivers got out of hand, and even catcher Thurman Munson was included. The conclusion to all this recent quarrelling had Martin apologizing to Munson and Rivers was benched for three games before returning to the line-up. However, the controversy did not stop with this episode. WITH THE MONEY of owner v*eorge sieinDrenner, the Yanks acquired one of the best pitching staffs in the major leagues. The only problem is the New Yorkers cannot get every man into the rotation. The Yankees have the services of undefeated Ron Guidry, Ed Figueroa, Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Andy Messersmith and Don Ollllptt TVlic Haoc na? J- it MMaaVVVt a?M UWO A IVil ll&CIUUC me awesome bullpen which includes the 1977 Cy Young award winner for the American League, Sparky Lyle, along with Rich Gossage and Dick Tidrow. It is easy to see that the Pin Stripe wonders are too deep in starting pitchers and they may have to trade some of their starters tn ^ 1 * " * in uiuci tu nave continuity tor the players the Yankees want in the rotation. Ken Holtzman, traded only a few weeks ago, practically gathered splinters on the bench from little use. As far as Figueroa is concerned, he and Martin have not exactly been the best of friends. ACCORDING TO FIGUEROA, he believes he is not getting a regular turn in the rotation and that the support he has been getHncf liao Kn??? * v...B ..?o cAiremeiy poor. Figueroa said further that Martin had promised him a steady turn to pitch but with the others returning to action it seem sunlikely Figueroa will be pitching regularly. The Yankees' only main weakness is finding a consistent ballplayer in left field. Martin knows there are teams in the ~Y I ombers wins woes major leagues who would trade a decent ballplayer for his surplus pitchers. If Martin can unload some of them and get someone to play leftfield, then New York may have solved their only main weakness on the field. But the controversial Yankees have other problems which are off the field. There are other players who think they are not getting enough playing time and they have given Martin the old ultimatum, "play me or trade me." Bp ^ v.' iBfegw Thurmon Munson These players include Cliff Johnson, Lou Pinella and Roy White. In each case, these three " 1 1 pia^cis die usca oniy wnen a certain situation occurs. JOHNSON IS USED as a designated hitter and when Munson needs a rest from his catching duties. Pinella and White are two players Martin has been using on and off in left field. Neither player has all the tools to play the position. So consequently when Martin nlavs nnp man nvor "? ^ ^ waavr Mil V f VI tllC UU1C1 tUC Yanks lose something. When Martin plays White the Yankees forfeit Pinella's hitting and when Martin plays Pinella the Bronx Bombers lose White's fielding ability. With all the commotion blossoming as the season ends its third month one has to be constantly amazed how the Yankees can play together and remain just six games behind the Red Sox. Last year the New Yorkers were fortunate to beat out the Boston n ?l n * * ? i\eu aox ana tne Baltimore Orioles with all the internal conflicts that affected the team. This year the Yankees cannot have the same internal problems if they hope to overtake the Red Sox. With the Bronx Bombers it's a question of having too many eggs in the basket. The New Yorkers have too many players who have self centered egos that need to be catered to.