University of South Carolina Libraries
mr Bv Brett Friadlnnd?r Sports Editor ATLANTA ? Over the past decade, Carolina's baseball program has been one of the finest in the nation. Twice in the past five years, the Gamecocks have finished second in the college World Series. The reason for the continued success is a combination of two thinCs ? PVPP>11i>nt r?r?aohincr anH - 0W VX/MV?l?.b first-rate talent. Since 1974, six Gamecocks have been named to the coaches All-American team, while a total of 19 have signed professional baseball contracts. Ill IT AC All m.m w v/1 ntjii v a it 51 ta l piajuio to ever don a Carolina uniform, perhaps the best was first baseman Hank Small. A native of Atlanta, Small contributed to USC's program for four years. During that career, he almost ramnlpfplv rpu/rnto fhp record book. His career batting average in 191 games was .354 ? very good for a power hitter. He also belted 48 homers and drove in 184 runs over HHHi mmm PI; ^ ji mam i|| ss -pr ALE drain.A ^ ? - wsnmmaaum aSBBSSm mecocl the same span. Never before had anyone hit so many hnmp rnns in a collegiate career as Small. In fact, only Arizona State's Bob Horner has surpassed his total since. At the end of his outstanding career at USC, Small was drafted by his hoiyietown Atlanta Braves in a high round. This seemed like a lucky break for the former Gamecock star. Not onlv would he get a chance to play in front of his family and friends, but he would also be hitting in a ballpark, affectionately called the "launching pad," that is suited for his power from the right side of the plate. THK BKAvrJJS also seemed to get a lucky break when they acquired Small. A team which usually finishes in last place, the Braves were in need of some offensive punch to make up for the ioss oi nome run King HanK Aaron. They also needed some solid defense in their problematic infield. The Braves seemed to have all of that in Small. But things just haven't worked out for either the Atlanta Braves or ? ? 1- ~ 11 nr\I 4 i . J naiiK. oiiictii. xiiai, nuwever, uues orison not mean Small did not keep up his end of the deal. A year ago, Small batted .289 with 25 home runs and 101 runs batted in for Richmond of the International League. He led the league in homers and RBI's and won most valuable player honors tirhiln nn vr in iv ivauiug iiiv uiuvta iujj idl ill club to a championship. EVEN WITH SUCH impressive statistics, the Braves seemed uninterested in Small's performance and potential. Instead of giving him a shot at the starting job in the majors, the team went out and signed 34-year-old free agent Mike Lum for the job at $300,000. Lum, a "retread'' who was traded away from the Braves in 1976 has a career batting average of .248 with only 82 runs in 11 major league seasons. So at the beginning of the current season, Small found himself back in uie minors wunoui geuing a iair chance to prove himself. Obviously discouraged over the turn of events, he is having a sub-par season at Richmond this year. To complicate matters, 23-year-old catcher Dale Murphy has been moved to first base following a knee iniurv. This move leaves Small's future up in the air. IT SEEMS AS though the Braves have run out of options with Small and are happy to have him rot away in the minors. With a new Cocks play summer ball Three former Gamecocks and two current members of USC's baseball team are performing well in summer baseball. Wes Westbrook, Aaron Scott, Randy Rogers, Greg Jonson and Martin Small are all members of the DeKalb, Ga., Yankees of the Tubbv Walton Stan Musial Baseball League for 21- and 22-year-olds. Their team has compiled a 7-1 record in league play, good enough for first place, and is 13-3 overall. Thus far, the best statistics have come from Westbrook, who just completed his final season of eligibility with I JSP Tho loft o J *v" v handed first baseman already has 10 home runs and 31 runs batted in. In a 27-0 victory over Hapeville, Ga., he hit three round-trippers and had nine HBI's. SHORTSTOP JONSON is the team's spark plug according to coach Rodney Smith. He leads the team in both batting average and stolen bases. The returning senior is hitting .420. Rogers, a center fielder, is the leadoff hitter and sports a .320 batting average. Scott and Small are the main pitchers on the team. Both men have 3-1 records. Scott is a right hnnrinr (InnH nnnlrnl mViiln M JVII ^\/W4 VVIHI VI VY1IIIV Small, brother of the Atlanta Braves' Hank, is a southpaw who relies mainly on his fastball. at aea< general manager who does not know a lot about the system's personnel, Small's chances of being called up seem distant at best. The most fortunate thing for cmnll K? ? I 1 > l? OH I ail WUU1U UC 1UI UIC DI avc^ IU deal him to a team that could use his vast talents as a baseball player. [ ! I itrrrmmntn jm Bfe. r= I gmMmmmm.mM.m-m. d endr In four seasons as a professional, Hank Small has already had enough ups and downs to last an pntirp rarppr A Rhr?iirrH Ho ic nn a "??VUb" "" " down right now, he will get his chance ? somewhere and sometime. One can only hope he is patient enough to wait for that chance. two free 36 oz. bottles of Coke! k iWe reserve the right to limit our delivery area. Our drivers do not carry more than $20.00. I ?====< > HbbhAHMI J ti ii will ii ? ?na?s?y mwm 'ree 36oz. S i|JJ bottles I iHi of Coke! I With any large pizza $ 1.80 value J One coupon per pizza. | : Customer pays deposit j Expires. 8/30/79 r- m _ j . rast, Tree delivery 1124 Devine St. j j Telephone: 256 81 51 HEW free 36oz. j 11 bottle S iJEH of Coke! 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