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% * 1SAsxtcl 1'ic-i.a 111 uiicuuui still slii cirri no By Brett Friedlander Sports Editor Old man river thnt nlrl mnn ri\tor he don't say nothin' but that old man river he just keeps on rollin' along George & Ira Gershwin Like old man river, Ed Kranepool just keeps on rollin' along. For 17 seasons, he has been a part of the New York Mets, a team whose history has been as up and down as his career. In 1962, the first year ever for the Mets, Kranepool signed as a 17year-old sensation from James Monroe High School in the Bronx, New York. He showed great promise but not much improvement, and in 1970 he was sent to Tidewater of the International League. After a good year in the minors, the big first baseman was promoted back to the majors and finally fulfilled that promise. He has seen a lot of things happen during his long tenure in the Big Apple. In his rookie season, he played on a team that lost a major league record 120 games. He began his career and played his first four seasons under legendary manager Casey Stengel. Kranepool was also a part of the 1969 "Miracle Mets," who went from last place to a World Series championship in one season. There have been many stories told about the old Mets and Stengel; Kranepool has a few of his own to tell. "I enjoyed playing for Casey," he said. "He was a colorful person who gave 50 years of his life to the game and he was very helpful to all the young players we had. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough prospects back in those days to bring the club around." Because of this lack of talent, nobody got a lot of enjoyment playing for the early Mets. "When you play on a team that finishes last seven years 111 a row, 11 s never mucn iun, nxanepooi said. Then came 1969, and all frustrations of the past were forgotten as the Mets stunned everyone by winning the World Series. Although Kranepool did not have a great season, he played a major role in the team's sudden success. According to the first baseman, it was one of the greatest moments in his career. "Winning a championship is a highlight for any professional athlete," Kranepool explained. "We molded our ballclub under the direction of Gil Hodges in 1968. We added some young players, and in 1969 we all came of age at the same time, and of course we won the pennant." For the majority of his career, Kranepool has been a favorite of the finicky New York baseball fans, but he has not always been their darling. There was a time when he was booed soundly every time he stepped out of the dugout. But that was years ago. Now he represents a link to the glory years of the past and receives long ovations even though he is no longer a starter. He has, however, earned the fans' admiration for setting records for his pinch hitting efforts. "When you're with any ballclub for 17 years, something like that is bound to happen," he explained. "The reason fans cheer anybody is because they are doing well. That's the way fans are. If you're doing well, they cheer you, if you're not, they get on you. The only thing you can do is keep going out there and do your best. There are some times when you feel like booing yourself." Lately, he has not been doing much of that. Over the past five seasons, his lowest batting average was .281. In 1975 he hit a career high .323 in ai Dais, a year earner, ne sei a leam record wun w pincn mis m jd appearances. That figure also represents a National League record, tying him with Philadelphia's Tony Taylor. Since the Mets have made a move towards rebuilding by giving their young players time, Kranepool has done a lot of pinch hitting. Perhaps that's whv he's so good at it. But he is also realistic about his role with the team. He knows that it is keeping him in baseball and he has developed some definite theories on the subject. "As a pinch hitter, you have to be more aggressive and less selective than you normally would. The pitchers have a tremendous edge; if you Ct r? 1 r\ /\M/\ A rtf oi 1 M n L\ /vln 4 A ' M r* m /-< 4 n ma a a 4 m 4 l? B*' uy iiicic cwiu gti in a mm; iuu uwp, yuu ic j^uin^ iu cuiuc uui un me short end. So you have to come off the bench aggressive, thinking positive and knowing what to expect from the opposing pitcher. And, swing hard just in case you hit the ball." With his 17 years of experience and overall performance as a pinch hitter, Kranepool knows ahead of time when he will be called upon. As a result, he spends the entire game trying to psych himself up from that one moment. "You have to keep yourself both physically and mentally ready to go into the game," he said. "You don't have enough time to prepare yourself in the on-deck circle. I know when I'll be hitting, usually when the game is on the line, SO that is what I'm crp^ariiu? for as thf? tfamp nroisfrftssps " "I think if you know what situation you'll be used in, it is easier, because it gives you time to get prepared," Kranepool added. Old man river might keep on rolling along, but so does Ed Kranepool. PMOTliftA!! Track signer USC head track coach Charlie Strong has announced the signing of two athletes to national letters of intent. The latest newcomers to the Carolina track program are nign jumper Marv Jonnson ot Macon, Ga., and triple jumper and long jumper James Wilson of West Columbia, S.C. Earlier Strong had announced the signing of hurdler Ricky Griddine of Columbia's A C. Flora High. "We're very pleased with these three additions to 1: ?? oi ?; J nm* uui uctuiv piugiam ai ^aruniia, airong saia. iney are all exceptional athletes and were highly recruited. "WE FEEL OUR program here are Carolina is definitely on the rise and we look forward to these [ H 8 I^HHHSI 1 B&ifiMHlfl UEB ranv s' i SB&Bm > / : wist s - Low and Awav ? m Department of Geography's catcher Jit league playoffs earlier this season. The "c championship. m&mmwwi. ? ? 3 UHMUUftLCU three individuals having an immediate impact on our progress." Johnson (6-4, 180) was the Georgia state champion in the high jump this past spring with a leap of 6-ll34. Ho O CnillVlllinrt Mnnnx UiwV. IV uvwiiuvu UUUUIVVCOI maLUIl nigu. A product of Brookland-Cayce High, Wilson (5-10, 155) had a personal best of 48-1 ^ in the triple jump and he is also expected to compete in the long jump and sprints for the Gamecocks. Griddine led A.C. Flora to the Class AAA state crown mis year and was the state champion in the 300 hurdles with a time of 36.6. The 6-2, 160-pounder also recorded a time of 52.1 in the 400 hurdles at the Atlanta Classic, the best effort by a prepster this year. BBb " -'"*:12~->?xK' " . ||g? ';-v-, / ? |^HH^pH||Bup^?^K^nraHHj^| <:;.^S'^BH '^tr. Bill Bollln ? GAMECOCK n Val/oric calls for a low pitch during the togs" went on to win the Columbia League