The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 02, 1981, Page Page 13, Image 15
From
Ex-Gamecock 1
By Jim Corbett
Jv A Mi* Lint (oortt hiitnr
<r r" ?
NEW YORK ? "Hey Mookie! You're a
bum! You stink! screamed the fan as former
USC baseball star Mookie Wilson
strode to the plate for the New York Mets in
early June. Wilson seemingly lived up to the
fan's expectations by striking out, causing
the uninhibited spectator to shout, "You're
a bum Mookie, a bum!"
Next time up Wilson was greeted by his
heckler with "Mookie. vou bum. vou. vou
belong in Tidewater (the Mets Triple A farm
^ club)!" Wilson responded by lashing a
single to center field off Cinncinati starter
Tom Seaver. The fan shrugged his shoulders
and smiled, then yelled "That 'away
Mookie, that's your hit for this month!"
Two pitches later, Wilson did what he is
known for ? swiping second easily ? but
the loudmouth was not impressed. H4You're
still a bum!" he shouted over the small
group of youngsters chanting "Go! Go!
riA I ' ' QC \A/i1cAn r]a nnn/4 n/wi/vMrl
uv< uv) >I iwvia uanvcu Ull 3CV.UIIU.
"I play baseball because I love it, b
? came to a point when I just go out ji
The 25 year-old rookie didn't get a chance
to steal again as he was sacraficed to third.
The next batter lofted a high fly to fairly
shallow center and the fans braced themca!
% ?'?- ? a a * - " j
otivco iui ct uiwsc piay ai me piaie. iiut
Red's center fielder Ken Griffey showed the
ultimate respect for the rookie's speed by
conceding the run and lazily lobbing the ball
to second base.
Several spectators turned to eye the
^ heckler as Wilson crossed the plate, and he
shouted half-heartedly, "Wait until August,
you bum."
August has faded into September and
~t:ii ? ?
Miuuii to suii in uie uig leagues, picxing up
where he left off before the 50-day baseball
strike of mid-summer.
From May 22, when Wilson became the
regular center fielder, through August 16
Wilson hit a hefty .367. The 24-game hot
* streak increased his average from .203 to
W above the .300 level.
Wilson started the year as the regular
j right fielder, but was benched after six
| games with an average barely above .200
? ana piayed sporadically until late May,
when he bumped hometown hero Lee
Mazzilli out of center field. Many of New
| York's media cited the return to center as
| the reason for his resurgence, but Wilson
1 disagrees.
P "It's just a matter of overall adjustment,
Inot just center field," Wilson said. "I love
playing center field, but it really doesn't
make that much difference."
I Drake Ti
j| from page 15.
H estimated to be in the hands Both coach
W of less than 30 women. Such great deal
M a document takes long hours players.
I of work under the super- philosophy thi
vision of coaches.' impossible to
This year, leadership do your best,
responsibilities will be we strive for
shared by a former captain namely lots ol
of USC's volleyball and team in 1981 ii
softball teams. Star Burdell, past squads bi
a West Columbia resident. swm to nr#?spi
||S adds assurance to this eager "What we la(
t outfit. Star, as a veteran to experience i
^women's athletics, will comodate an
pft benefit every aspect of the agility... this
|J|game. An optimistic per- on being 's
Mspective in stride with her Scrappy is a
y years of playing experience describe a te?
jpgives luster to volleyball. out 110 perceni
'Bum' To
Mookie Wilson M
The difference was switching back to his
normal batting strategy instead of trying to
be a slap hitter to take advantage of his
speed. "I was trying to do something different
from all the other years." said
Wilson. "I was depending too much on
speed."
The other years include two seasons at
Tidewater, Va., which may have been more
than Mookie needed. "I felt I could've
played up here (the majors) sooner, but the
management felt that would have been
pushing it."
Wilson has been pushing successfully on
the basepaths, stealing 15 bases in 22 attempts,
but he still has a cautious approach
to the celebrated offensive art
"There's a lot of stuff I don't know about
base stealing," he said. "I honestly don't
think I was taught a lot about base stealing,
so you could say I'm basically raw talent,"
said Wilson. "I try to pick up things on my
own from watching different ballplayers."
Wilson feels baseball is fun, but must be
challenging.
tut it's gotta be a challenge...lf it ever
jst to be here (the park), I'd quit/'
? Mookie Wilson
"I play baseball because 1 love it, but it's
gotta be a challenge," the Ehrhardt native
said. "If I go four for four every day it's still
fun, but where's the challenge?
"If it ever came to a point when I just go
out," he said pointing to the diamond, "just
to be here, I'd quit."
The split season has Wilson smiling. "I
think it's great for us, we need the playing
time," he said. "We're trying to re-establish
ourselves with our fans."
Wilson takes great pride in a sometimes
overlooked part of his game ? defense.
"I ?obn * ? " *
& miivc piiuc in my ueiense. 1 iatte inai
ovt my offense," Wilson said, who has
made only two errors this years. "I think
my defense is very good and it's gonna get
better as I learn about the rest of the hitters
in the league."
Former Carolina pitcher and teammate
Ed Lynch is also with the Mets and spent
last year at Tidewater with Wilson. Lynch is
a veteran believer in Wilson's defensive
prowess.
"To me, I don't care if he hits .200; his
defense is that good." Lynch said. "Mookie
has always been the kind of player that if he
gets hot, you can't stop him."
Lynch has been with the Mets for most of
the year and is trying to establish himself in
the starting rotation. "I've got an opportunity
to pitch and I'm going to make the
most of it," he cited.
Lynch was a walk-on at Carolina after
coming to USC on a basketball scholarship.
MIta Aua
?flr
es demand a a ball, keeping it in play.
from their Five new additions were
using the made to the 1981 squad; four
at "nothing is incoming freshmen with one
attain, but to transfer student. Lou Ann
as in anything Calls spent one year at East
takes work"- Michigan Univ. before
: practice. The coming to Columbia with her
3 smaller than talents. Kim Weaver from
,.t 4u.4 m a r^l 1 a
m umi utK5sii i v^iearwaier, ri. ana ieamnt
an obstacle. mateTelethaea Deleueaux of
)k in size and Tavares, Fl. will add
nq will ac- strength to the front line
d surpass in attack. JKim Brown, a Jr.
team will win National member comes to
crappy. ' " Carolina out of Pittsburg
term used to with a hitting-and-setting
>m which puts background. Mary Colson ,
t to dig or pass another Floridian brings
Base
lakes Move
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Mookie \
He was a low-round draft c
Texas Rangers and worked hi
farm system before coming
"Nobody ever handed me a
recalled. "I wouldn't have
way."
Wilson was also a pitcher di
school days and his two ye
tanburg Junior College (now
Methodist). "The only reasc
pitcher is because I'm a goo
said.
defensive skills as well as
spiking abilities. These
young athletes in conjunction
with the six
returnees, demonstrate
tremendous potential.
Setters Debbie McClure
and Lindi James will return
to share the "quarterback"
duties in leadership to the
team. Gloria Mack with Kim
Evans will try to secure the
two stations of center hitter/blocker.
These members
completely understand their
coach's outlook; someone
who will not settle with
losing. All girls seem to hold
the same perspective which
Steal
i In Major I
Vilson is a Mets center fi<
choice of the Wilson beca
is way up the when he starte
? - - - -
nvtWno T' traininK Of las!
it any8 other hittm? ?all
Wilson is ui
iring his high but said he sel
ars at Spar- set (for this ye
Spartanburg ' wasn't goin?
n I'm not a me " And wh.
d hitter," he play this game
That's a lot c
definitely shines in their
hard work. Mary Lee Ladue
is trying a taste at each
position as a sophomore.
Every team needs a versatile
athlete, which Mary
Lee surely is. Another
returning participant is
Theresa Green .whom
exemplifies efficiency in all
aspects of the game. Her
strong points though are
i/avn-l UW UCICIIM; piUS flllting.
Green feels good about the
team.
"We have a great bunch of
girls, everyone gets along
well," she said. "Coach
er
Leagues
'
Kvj.4.
^avsHI
i'i^VMT
jp
?1 ; 1
:$S?:
Mv^"; ;
;lder.
me a more dangerous hitter
d switch-hitting during spring
year. "I think I'm capable of
the same from both sides."
sed to accepting challenges,
Is few goals. "The only goal I
ar) was 'If I get this position,
; to let anybody take it from
at is his next goal? "I want to
t ten years," he said.
>f Augusts.
i mm m
Drake is demanding, but we
feel that the season will be
worthwhile due to all our
hard work."
The groundwork is now
layed: two industrious,
winning coaches and eleven
women laboring extremely
hard. With this combination,
may only merit preceed.
Power volleyball has never
hefArP cn rwnrvi iK o p Thip
wv?w? V ?vv?? kJV puj^fV4JIU A A HO
year, crowds are expected to
triple in USC's gyms to
spectate volleyball action,
and with leading national
teams as opponents
Carolina's season should be
quite challenging.