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Gameco Kicnardson, l By BUDDY HOKKES SUH Writer The excitement and anticipation of anothei to th NCAA College World Series arises, as the opening game fc the University of South Carolina approaches rapidly. Ever self-proclaimed Gamecock fan must reminsce the era < Bobby Richardson, the man who built the v necoc dynasty. Before accepting the USC head coaching position in 197< the native of Sumter had gained national recognition as til New York Yankees second baseman from 1956-1966. As a Yankee he had enjoyed a very illustrious 10 1/2 yes career. He performed in seven World Series (three of whic New York won), was voted the most valuable player of tt 1960 World Series, during which he set World Series recorc for most runs batted in one game (6) most RBI's for a seri< (13), and became one of only 10 players to hit a grand slai homerun at that point in history. He set another World Seri< record in 1964 as he tallied 13 hits in a seven game series, w? seieciea 10 lour AU-diar squaas ana was ine nve-uii recipient of the fielders coveted Golden Glove award. In a telephone interview with the former USC head coac he recalled the sequence of events that brought him to tl University. "Paul Dietzel (former athletic director) w; attending a banquet in my hometown in 1968 and he asked n then to become the head baseball coach at USC." B because he still had over three years left on his New Yoi contract, he declined the offer. In 1969 Dietzel propositions Richardson again, and again Richardson declined. Howev Dietzel left with a ray of hope because Richardson had shov some intrigue to the job. "I told him to come back one ye later and ask me one more time." And so in 1970 Diet2 made his third pitch and Richardson responded. "At th time I only had one year left on my contract, so I went to N< York and told them that I wanted to end my contract." Ai on Jan. 16, 1970 Bobby Richardson formally accepted t University of South Carolina's head coaching positi replacing Jack Powers. Arriving at USC immediately prior to the beginning of t 1970 season, the new head coach had to adjust swiftly frc being baseball player to becoming a Baseball head coa< Richardson remembered the most difficult transition he h to make during his first year as a coach. "I had been a plaj and was used to only thinking about my position and thei was thinking for an entire team." Team Will Be Y But Exciting To By JOHNNY BOGGS Gone fr Asst. Sports Editor powerhous . . ? . , , RodCarra Transfers from junior colleges include Baynhamj pitcher Mike Werner, a left-hander who led Florida Junior Colleges in strikeouts last Therefoi season with 111 at St. Petersburg, Fla.; Raines w outfielders Larry Hernandez of Orlando, freshmen; Fla. and Kurt Korinek of Omaha, Neb.; and to fill in mlielder Jelt Swindell of Sarasota, Fla. fourth in h Freshmen signees include South Carolina standouts Philip Wilson, who hit .667 at "It will Bamberg Ehrhardt High School, and Kent up," Rain Anderson, whose performance on the . Carolina h mound and at shortstop led the Hudgens team to w Academy Cougars to two consecutive state as we did crowns. many run Other freshmen include Wade Hatcher, we'll scon Kevin Burke, Craig Martorona, Larry Price, Scott Mackie and Greg Morhardt. Only Both Mackie and Morhardt were named to returning the international baseball team that toured baseman Sweden. Morhardt was an outfielder in high RBI, wil school, but will see action at first base for spot at sc the Gamecocks, according to Raines. "They're all young men who love to play Design and that's a plus," Haines said of his team. who hit "We lost some pitching depth," he said, Hobby V "and we'll be a young defensive ball club, bases, wi but I think we'll catch the ball and make the Other plays." Harvey The Gamecocks open the season Saturday and eatcl when they travel to Charleston to face Baptist College. The first home game is Pitche * Tuesday when they meet Davidson. (12-2), v Freshmen and junior college transfers Mets bu' will be playing key rolls in determining the Kuchars fate of the 1982 (JSC baseball team. and a 2.7 >ck Baseb JSC Baseball-1 e BI^HHMil^Bcl9BHHHMB99MP y - BEBl gg4fcv are/lri; 5; "m^Mtam " )f I^^BHMuHHr SL H 'ill IWMWf *\m -' ie pi;7"v;'",1'l?t ^Ililii?l4: Ik '"-Jj m H| -" WmtfSm^L 1 ! < is B| ^cJWfS^rn^m.:, .<> 1 ? V 10 ? |ttij? BSSljlff- -M- ? |p |S^MHH|H^Hp' m .-. | le I' ! as ?BHMHPbBBB|HFj^ B. - l ie |ili?ilj^^B^l^Hr ''*^3KBUm^EB^^n^MvI: ut B|ll;|:.wp^- ^BIMSSS^ j . Ink fl - ' ^ JB vn The State photo by BILL SCROCGINS :el Bobby Richardson directs traffic in the at Gamecock dugout. ?w nd After improving the teams mark from 12-21-1 in 1969 to 14 he 20 in 1970 by superb recruiting, he constructed a powerhouse on that could match the NCAA's baseball machines of the Wesl Coast. he )m Richardson's accumulation of 222 victories against 9: -h. defeats and two ties has earned hirn the title of the winninges ad coach in the history of Carolina. June Raines is second with j rer 190-68-1 career effort. n I "They (June Raines and Johnny Hunton) have done a way, along with ace pitchers Bret and Bobby Kish. , S "P I ISf1 hoaH Racphall Pnarh Inno &' ? ill have to rely on incoming || | * 'mm and transfers from junior colleges ppl! the shoes of stars who finished ist year's College World Series. be hard to back last year's record .. es, in his fifth year at the South lelm, said. "We will be an exciting J; ~ atch. We won't hit the ball as far - M last year and we won't score as s as we did last year, but I think i our share of runs. ^ three regular starters will be p, ? from the 1981 team. Second Jamey Thaw, who hit .305 with 37 1 more than likely be back at his >/ , : icond as a iunior. - ated hitter-catclier Chris Boyle, . 289 with 55 RBI and outfielder : ^ ollmer, who hit .235 and stole 27 11 also be returning. ? : jg?_ returnees include .John Sullivan, M Heise, Art Finley (all infielders), jlS ler Neil Fox. rs returning include Dennis Lubert fho was drafted by the New York \fL< t did not sign. Don Gordon (8-3) Joe - ~ ,ki (6-2) and Jeb Babel (3-2, 2 saves ^H ERA) will also be back. "It will b< all 1982 r- f i Living Leg en as great job carrying on a winning tradition," complimented Richardson. Raines paid homage to his ex-boss saying he is one of the finest persons I know." The present USC head baseball coach gave the Richardson credit for part of the success he has had as a baseball coach." I learned a lot from Bobby Richardson," Raines said. He has a great baseball mind." At the end of the 1976 season, Bobby Richardson announced his resignation from the head coaching position to run for the 5th congressional seat in the November elections. According to Richardson, when he announced his intent ions to seek the 5th congressional seat, " i sat down with the president of the university at that time who was William Patterson," he said, "Patterson didn't really care to much about sports. When we started talking he asked me 'How long have you been here...two years? (Since Richardson had been coaching for six years, he got a little upset.) "And then he told me '.You can't be a baseball coach and run for Dolitics.' So after a meeting the Trustees suggested that lie name someone as a "temporary replacement," meaning if he lost I the election he could return to his coaching job at Carolina. I decided to resign," he said, "because no one took me seriously." Although he was defeated in the election Richardson said, "I have no regrets. I felt it was the right decision at the time." He also denounced any future political interests stating, "I have no future ambitions in politics." "The biggest change in college baseball today is in finances," Richardson stated. "When I was coaching it was more of a family type of thing," he noted. "Now, since college sports has become more big business with the - salaries and the money from television revenues, the 1 pressure is really on the coaches to produce a winning t team," Richardson commented. Asked what were his fondest memories on and off the field, Richardson pondered then replied. "It was rewarding to see 2 that we could progress in four years to where we were able to t compete with the best teams in the NCAA," and being able to * see where his players are now and what they are doing. Richardson concluded the interview in retrospect emphazing that his time at the University of South Carolina as, ! SIX 01 ltleiw?st enjoyable years of my life. " uttiSSSBB&BSUB^^^^^i^l^^^^S^S^SSSmi^^^ri > M$M?$ si wyaw -. ?1 IflPlI18| ' |)tki * m ' ' ' I . '"_JbWR >Iw v ^ * W* ^lN3ji?yr~^^ I 1 ill I IPS'- . 5 hard to back last year's record up." '