Changing Positions
Spring training and the early part of a baseball season are the times
for experimenting. Some of the experiments involve the pitching rota
tion, and others are adjustments in strategy that the team will use in cer
tain game situations.
But as far as individuals are concerned, nothing is more dramatic than
when the manager calls a player into his office and says, “We want to
try you at a new position.”
Some players get upset when asked to learn a new position, but many
times it is the best thing for their career. It certainly was for me. I started
out as a shortstop, but after a year of pro ball, the powers-that-be wanted
me to change.
There were several good reasons for making the switch. First of all, I
wasn't a very good shortstop. I could catch the ball, but the way 1 threw
was suspect. Too many of my throws ended up in the dirt.
Another major reason was that the Braves already had an outstanding
shortstop in Johnny Logan, who was still in his prime. There was an
other kid in the minors with me by the name of Felix Mantilla, who was
a better position player. Moving me to the outfield got me to the major
leagues quicker than if I had been playing behind those two. Speeding
up progress to the majors is an argument most young players can under
stand, and I was no exception.
Some moves are harder than others. Going from the outfield to the
infield is tough because the throws are different and the movement is
different. But it varies from position to position. For example, some
players can manage third base but can’t play any of the other infield
spots. A third baseman may not be a good fielder, but he can knock
down balls hit to him and still throw out the runner. But you’ve got to
have a good fielder at shortstop, and the first baseman has got to be able
to field the ball.
A player also increases his value to a team by increasing his versatil
ity. A manager loves to have a player who can move from second base to
shortstop to the outfield and not embarrass himself or the manager. Ver
satility has kept many players in the major leagues.
Although Tm best known for my years in right field, I was something
of a jack-of-all trades. I could play all three positions in the oqtfield and
in an emergency, 1 could be called on to move to the infield.
I never regretted changing positions. Moving to the outfield allowed
me to concentrate more on hitting. I doubt that I would have hit nearly
as many home runs as a shortstop, lil
Hank Aaron is the top home run hitter of all time with 7SS homers. A member of
baseball’s Hall of Fame, Hank is vice president of the Atlanta Braves.
©1989. PM Editorial Services
Thursday, >^)rU 13, 1989 - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Page 9B
Crawford Signs CFL Pact
HICKORY — James Crawford,
a four-year standout tailback for
the Lenolr-Rhyne football team,
has signed a contract with the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the
Canadian Football League.
Crawford eigreed to terras with
Winnipeg and signed on Mon
day, April 3. Details of the con
tract were not disclosed.
Crawford becomes the first
Bear football player to sign with
a professional team since wide
receiver Terence Steward Inked
a free agent contract with the
Dallas Cowboys In 1986. _Craw-
ford Is projected as a runnlSg
back and kickoff returner for the
Blue Bombers.
A native of Chariotte, Crawford
led the bears In rushing and
scoring each of the last three
seasons, becoming the first
Bear ever to accomplish that
feat. Crawford Is also the only
Bear grldder to be listed among
the all-time L-R leaders In both
rushing (sixth) and receiving
(10th). He rushed for over 2,500
yards, caught 55 passes, and
scored 31 touchdowns during
his time with the Bears.
A team captain and All-SAC-8
performer as a senior, Crawford
will graduate this May with a
double major In psychology and
sociology.
"We are very excited that
James Is getting this opportuni
ty to further his football career
In the Canadian Football
League," said Bear head coach
John Peny. "James' style of pls^r
Is very well suited for the CFL
and we are certainly proud that
he Is getting this chance."
Crawford's CFL opportunity
arose after he attended a tryout
camp with over 100 participants
In Atlanta during Jrmuary. Win
nipeg, the 1987 Grey Cup cham
pions, contacted Crawford fol
lowing the tryout.
Canadian Football League
teams are limited to 15 non-
Canadian players, known as
'imports'. Crawford reports to
camp in mid-June.
Hornets To Treat Fans At
Season Finale April 21
In observance of the final
home game of the Inaugural
Charlotte Hornets National
Basketball Association season,
and to honor the fans who sup
ported the team In record num
bers, the Hornets are planning
FANtastlc FANale on April 21,
Hornets Vice President and
General Manager Carl Scheer
announced today.
The day-long celebration will
Include the official proclama
tion of Teal Day In Charlotte by
Mayor Sue Myrlck and an even
ing of festivities at the Charlotte
Coliseum where the Hornets will
face the Milwaukee Bucks In the
last hcxne game of the year.
"We may not have made the
playoffs In our first year, but we
still won a championship."
Scheer said. "Thanks to our
great fans, we have established
our place In history, leading the
league In attendance this sea
son."
When the sellout crowd of
23,388 enters the turnstiles for
the 7:40 p.m. tlpoff. It will make
official the Hornets' attendance
championship for the 1988-89
season. It ^1 mark the first
time a m^or league expansion
team has fed Its sport In atten
dance in Its charter season.
Additionally, the nearly
950,000 who filled the Charlotte
Coliseum this year falls second
only to the Detroit Pistons, who
placed just over 1 million In
their final season In the Pontiac
Sllverdome last season.
'This franchise was met by
considerable skepticism from
the national media about mar
ket size and piopulation. Many
said the team would not draw
well because of the strong ties to
college basketball In this area,"
Scheer sadd. "The fans have
proven them wrong. This is a
major accomplishment on their
part.
"For their efforts, we will desig
nate the Charlotte Hornets fans
as the team's ofilcial Sixth man."
Through the proclamation of
Teal Day on .^rll 21, Charlot-
teans will be encouraged to wear
teal to work and school during
the day as a prelude to the ex
citement that will take place
that evening at the coliseum.
Activities will begin In the park
ing lot with live entertainment,
games, prizes and remote radio
broadcasts with participating
stations sponsoring a Best Ban
ner Contest from which finalists
will be selected and displayed
during the game. There will also
be a most Creative Hornets ftin
Costume contest.
On the concourse wlU be live
music and a carnival-llke at
mosphere will be purveyed.
Fans will have the opportunity
to register to win valuable priz
es, Including a car, which wfil be
awarded throughout the even
ing.
The Beginimig Of The End
PtieM/CALVM FenOUtON
fio Bo Brooks (right) starts to tall after a Kelvin Seabrooks barrage to
the midsection in bantamweight boxing action last week at True Leg
ends restauant. Seabrooks, who was fighting for the first time In nine
months, scored a technical knockout in the fourth round to run his
record to 26-14. Although Brooks landed several good shots early,
Seabrooks, the former International Boxing Federation bantam
weight champion, came on to score well with combinations while
pushing Brooks against the ropes.
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