Page 12
THE BATTALION
FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1961
Texas A&M’s Billy Cannon slides safely into second base
with a stolen base against the Oklahoma City Chiefs Tuesday
afternoon. After stealing that base in the third inning of the
nightcap of the double-header, Cannon scored on a wild pitch.
The Aggies, after winning game one of the twinbill 7-6 with
Cannon adapting
to University scene
By GAYE DENLEY
Battalion Reporter
Hattalion Hcportcr
Last June, Billy Cannon Jr. was
working in Yankee Stadium, visit
ing with Yankee players, and gen
erally getting his first glimpse of
what was to be a career with one of
professional baseball’s most pre
stigious organizations.
On July 30, following an unex
pected turn of events, Cannon was
signing a letter of intent with
Texas A&M University, postpon
ing his future in professional base-
ball.
“I had a pretty good deal with
the Yankees. They have one of the
best clubs in baseball,” Cannon
said. “But I’m happy I’m here now
— going to college, getting an
education.”
Now a freshman shortstop on
the Aggie baseball team, Cannon
decided to sign with Texas A&M
after baseball commissioner
Bowie Kuhn threw a curve into his
professional aspirations.
Based on an infringement of
major league rules governing the
draft procedure, Kuhn nullified
New York’s choice of Cannon in
the third round of the draft.
Sr., had won the Heisman trophy
as a running back in 1959.
After a semester at Texas A&M,
Billy Jr. said he is convinced he
made a wise decision.
He was impressed with Aggie
football and Aggie spirit, he said,
after witnessing Texas A&M de
feat the University of Texas, 13-7,
on December 1, 1979.
The next time the Aggies faced
Texas, Cannon was suited up in
maroon and white, playing as a
wide receiver.
“Where I come from —
Louisiana — they didn’t have tra
ditions at all,” Cannon said, re
flecting on his first impressions of
Texas A&M. “This is all new to
Since no other teams made
Cannon an offer comparable to the
Yankees’, Cannon decided to tem
porarily shelve his plans for pro
fessional ball and attend college
instead.
The next big decision was
where to attend — Texas A&M,
whose facilities and coaching staff
had impressed the young athlete,
or Louisiana State University,
where his father, Billy Cannon
A graduate of Broadmoor High
School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
Cannon plans to major in building
and construction before going on
to a career in baseball.
Despite his father’s background
in football, which includes a pro
fessional career with Oakland,
Kansas City and Houston, Cannon
feels no real pressure to follow in
Billy Sr.’s footsteps.
“My favorite game is baseball,”
Cannon said. “My father’s was
football. ”
Cannon’s parents have been
staunch supporters of all his deci
sions regarding baseball and col
lege, he said. They shared in his
disappointment when the New
York deal fell through, but were
very supportive of his decision to
attend Texas A&M.
If the Yankees are the losers in
the Billy Cannon Jr. ball game,
then the Aggies are the winners.
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BLOOD DRIVE ^
IS COMING!! 7*
April 20-23
*
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Baseball team travels
to face Cougars for 3
By RICHARD OLIVER
Battalion Staff
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
That’s exactly what the Texas A&M University
baseball team will do this weekend as it tries to
improve on a dismal 2-4 Southwest Conference re
cord against the Houston Cougars, 3-6, at Cougar
Stadium in Houston.
The first game of the series is today at 3 p.m. A
double-header will be played Saturday beginning at
1 p.m. Action can be followed on KAGC radio, 1510
AM.
Outside of league play, however, the Aggies are
18-6, including a four-game sweep of the feisty Okla
homa City Chiefs Monday and Tuesday despite little
or no fan turnout.
stop spot. David Kennard (.338) was tried atst
stop during the OCU series and responded wel*
Clint Heard (.318) at second base
This may mean the absence of one of two I
fielders, current right fielder Kevin Smith (,28j|
current center fielder Terry Lawrence (.303)
the lineup, however.
The infield third base spot is also up in the
late, as Tim Boyes (.317) and junior college t
Grant Priess (.303) battle for the starting posi
that Boyes has held most of the year. Both s
duties at that position Monday and Tuesday
l/ol. 74 Nc
4 Pages
Staff photo by Greg Gammon
two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, also won the
second game 7-0 behind the pitching of David Flores. The
Aggies, 20-10, play the University of Houston, 17-15, in Hous
ton today at 3 p.m.
Last weekend, the Ags took a 2-1 SWC record to
Fort Worth and threw their best pitchers against
TCU. The result was disastrous as the red-hot
Homed Frogs, who have won 18 of their last 20,
whipped Texas A&M three straight, the first time in
10 years the Aggies have been swept in a three-game
set.
The losses make every SWC contest crucial for the
Aggies as they battle for a berth in the four-team
SWC post-season tourney in May at the University of
Texas.
The season has been one oflarge contrasts for the
Aggies. In SWC play the team has an excellent 2.94
ERA, but the hitting is hurting with a team .192
average.
Outside of league play, the pitching staff has a
mediocre 4plus ERA, but team batting is a torrid
.308, with seven Texas A&M regulars batting above
.300.
Rodney Hodde, the senior team leader, is batting
.398 and leads the team with five home runs. Versa
tile left fielder J.P. Bramhall has done an excellent
job as lead-off man in the Ag batting order, averaging
.381 at the plate with 38 walks and 15 stolen bases.
Texas A&M Head Coach Tom Chandler has done
some occasional juggling of his lineup and batting
order, and a possible change may put Billy Cannon
Jr. (.247) in the outfield, away from his usual short-
At catcher, regular Joey Szekely is having«
difficulties at the plate, batting .264, butafinelu
up has emerged in Mark Magee, who contribn
several key base hits in the OCU series
grand slam to his credit this year (against Samlfc
ton State).
Szekely s power and potential will probably b
him behind the plate.
The Aggie pitching is finally coming around s;
sophomore David Flores, 3-2 and junior Slf
Davis, 3-0, providing the best performances.
Flores two-hit the Chiefs through six inng
Tuesday afternoon and shut down the HornedFn
on one earned run last Friday despite losing!
contest, 4-1.
Davis, who had a mediocre year last year alia
fine freshman year, has been the most impra
hurler for the Aggies lately, no-hitting the Cl
through four innings Monday before finishingw|
four-hitter.
The sophomore jinx has hit 1980 SWC New
of the Year Robert Slavens. Slavens finished
season with an 11-1 record, but is only 1-2
season.
The other member of the starting staff,
Luecken, has compiled an expected 5-1 record
3.34 ERA thus far. He will start today aginsl
Cougars.
Although Chandler has gone with Lueclia
Slavens and Flores on the mound as his starterstli
far, the sudden emergence of Davis and righthani
Bobby Taylor, 3-1, make the third starter spo!
toss-up going into this weekend’s series
When you need $65 fast,
you find out who your friends are.
Martha L
Mary Stul
games at t
Graduating Senj
b to vote i n t l
Selections, will
'oeast their ball,
Lowenbrau. Here’s to good friends.
© 1981 Beer brewed in l J S A hu Minor Rroumnn Pnmn
1981 Beer brewed in U S A. by Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wiscons*'
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