The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-07-27
of TIMES
Colleges
striking out
BY LOU FABRO
Times Sports Editor

Its sad, but colleges are striking out in their efforts
to attract-and retain-top baseball talent. Under present
conditions, professional baseball is just too tough an ad-
versary for them.
Major league baseball offers excitement, fame and
fortune TO those talented enough to make the grade. These
ingredients are more than enough to sway a young ball
player. When you sWeeten the picture with a big, fat
bonus, a pro baseball contract is well nigh irresistible.
LURED BY PROFESSIONAL BASEBALLS "pot-o-
gold" countless diamond stars abandon the college cam
pus every year to enter the pro ranks. Others never make
1t to college even though they're offered attractive ath-
letic grants as we'll as an education. Instead. they sign
pro contracts before the ink is dry on their high school
diplomas.
Is this bad?
1t is when you consider a college education is a high
ly valued possession in this day and age and the vast ma
jority of these players never will return to school. Taking
the athletic viewpoint, it's more than obvious that col
lege baseball coaches are unhappy with the situation be-
cause it deprives them of most of the best talent.
Major league bigWigs, even though they're anxious
to corral the best talent at any cost, apparently haven't
been too comfortable about the situation. 1t is suspected,
however, that they're more concerned about their public
image"
TO ILLUSTRATE HIS LATTER POINT, baseball's
major-domos hammered out a new rule last winter which
they said would curb bonus payments to untried players.
Ut was estimated that major league teams spent be-
tween $ 8 million and $40 million on bonuses last year,
Under this rule, a bonus player would be subject to
a draft by another team after one year in organized base
ball. To avoid this, the rule says, the club that signed the
player is required to keep him on its roster for an entire
second season.
Since major league teams are limited to 25 players,
It's OBVIOUS they can't AFFORD more Ln3n a couple O II un-
tested players on the squad at one time. AS a result, this
rule was ~ballyhooed as an ideal vehicle to cut down an
nual bonus OUTLAWS by 40 percent.
EVENTS IN RECENT MONTHS, HOWEVER, makes
one wonder. Indications are that major league clubs are
ignoring the risk of the new rule and are pouring out
cash by the carload for high school and college stars. eve
might note here that quoted bonus figures often are in
flated)
Competition for top talent has been so fierce that a
priest serving as faculty athletic moderator at Santa
Clara University Embossed a bitter verbal attack against
what he termed ruthless, persistent" big league scouts.
Father James 4. SWeeters characterized scouts as
men who promise the almighty dollar, glory, security,
the moon" and who "are willing and eager to do any
thing to have college students sign on the dotted line"
HIS BROADSIDE CAME AFTER THE HOUSTON
Colts signed Santa Clara shortstop Ernie FaZio for a re-
ported 100000. Fazio was a junior. A week later, San
Francisco grabbed off Santa Clara sophomore pitcher
Bob Garibaldi for a reported sum of $150000.
Actually, you can't fault high school or college stars
for jumping at fat offers, especially If their families are
pressed financially. Moreover, all star athletes aren't
equipped mentally for college studies-a fact brought out
very clearly in the 1960-61 basketball scandals. And col
lege recruiting practices-in football and basketball
haven't been simon-pure either.
However, athletes who have the mental equipment
not only should be encouraged TO go on to college, but to
complete their studies. Despite the temptations, major
league teams should restrain their campus raids.
N OF THE BEST WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH this is
10 adopt the practice of pro football and basketball. Name
~. a college player cant be signed until his class is
graduated.
AS former Brooklyn Dodger star Pee Wee Reese ex-
pressed it last week: IF he's good enough to play right
now, then he'll be good enough to play when he gets out
OF school,