Oct. 24, 2002
This is another "B" Line column, a periodic collection of news items of particular interest to members of the Baylor "B" Association. Contribute news about you or your teammates via e-mail to Lee Harrington (leenelaine@281.com), Dutch Schroeder (Dutch_Schroeder@baylor.edu), Reba Cooper (Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES - When members of the 1977 and 1978 Baylor baseball teams come together this weekend to be honored at Homecoming, perhaps the proudest person in attendance will be their coach, Mickey Sullivan. He took each of the teams to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., a level of excellence not reached by any Baylor teams before or since. "They were close-knit groups, really good guys and most graduated in four years," Sullivan recalls. He also points out that team members' collective ability to hit breaking pitches accounted for much of their success. "Hitting the curve is the biggest challenge for college players," Sullivan explained. "And those guys could do it well." The combined teams will have a Friday-night dinner in the "B" Association Room and on Saturday will participate in the Homecoming parade and be introduced at the Baylor-Kansas State football game . . . The 1977 team entered the World Series with a 43-15 record and lost its first two games in heart-breaking fashion. First, the Bears dropped a 10-inning game to South Carolina, 3-2, and next fell to Minnesota, 4-3, in 11 innings. The 1978 squad took a 32-17 record to Omaha but once again was eliminated after its first two games, losing to Michigan, 4-0, and Miami, 12-1 . . .
TO THE BIG LEAGUES - Five players from the teams being honored made it to the major leagues while others were drafted by the pros but never signed contracts. Perhaps the most promising member of the 1977 team was shortstop Steve Macko, who played two seasons for the Chicago Cubs before dying of cancer. "He was a great guy and a great player," Sullivan remembers. "He was the All-American shortstop in 1977 and beat out Paul Molitor, who played against us for Minnesota." Molitor, of course, will likely make his way into the Baseball Hall of Fame after getting more than 3,000 hits in 21 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Other 1977-78 Bears who played in the big leagues were pitcher Andy Beene (Milwaukee, 1983-84), pitcher Jaime Cocanower (Milwaukee, 1983-86), infielder Fritz Connally (Chicago Cubs, 1982; Baltimore, 1985) and pitcher Jon Perlman (Chicago Cubs, 1985; San Francisco, 1987; Cleveland, 1988). In addition to Macko, one other player from the Southwest Conference championship squads is deceased. He is Mike Wells, who lettered four years (1975-78) as a Baylor outfielder . . . Sullivan coached Baylor baseball teams for 21 seasons, winning 649 games and losing 428 for a winning percentage of .603. In addition to being named SWC Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1978, Sullivan also was presented the honors in 1985, 1988 and 1991 . . .
THOMAS EVERETT TIME - If you are in the stands for Saturday's game be prepared to focus on the BaylorVision screen at the end of the first quarter. The featured player will be Thomas Everett, one of the most celebrated gridiron performers in Baylor's history. The Daingerfield native lettered at Baylor from 1983 through 1986, making the All-America team as a safety in his senior year. While at Baylor he starred in the 1985 Liberty Bowl (Baylor 21, LSU 7) and 1986 Bluebonnet Bowl (Baylor 21, Colorado 9). Named to an All-Decade Team (1980-89), Everett was chosen in the fourth round of the 1987 National Football League draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After five seasons in Steel Town, Everett moved to Dallas and helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII (Dallas 52, Buffalo 17) and Super Bowl XXVIII (Dallas 30, Buffalo 13). Everett played in the 1993 Pro Bowl and ended his career by playing two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Everett was the winner of a Jim Thorpe Award and entered the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. The BaylorVision tributes at each home game promote the Bears' current Locker-Room Legacy fund-raising campaign. Letter winners and others who participated in BU athletics should watch their mailboxes for an attractive brochure describing the unique program. Also enclosed in the mailings are letters from Athletic Director Tom Stanton and accompanying notes from some of Baylor's head coaches . . .
JACK LOFTIS
CO-CHAIRMAN
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE . . .
