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Will Bus-Key
A Big Season?
By Kevin Spiegel
There are some people today who
feel that baseball players have no desire
for "helping out" high school and college
players. Think about it: why should
players, who are making millions of
dollars, even care about anyone else?
After receiving a call from the
athletic department, I made my way
over to the gym to check out the Penn
State Capitol baseball team, and their
assitant coach. He's tall and slender with
a very strong build—he's former major
leaguer Tom Buskey. Huddled around
him are pitchers and catchers of the .
Capitol baAeball team involved in winter
training for the upcoming 1982 season.
With all the weather problems of
late, Buskey feels, "Capitol is just a little
behind schedule, and pitchers and catch
ers need all the time they can get."
During the team's practice, Buskey is
seen running with the team, and even
participating in the pitcher's drills , at
practice. He enjoys the workout, and
"helping out" because, "if it wasn't for
somebody in my career who took the
time 'and Buskey concluded.
Capitol's first game is almost a month
away, March 20 vs. Rutgers, Camden at
Capitol, and "now is the time for all
young men to come of age." If they are
ready to play now, and in shape before
the actual season starts, then hopefully a
productive season will follow.
Buskey spent lour-and-a-half years in
the minors before being drafted by the
New York Yankees in 1969. Then he was
traded to Cleveland and later to the
Toronto Blue Jays where he "officially
retired in 1981." He never made the BIG
money other ballplayers are currently
making, but then again, Tom Buskey is
not a household name.
He left the Yankees right before the
Steinbrenner Era. George Steinbrenner,
proprietor of the Yanks, is a man who is
willing to pay any price for perfection, a
la Winfield. Recently John Denny of the
Cleveland Indians turned down a con
tract offer from the Yanks and Buskey
The sign from
feels he knows why. "People seem to
think money is everything-yes it's nice,
but knowing that you're playing with
somebody other than your teammmates
who care about you as a human being is
nice. It is a sport and a business, not the
way Steinbrenner does it."
Steinbrenner is a multi-millionaire, -
so money is not a problem for him. He
lures free agents into the big apple, and
pays them handsomely. "The man re
wards you if you do a job right, but the
constant looking over your shoulder, and
getting on you for every mistake is
ridiculous. If I had the chance to sign
with the Yanks (under Steinbrenner) I
would not sign a contract," Buskey
added.
If a player is making $lOO,OOO a year,
he is considered making the average
salary for players. Rookies must be
payed $42,000 in their first year. Re
cently George Foster signed a five-year
$lO million contract with the Mets, and
he's not even the highest paid ballplayer.
Buskey feels,"lf the organization cares
for you, they'll reward you. But no
ballplayer is worth $lOO,OOO, no actor is
worth $lOO,OOO, but if the money is
there...go for it! There are always two
signatures on a paycheck--yours and the
owners'."
Is major league coaching in Tom
Buskey's future? "Yes," he says,"but
there would have to be some stipula
tions. I would want control of my team.
If I was a pitching coach, I would have to
able to express my own opinion
toward pitchers."
The Capitol baseball team was 6-14
last season, but with the acquisition of
two new teams, Alvernia and Cabrini,
the competition should be even better.
The first game is right around the
corner, so check it out! Coach Ron
Melchiorre and Tom Buskey head up a
fine team this season. As for Buskey,
he'll continue to run, lift, and throw
to stay in shape, and maybe if per
suaded, he'll come out of retirement and
pitch for the Phillies (who desperately
need pitching arms).
stands just says it all.
Reader Photo by Kevin Spiegel
BLUE DIVISION
Maddogs . 5 0
Coal Crackers 4 1
Death nflr'es 2 .3
Jr. Sr. Clam 1 4
Makohns Roots 0 4
Nightrider's Forfeited season due to
non-payment of entry fee
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Bombers .1
Post Toasties
Pipe Dreams
Mixed Vegetables
The Bookworms
Flying Spikers
The Party's Over
Don't Leave It To Beaver
ity Kevin Spiegel
The sign read "Capitol, Don't leave it
to Beaver," and the stands were full of
spectators who were eager for the start
of the upcoming game between Beaver
College and Penn State Capitol.
There have not been that many big
basketball games in Capitol history.
Take for example last year, about this
time, Capitol needed to beat Beaver
College to advance into the playoffs. But
they lost. Well, one year later, the lions
ousted the knights from any further play
this season as they blew away Beaver
63-49. It was, perhaps, the biggest win of
the season, or was it? Coach Dan Phillips
explains, "No I don't think so, I think
some of our losses might have been
bigger games for us. Losing to Juniata
by twelve was big, because they beat the
number twelve in the country, Blooms
burg."
The record of Capitol may not be that
impressive, but their determination and
hustle is what impresses Coach Phillips.
Flatley, Portz, Gaudi, Holtz, Stokes,
Haller, Brady and Smith are not house
hold names around campus but they are
the Penn State Capitol Campus basket
, ball team. In the last issue of the C.C.
Reader the varsity basketball article
was headlined "YES, There is a Basket
ball Team," for the reason that students
arenot showing any interest toward the
team. Eight guys who enjoy the game
give up their studying time to partici
pate in basketball. The apathy amongst
the students is unreal. Granted that
there are some loyal followers of the
team, and they have been through a
helluva season. But they stuck it out.
When I wandered through the locker
room to talk to the players, each of them
thanked me for coming, as they always
do. Even though their record is dismal
Coach Phillips and Company send out
five guys to face the best of teams game
after game. At least fan support might
help the , team's morale.
Capitoliz
ICY 11 ~ ; ,~ J ~ . = ~ ~! Y ~.: _:y
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Ca pitol-
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The Zoo .
Hershey Outcasts
Salty Da
Autistk Children
Trianide
Naeye
WHITE DIVISION
Naeye
The Zoo
The Bears
Faber
Bombers II
V-1-P's
Capitol Cubs
The game started out as the-teams
swapped baskets with each team having
a het man. The knights had Mike Adolph
(12 pts.) and the lions had John Portz (14
pts. in the first half) to keep the teams
close.,The lions ended the first half with
a two-point lead, 28-26. One half to go
and the lions led by two. What's the
second half strategy? Senior guard Portz
explaiins, "we wanted to stay patient,
and get a good shot, just like in the first
half."
At intermission Maddogs GM Tony
Beccone, gave the halftime announce
ments and led a thunderous cheer as
the lions re-entered Smitley Auditorium.
It started-out as a typical 2nd half. SIQW
pace, and missing the basket seemed
inevitible once again. But when the chips
are down--find the hot man. This time
junior forward Lee Holtz started an
awesome attack on the knights, and put
Capitol ahead by nine with ten minutes
to play. Would fate come back once
again? Would Holtz stay hot? What
happens if he gets cold? Who do you give
the ball To? The answers are no, yes, he
didn't, give it to anyone, they just
couldn't miss!
The big.play of the game came after
Jim Flatley stole the ball, and outletted
to junior guard Charlie Stokes who beat
his man for the basket and the foul. And
folk, after that it was "Good Night
Irene." As a famous New York Sports
caster says, "It's garbage time."
So it was an impressive win for the
lions, and one they deservedly wanted to
win. Holtz led Capitol with 19 points.
Portz. contributed 18 while Greg Gaudi
added 12 points for the lions. The
knights were led by Frank Zaccone who
poured in 19 points of his own, and
teammate Tom McCollum netted 14
points in Closing cause.
Finally fellow students, if you missed
the game, it was a fine offensive and
defensive showing- by Capitol. Now we
know that there really HI a basketball
team!
F•1 1 !FI