Rice Memories: Andrew Rooker
8/20/2020 1:58:00 PM | Baseball, Blog
"Rice had a very low budget for the baseball program at that time," Rooker said. "Our head coach, Doug Osborn, was also the head coach of the girls' basketball team at St. John's High School. As a result of his basketball job, Coach Osborn could not make our baseball practices a couple of times a week. As team captain, I ran the practices.
"The highlight of my three year varsity baseball career was definitely our one and only victory over No. 1 ranked Texas (3-2 at home on March 11, 1967). I caught the final out in centerfield and have had the ball on my desk for 53 years (see picture). After this game, we were 9-0 and nationally ranked. Even though we were undefeated we didn't have the depth to sustain it as three of our best players - Doug Nicholson, Hugo Hollas and Frankie Mandola - were also on football scholarship and their new head coach, Bo Hagan, required them to play spring football.
"I recall two memorable plays. One was against Texas, but this time it was in Austin. The old Clark Field in the middle of the UT campus, had a home run fence, but left field had a 20 foot cliff and the home run fence was at the top of the cliff. Anyone who hit the ball on top of the cliff, even though the ball didn't go over the fence, could literally walk around the bases with an inside the park home run. Sure enough, one of the Texas players hit one on top of the cliff (but not over the fence) and began his jog around the bases for a home run. Our left fielder, Jim Woodruff, who unbeknownst to us had unusual climbing skills, scaled the cliff, retrieved the ball and threw out the astonished Texas player at third base!
"The other play was in a home game against TCU. With two out in the bottom of the ninth, I was on third base with the scored tied 1-1. Ronnie Waldo, an All-SWC player for us was at the plate. I decided I would try to steal home. I made a dash for home yelling at Waldo not to swing. I slid head-first into home plate and felt someone fall on top of me. I looked up at the TCU catcher who was bleeding and unconscious. Waldo had ignored my admonition and swung at the pitch and as the catcher leaned forward to catch the ball and tag me, Waldo accidentally hit him in the back of the head. I was ruled safe and we won 2-1! The catcher had a headache, but was otherwise ok.
"From a personal standpoint, the highlights of my Rice career included being selected First Team All-Southwest Conference centerfielder as a sophomore, being unanimously voted team captain as a senior, and being elected as the University's Senior Class President.
"My advice to would be student-athletes is the same advice I would give to any young persons who want to succeed," Rooker added. "Be the best you can be, in all that you do. Try to make a difference each day. Work harder than your competition. Don't take a day off because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Respect and love your parents. Be kind to those around you. We all know the difference between right and wrong, you will never be wrong if you do what's right."