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West jhter t big ut of ; the : bat. ping is atnder. rain-two* II 20. ing I e the ? last ng of on at nuch I the ng to con-ell.adi-ope 1 of the y of are Ich-rdyrca-sent nphis Puer-yala: year, it my y. He j can those Id be ind ofinded nt by lete a Mon-flight-:.\pos' id not A 9-1 9 1971 * was nager tk Joe ice in I’ve uilder a guy i-you y androm d a 4-1 1 20 this one hey wn on ded site-s ini as a i auto is at-tcher izcule acci-i that u t his hen I when th mvIV K rland opener for for a I. I I.l* lied anag-langenn 1)Rob Andrews Has Big League Plan For Family NameBy RAY BUCKROCHESTER. N. Y.-Just as baseball’s fraternal order of owners turns its no-nonsense back on Mike Andrews, unemployed and silting at home in Peabody, Mass., another Andrews stands ready to pick up the family name.Meet Rob Andrews. 21-year-old rookie second baseman of the Rochester Red Wings.He's the younger brother of Mike, the former Red Sox and White Sox second baseman who was the central figure in the 1973 World Series controversy in which Oakland Owner Charlie Finley fired him for his two errors in one inning of Game No. 2. Finley was ordered to reinstate Andrews, then released him during the winter.“I DON’T KNOW if Mike was really blackballed, but he was labeled,” said Rob. who is 10 years younger than his brother. “He went to two doctors this winter, had complete physicals and passed them both. He sent out letters to just about every team in the majors and-it was kinda funny-they all came back sounding about the same: 'Sorry, wc have an abundance of infielders.'Mike really got a bum break.” continued the young second baseman. obviously moved. ”1 was hurt by what happened to him. I look up to him like any little brother looks up to his big brother. He’s kind of an idol to me. He's my inspiration to play this game.Rob is fresh, eager and insists his outlook on baseball hasn't been tarnished by the politics involving his brother. Suddenly, he’s just one step away from the major leagues.I want to play good defense in Rochester and do my job of moving the runner, said Andrews, a righlhanded hitter who is extremely adept at hitting behind the runner.I LIKE TO think of myself us a singles hitter, maybe a doubles hitter, he continued. I give myself up a lot of times. That's part of my game. I’m no home-run hitter. I get the same amount of satisfaction moving the runner along as I do out of getting a hit. Just the satisfaction of doing my job.My brother and I are a lot the same type of players-team players. We're not going to be the big stick-outs on the ball club. People aren't going to come to the ball park to see me move a runner over. I'm just there.”He realizes that isn’t the kind of player who makes the big money, either. Definitely not,” he acknowledged. “I’ve accepted that. It’s like the lineman in football.”But Rob might be selling himself short. He wasn’t too inconspicuous his first days in the International League, going 6-for-l 1 the first four games with three stolen bases in three attempts.IRONICALLY. IT'S his roommate and double-play partner, shortstop Bobby Bailor, who has the reputation for stealing bases-but Rob has the jump on the whole league.He pul together a super season last year at Asheville (Southern) both at the plate and in the field:He led the league in hitting (.309) and was one of only six .300 hitlers in the Baltimore Orioles’ minor league system last season. He alsotopped the league in hits (167) and was second only to Tommy Davis (169) in the Orioles’ chain.Andrews led the league in runs scored (98) and was tops in the entire organization. He had 80 RBIs while batting in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Teamed with Bailor, they topped the league in double plays (141).Triple A is all new to me,” he continued. If 1 hit .285, I'll be pleased with myself. I'm an extreme streak hitter. I'll go 0-for-20, then turn around and go 15-for-20. But I’ve learned that it all averages out in the end.Rob graduated from South Torrance (Calif.) High School where he was a center fielder and running back in football. He went to El Camino Junior College to play football. and it was there that his coaches told him, You could go to any college you want and play when you get done with junior college.He was a 5-11, 170-pound strong safety. He went through summer practice, played in two scrimmages but then decided to sign a pro contract with the Orioles. His first year, at Stockton. Rob was converted into a second baseman.ANDREWS’ FIRST time in the Orioles’ camp was this spring and he went 2-for-9 with a home run and double-so much for being a singles hitter. He hit his homer against the Texas Rangers and called it The best ball I've ever hit in pro ball.The immediate obstacle, of course, is Bobby Grich, a 25-year-old second baseman that the Orioles feel someday will achieve super-star status.Rob remains intent on doing his job in Triple A. Mike never has seen him play. When Rob was going through Little League. American Legion, Babe Ruth and high school. Mike was coming up through the minors and playing with the Red Sox. Then when Rob was beginning his pro career, Mike was with the White Sox.Mike has promised to catch his little brother when the team plays in nearby Pawtucket, R. I., and Rob would like to have something to show him.Rob Andrews
Newspaper Details
St Louis Sporting News
St Louis, Missouri, US
Sat, May 11, 1974
Page 32
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