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DON SCHNEIDERDisillusionedyoung manDick Jaquez, thoroughly disillusioned, has returned from the baseball wars.The ex-Santa Clara High (Oxnard) athlete, who was signed off the Denver University campus by Houston's Astros last summer, decided it was time to pull out after a number of unhappy incidents.“Among other things, they reneged on promises,’’ he said shortly alter his return from Florida. “They didn't give me a fair shake at all.”After signing last summer. Houston kept him under wraps (playing him in intra-squad games only) so that other clubs wouldn't get a look at him and possibly draft him away during the off-season.★ ★ ★When he reported for spring training, the Astros informed him he would be a first baseman. Jaquez, who stands 5-9, asked to he given a crack at an outfield position.I know there’s no future for me at first base not at my height.” he said. “But they insisted I play first base They said they had enough outfielders.’’★ ★ ★Dick, who was CIF (California Interscholastic Fedporation) player of the year as a pitcher for Santa Clara in 1960, has had experience at both first base and theoutfield.Although he did well at first and pitching in college ball, he ruled out his chances of making it at either spot in the majors. Always a good hitter, he was signed by the Astros mainly because of his stick work. Not abig man, the 168-pound Jaquez surprised every coach he played for with his power. He holds the Denver U. single-season home run record.★ ★ ★From the time he started spring training, there had been “differences of opinion as to where to send me and what position I should play,” he said, “f was doing O.K. with Amarillo (triple-A club)when they decided to drop me a notch to the double-A club. That was O.K. But, while I was doing finethere, it w-as decided I should he sent to Salisbury.“Now, that’s as far down as you can go.” he added “I was willing, but not as a first baseman. ( I said I'd gladly go as an outfielder.” '★ ★ ★ 1The club said no. That did it for him—the final ’blow of many blows. He informed them he would head t1/for home.He asked for his release but the club balked. It 1 was two days before the Astros finally handed him r the release. With that, he became a free agent and is r free to sign with another club.“Trouble was they didn’t want to do me any good.” £ he said. ‘If I thought they were trying to do me some ^ good I would have gladly staved they wouldn’t even £ say they'd give me a raise if I had real good season r Dick has not let his experience with Houston sour him on pro baseball. He still hasn't ruled out his chances for a big league career. “I might see if I can get a try- j out with one of the clubs out here, he said.★ ★ ★Unlike most young men who sign pro baseball f contracts. Dick has something to fall hack on. Hr needs just one more semester of study to get his teaching credential. He has already done some substitute teaching in Oxnard schools.★ ★ ★If he decides to return to college rather than con- c tmue his efforts in pro ball, he said he would probably £ go to the University of California at Santa Barbara He c would then teach either here or in Denver. ►The 22-year-old Jaquez hopes to eventually become jja high school coach.Determination has always been one of Dick’s chiefBCHmrassets. When a 5-7, 145-pound prep athlete, he was playing first-string in three sports. He was a pitcher-out-fielder in baseball, a guard in basketball, and a quarter-jo! back in football. He made All-CIF in both baseball andi.ncbasketball.★ ★ ★Because of that determination, plus the fact he °has responsibilities (a wife, Pam, and three-year-old son, Dicky), I’ll bet on his success on whatever road he decides to take — pro hasehall or school teach- 32Tlt;A (s ring.He can’t go wrong. Both are mighty fine professions.• «cRSI
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