Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 30, 1990 TAG: 9004300357
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Fortunately, he got his speed from his mother," said Bob Bailey of his son.
"Unfortunately, Bailey I wish I had my dad's bat," said the son. "If I could hit like him and have my speed, I'd already be in the majors."
Instead, Bailey is with the Class A Carolina League Salem Buccaneers, where he is starting his first full minor-league season as a utility infielder. A year ago, he was playing center field at Fullerton Junior College.
Bob Bailey, 47, stood at Salem Municipal Field on Opening Day, giving his switch-hitting son a few batting tips. He is the one-time Pirates "bonus baby" who in 1961 signed for a then-phenomenal record of $175,000. He played 16-plus seasons in the majors, primarily at third base. His father, Paul "Buck" Bailey, was a minor-league infielder in 1939 and '40.
"My dad's dad would have made the majors," Robert Bailey said. "But then he was off to World War II."
As a third-generation professional baseball player, Robert Bailey said there are advantages and disadvantages to having ball-playing parentage.
"I've seen what you have to do to get there, and all of the rewards you get for making it," the Bucs' infielder said. "After my dad retired as a player, he managed in the minors and I spent a lot of time with him. I know what this game is about. The disadvantage is keeping it in the family. My dad's dad, then my dad. Now, it's my turn."
Robert Bailey - his teammates call him "Beetle" after the comics page soldier, just as the guys in the '60s referred to his father - was Pittsburgh's third-round draft choice last summer. He said he got about $110,000 less than his father to sign. He started his career at Welland, Ontario, in the New York-Penn League, hitting .281, but spent most of last season with Class A Augusta, where he batted only .200.
"He was worn out by the end of the season," the elder Bailey said of his son.
Robert Bailey also had just started switch-hitting, and he is still learning. Through 2 1/2 weeks with the Bucs, he is 0-for-19 left-handed and 2-for-9 right-handed for an .071 average.
"At one of his college games last year, a scout asked me what it took my son to get to first base from the right said," Bailey said. "I said it was about average, 4.3 [seconds]. He hit a grounder to short, and got to first in 4-flat. I was stunned.
"If he could hit left-handed, he'd get there faster. Besides, I was never in love with his swing right-handed anyway. After a couple of swings in the batting cage, I knew he should try switch-hitting. There are no major flaws in his swing left-handed."
After retiring as a player, Bob Bailey spent 10 years working in player development. His major-league days were spent with the Pirates, Dodgers, Expos, Reds and Red Sox. He managed seven years in the minors, at all levels, for the White Sox, Astros and Expos. His last season in baseball was 1987, when he managed for the White Sox farm team at Class AAA Hawaii.
"Larry Himes came in [as the White Sox's general manager] and I wasn't one of his guys," Bailey said. "I looked for something else, but I didn't really very hard, maybe not as hard as I should have."
Now, he is a grandfather and retired from the game he admittedly still loves. He said he plays a lot of golf and is involved more in family life than he was when he played.
"I didn't get to spend a lot of time with my dad until I was 10 years old," Robert Bailey said. "We always moved to where my dad was playing, but my mom pretty much raised my two sisters and me. Then, when he started managing in the minors, I went to the ballpark with him all of the time."
The Baileys think differently on the difficulty in reaching the majors in 1960 and 1990.
"It's easier to get to the big leagues now than at any time in the history of the game," said the California retiree. "A lot of that is because of the rules. You can't keep guys in the minors now like you used to be able to. A lot of guys have made it now who I never thought would make it.
"There are a lot more things other people do now, too. When I grew up, if you weren't a ballplayer, you became a doctor or a lawyer. It's not that way anymore."
Robert Bailey couldn't believe his father said that.
"I could be wrong, but I think it's tougher to make the majors now," he said. "There are a lot more players out there, and the game has become so specialized. Pitchers are developing new pitches. Pitchers used to have fastballs, changeups and sliders. Now, there are split-fingers, two-seam fastballs . . . "
The Buccaneer's father agreed that pitching is more sophisticated today.
"We had more hard throwers when I played," Bob Bailey said. "Today, guys have better command of breaking pitches. We had more guys hit with power than today, and I blame the aluminum bat [used in amateur baseball] for that. There's a whole new type of hitter in this generation because of the aluminum bat . . . If it ever gets to the majors, they'll rewrite the record book, and probably kill a pitcher."
Bailey said his son "has to play, get 750 or 800 at-bats" and he sees no reason why he can't reach the majors.
"You see it on TV, and you say, `I can do that,' but you really can't grasp what it's like," said Bailey, 21. "You do the best you can do, and hope you get the chance. I'm here for one reason. I want to play major-league baseball."
His father has contributed to that dream.
"The big thing was, I really liked to play the game," Bob Bailey said. "I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of good and a lot of bad, but I wouldn't have traded it. Well, maybe I would have for a ton of money.
"But I loved it. I still dream about playing."
His son understands.
by CNB