THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 31, 1994 TAG: 9407310187
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
For wear and tear on a minor leaguer, the Texas League is as tough as it gets. It's the proverbial bus league of lore - 18 hours from Little Rock to El Paso, 14 over to San Antonio, then 11 to Wichita.
Nobody's crazy about it. And Zuni's Terry Bradshaw, the 25-year old outfielder from Norfolk State, is taking steps to make sure his baseball sights are seen from the air of Triple-A next season rather than from the Double-A asphalt.
In leading the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A club of the St. Louis Cardinals, in nearly every offensive category in his first season at that level, Bradshaw was recently voted the Texas League's best batting prospect, best defensive outfielder and most exciting player by the league's managers.
This just two years after missing the '92 season with a knee injury.
``I was surprised, really, because there are a lot of good players in the league,'' Bradshaw said last week from a hotel room in Wichita. ``I guess they figure I'm probably one of the best in the league. I don't know how to explain it. I guess getting to the big leagues is the way to answer that.''
If he does, he'll be Norfolk State's first major leaguer.
Bradshaw through Thursday was hitting .275 with 24 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs and 48 RBIs while playing with his usual defensive brilliance. His only error was a lazy fly ball that he simply dropped.
Blame it on the grind, perhaps.
``One thing they look at, as far as this league, is how well you can cope with something like that,'' said Bradshaw, who has missed just one game.
``It can have an effect on a lot of guys. There have been times this year when I've just been beat, when I didn't know where I'd get the energy to play the game that night.''
Bradshaw, though, still radiates from the satisfaction he felt in spring training, his first with the major league club. A member of the Cardinals' 40-man roster, Bradshaw said he got into a half-dozen exhibition games. But more than that, he said he was pleased to get his first real opportunity to rate himself aside the Cardinals' best players.
``It was a big experience to be around that atmosphere,'' Bradshaw said. ``You're around all the million-dollar men, but they don't treat you any different. It makes you realize you can play on that level. That they're no different than you, just a little more consistent.''
It's not lost on Bradshaw that, because of his missed season, he is playing from behind somewhat in an organization loaded with good-hitting, fast-running, young outfielders. Bradshaw still fits that profile despite a puzzling drop in his stolen-base figures. The guy who stole 65 in low Class A and 43 last season has just 13.
Disappointing?
``Kinda, sort of,'' Bradshaw said. ``When you go to the next level, it can be pretty tough. When the pitchers know you can run, they do a lot of different things to try to hold you on. I don't know. I've still got a month left. If I can steal 20 or 25 with a good ratio, I'll be happy.''
Not as happy, though, as when he ditches the Texas League for good.
``Once you get to Double-A and are playing every day and doing pretty well, your chances are pretty good as far as the big leagues,'' Bradshaw said. ``Sometimes I get to thinking that I've proved to them that I can play here, why haven't I moved up? But really, as long as I'm playing every day and have a uniform, that doesn't bother me.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Terry Bradshaw leads the Arkansas Travelers in nearly every
offensive category.
by CNB