RICE :
T HE
NE X T
CEN T URY
CAMPAIGN
Team Effort Pays Off for Players, Past and Present
Jerrol Springer, far left, is pictured with fellow pitchers from the 1959–60 Owls lineup. Next to Jerrol, from left to right, are Paul Timme, Bill Donaldson, Jim Brock, and Weldon McFarland.
“We used to go over to Autry Court to change. We didn’t have a locker room when I played baseball at Rice.”
Jerrol and Pam Springer with Coach Graham
“ Wayne Graham is a brilliant baseball man. I knew when he got here that he would draw the right players. And he did. We have exceptional young men playing this sport.” Jerrol Springer ’60
Jerrol Springer ’60 has great memories of his days as a Rice pitcher, even without a locker room. He played ball all four years, including three on the varsity team, with teammates he calls “great guys”—Dick Kristinik, Jerry Sims, Jim Fox, Lynwood Stallings, brothers Freddie and Bobby Burns, Jim Brock, Bill Donaldson, Weldon McFarland, Don Erskine, Biff Perdue, Jerry Epstein, Jerry Abernathy, and Paul Timme. “We had a very good team and won over 60 percent of our games.” Jerrol also has great regard for a UT player who went on to a pro career before becoming a baseball coach—Wayne Graham. When Jerrol learned that Wayne was joining Rice as head coach, he told him, “Whatever I can do to help you, let me know.” Wayne did exactly that. “At our first meeting, he said he needed a major league batting cage. I told him I’d take care of it. I didn’t know what anything like that cost, but I handled it anyway,” Jerrol says with a chuckle. Jerrol’s support of Wayne and the baseball team has remained strong. In fact, when Wayne asked Jerrol to help finish Reckling Park, Jerrol and his wife, Pam, funded the players’ locker room, an impressive and comfortable facility. He also drew his friend Don Riddle into the Rice fold. Don played third base for Baylor when Jerrol pitched for Rice. Interestingly, today Don and his wife, Jenny, are Jerrol and Pam’s neighbors and good friends. “Even though he didn’t go to Rice, Don said he would help. He and Jenny paid to build the visitors’ locker room and established two scholarships, one in Wayne’s name and the other in mine.” Jerrol not only thinks highly of his playing days but also of the education he received. There was no question that the players were expected to do well in class. “Our coach told us, ‘You’re here to do the school work. We already know you’re good athletes.’ And if we didn’t, we were off the team.” He credits that discipline for his professional success and is pleased that high standards are expected of today’s athletes also. “That’s what makes Rice exceptional,” he says.
Sustaining Excellence in Rice Baseball The Rice Baseball program has set the following priorities to sustain its high level of excellence: • Increased seating at Reckling Park. Expand to accommodate 5,000 fans. • Indoor, climate-controlled pitching and hitting areas. Ensure that teaching and learning cycles are not interrupted by inclement weather. • New field. Replace Cameron Field with a modern playing surface and drainage system to ensure playability and the safety of the players. • Endowed starting positions. Provide scholarships for 11 starting players. • Endowed operating fund. Ensure that funds are available to cover operating costs, including travel, recruitment, and equipment. For information, contact Mike Pratapas, associate athletic director for development, at 713-348-4622 or pratapas@rice.edu.
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