“The Wind?”

Writer’s note: This story was better told by its participants, especially Jim Moffet.

Mark Hammond, OF from Port Arthur, Class of 1975.

Our SMU baseball team in the mid 1970’s always had several players that had gravitated from the football program. Mark “Hambone” Hammond was one of them.  Fun-loving, upbeat and energetic, he was one of those great teammates you really enjoyed being around. Recruited as a wide receiver, Mark was athletic, tough, and played all-out. He had great instincts and played defense with intensity and pride. His uniform always seemed to be dirty.  There are many stories I could recall about his exploits, but here is my favorite “Hambone” story:  

During those years I played at SMU, the baseball team rarely used strategy.  Our offense was old school and generally not very creative. Coach Finley liked his players to swing the bat aggressively and hit the ball hard. Maybe the rarest strategy for us was the “suicide” squeeze bunt. This play requires the baserunner on third base to break hard for home plate early as the pitch is being thrown, and the batter then attempts to bunt the ball on the ground anywhere in fair territory. It is an exciting play when it works, and any easy out when it doesn’t. Also, everyone involved has to be on the same page, and must pay attention to the signals putting the play “on”.

When we did attempt the suicide squeeze, our signals worked like this:  the third base coach gives a visual signal to the batter, maybe a series of hand gestures. Next he gives a stealthy audible signal to the runner on third–primarily because the runner naturally has his back to the third base coach, watching the pitcher holding the ball. Our audible (spoken) signal to the base runner on third was to say anything about the weather.  Both the runner and the batter must then give a predetermined stealthy signal back to the coach to ensure both had the signal right. Our return confirmations signal was putting your right hand on the top of your helmet. This would most importantly keep the batter from swinging away while the runner was bearing down on home plate, completely exposed and vulnerable.

Ok, so Jim Moffet is coaching third base, and Mark leads off the inning with a standup triple.  Completely out of character, Coach Finley gets the idea to try the seldom used suicide squeeze play, and after getting Moffet’s attention, relays the suicide squeeze signal in to Moffet.  Uh oh. The problem? There was not a cloud in that big blue Texas sky.

Moffet first signaled the batter, and then proceeds to say these words to Mark, who is standing a few feet away, intently watching the pitcher and getting ready to take his lead down the third-base line:

“Boy, that wind sure is blowing today”. 

Nothing.  No acknowledgement from Mark.  Our hitter, seeing no confirmation from Mark, steps out of the box to stall for time.

A little louder:  “I said that WIND sure is blowing out there today!” 

Still, nothing.  Finally Moffet says loudly:  “Hey Mark! The WIND is REALLY blowing today!!!”

Mark jumps as if somewhat startled, and whirls around wide-eyed and says, “THE WIND?!” 

Moffet nods gravely and very deliberately says, “THE WIND!” 

Mark touches his helmet excitedly to acknowledge the squeeze and quickly takes his lead. 

It’s funny, but I remember this incident up to this point in amazing detail, but could not tell you if that particular attempt at a squeeze play was successful.

A little aside:  Mark’s older brother Gary played football at SMU, and had the unprecedented distinction of earning all-Southwest Conference at three different positions.  As a sophomore, Gary stepped into the void left by Jerry Levias at wide receiver and was a favorite target for prolific SMU senior quarterback Chuck Hixson.  As a junior, to get Gary more ‘touches’ with the football, Coach Hayden Frey inserted him at half-back.  Finally, as a senior, due to injuries to several teammates, he inherited the QB position kind of by default.  Each year he rose to the occasion and excelled.  In fact, I saw Gary at QB lead the Mustangs to victory against Mizzou in the fall of 1971 in Columbia, MO. He ran the option flawlessly and was elusive, darting inside and outside, completely frustrating the Mizzou defense. Gary used his versatility in the NFL as a receiver/punt returner for the St. Louis Football Cardinals and the New York Jets in the 1970’s. He was recently inducted into the SWC Hall of Fame.