Here’s a melodrama you probably wouldn’t believe. Two boys, same age, one white, one black, grow up in the small town of LaGrange, Ga. Both are star baseball players and good friends. They turn pro in 1991. Jimmy Haynes is selected by Baltimore in the fourth round of the free-agent amateur draft. Mike Cameron goes in the 18th round.
They meet again Friday night at Comiskey Park. Haynes is now pitching for Oakland. Cameron is batting second and playing center field for the White Sox. Cameron smashes a 409-foot home run in the first inning to tie the score at 1-1. Next time up, in the third, he puts the Sox ahead with a run-scoring single. In the fifth, Cameron does it again, a two-run home run into the left-field seats.
It would be an even better story if the Sox had won the game and if it had been their first major-league confrontation. Sorry about that. Cameron was 0 for 2 against Haynes Aug. 6 in Oakland.
“I had nothing to show for it,” Cameron said, referring to that game. “But I hit both balls hard.”
In all, Cameron estimated that before Friday night’s encounter he was 1 for 10 or 1 for 11 against his hometown buddy. Cameron insists his one hit against Haynes shouldn’t be counted because it was in an instructional-league game.
He was asked if they had had many conversations in the six years since they turned pro.
“Sure, we’ve talked,” Cameron replied. “But only before the game. Once the game starts, it’s business. A couple times, when I’ve been at bat, he’s given me a smile, a courtesy smile.”
Cameron laughed, enjoying the recollection.
“Then he comes in with a 92 m.p.h. fastball. He’s got a good curve, too.”
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It is Cameron’s opinion that Haynes will be a future big-league star. Many baseball insiders predict the same for Cameron, that someday soon he will be among the American League’s best all-around center-fielders.
Doug Rader, the veteran Sox coach whose eyes have seen the glory as a successful major-league player and manager, had this to say about Cameron:
“Three things. He works hard. He listens. And he remembers.”
“So far he listens pretty good,” observed shortstop Ozzie Guillen, the realist. “Lots of times they have a good season and they come back the next season and they think they know everything. And a few months later all you see is an empty locker.”
Guillen disagreed with the general clubhouse opinion that Cameron doesn’t say much and has a quiet personality, somewhat similar to Harold Baines’.
Third baseman Chris Snopek was on the quiet side. But there was a noticeable difference between Snopek and Cameron. Unlike Cameron, Snopek apparently wasn’t always paying attention and absorbing the advice of his elders.
Snopek had a wonderful opportunity. For four months, he subbed for Robin Ventura, the All-Star third baseman who was out with a severe leg injury. Snopek didn’t show much improvement and has since been sent to the minors.
Why the difference?
Like any good teammate, Cameron didn’t put the knock on Snopek and instead pointed out that Snopek had to perform under much greater pressure.
“He was trying to be Robin Ventura,” said Cameron. “It was too much for him. It got him off-stride. Hopefully, when he comes back next year, he’ll be Chris Snopek and try not to do too much. Give him time and he’ll be in the big leagues to stay.”
There is no doubt Cameron is also here to stay.
“What’s most impressive about him is that he’s improved so much in the last three years. Obviously, it’s necessary to have talent to do that,” observed manager Terry Bevington. “He’s a fast learner. You tell him something once and he doesn’t forget.”
Does Bevington project Cameron as a sure-fire All-Star?
“It’s not fair to put that kind of pressure on him,” Bevington replied. “If he maintains his desire and willingness to learn, a lot of good things will happen to Mike Cameron.”
Amen!