SAM ESPOSITO Head Baseball Coach Sam Esposito begins his fifth season at N. C. State in 1971, after leading the Wolfpack to an average of nearly 19 wins per season and to two sea-sons of 20 games or more won. His four-year record is 74-41, including a 41-28 Atlantic Coast Conference record and, in 1968, the ACC and NCAA {Dis- trict III championships. That 1968 title team reached a peak in N. C. State base- ball with a third-place tie in the College World Series. That was the highest an A'OC team had climbed since 1955, when Wake Forest won the NCAA College World Series, and the 25 wins posted by that Wolfpack team was the most by an Esposito-coached Wolf- pack. Last season, State was 21-10 and in :the ACC title race most of the season. Coach of the Year Esposito, for 10 yea-rs an American League infielder, primarily with the Chicago White Sox, has already been cited twice for his coaching ability: he was voted NCAA District 111 Coach of the Year in 1968, when State was 13-4 in the league and 25-9 overall, and he was co-winner of the 1968 Will Wynne Award, presented annually to the main adjudged to have contributed the most to baseball in North Carolina. Esposito shared that award, made by the Raleigh Hot Stove League, with Jimmy Hunter of the Oak- land Athletics. Esposito, who also coached two State freshman basketball teams to winning records and who now assists in recruiting with the varsity basketball staff, actually played six different positions as a major leaguer. He was primarily a shortstop and third base- man during his nine years with the White Sox and his one year with the Kansas City Athletics. His most active season was in 1958, when he played in 98 games for the White Sox, batting .247, and he played for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Played at Indiana A 38-year-old Chicago native who’s still a bachelor, Esposito signed with the White Sox in June, 1952, after «his sophomore year at Indiana University, where he was attending school on a basketball grant-in-aid. Sam continued his education during the off-season and earned his bachelor’s degree in physical edu- cation, with a minor in social studies, at Indian-a in 1964. He was awarded his master’s degree while coaching and teaching in the East Chicago 'Public School system. He served as assistant basketball coach at Washington High for eight years. While at Indiana, Sam had one year of varsity competition in baseball and basketball. Front cover: Lefthander Mike Caldwell, an all-ACC choice in 1970, brings a 23-10 career record into the 1971 season as he leads State's pitching staff. THE 1971 OUTLOOK Despite a lack of batting power, N. C. State didn’t bow out of the Atlantic Coast Conference title race last year until the final day of the season. But the lone .300 hitter of l970—leftfielder Tommy Smith (.379 and 33 RBIs)—has graduated, indicating that offensive punch might again be a problem in 1971. Coach Sam Esposito, beginning his fifth season with the Wolf- pack, is counting on a return to form of senior third baseman Chris Cammack an-d senior lef-thander Mike Caldwell. The pair, both all-A'C-C choices last season, slumped in comparison to previous years, and must carry the young Pack. Cammack, a .355 career hitter and a second team NCAA District 111 selection in 1970, hit .293 as State finished 21-10 overall and 13-8 in the league. Craldwell, who was 16-5 his first two seasons with sub-2.00 ERAs, was 7-5 and allowed 3.34 earned runs per game. “We think both can come back,” said Esposito, who lost three starters off the 1970 Wolfpack. Smith, shortstop Darrell Moody and first baseman lDennis Punch have graduated, and some newcomers must fill key posi- tions for State to be successful in a schedule (32 games in less than two months) that puts a premium on good pitching and avoidance of injuries. Junior centerfielder Dick Greer and senior rightfielder Danny Baker return, both aiming to improve weak batting marks. Greer, who led the team with nine stolen bases, has good range and a deceiving arm, but hit only .269. Baker, who has the strongest arm among the outfielders, batted .217 despite a history as a strong hitter. He 'had a good summer, however, and could have found his batting eye. The third outfield spot will be contended for by freshman footballer Harvey Willis of Danville, Va., and soph footballer 'Pat Korsnick. Freshman Carl Lile of Indianapolis, Ind. and Pat McCabe also seek berths. Cammack, among the best ACC players the past three seasons, is unchallenged at third, which he handles with such aplomb that the Baltimore Orioles made him a draft choice. Freshman Mike Royal of Fayetteville is the likely shortstop heir apparent to Moody, with Randy McMasters—who fielded well but hit below expectations last season—back at second. Hamlet's Jerry Mills can play second or short and will have opportunity to earn a position. Kelly Sparger, who hit .276 after a strong start last year, replaces Punch at first base. Bill Glad, .a superb defensive performer, will handle the catching duties as he did as a freshman last season. Glad, who hit, .143, is expected to improve that mark. His defense, his a-rm and his handling of pitchers have never been question marks. Caldwell will lead a pitching staff that must be effective early. The likely starting rotation will also include sophomore Bob Anderson (3-2, 4.80 ERA), whose added weight and experience make him stronger; senior John Lewis, who 6-0 record and 1.40 ERA paced State hurlers last season and sophomore Mike Evans, who was 1-0 last season. Senior Reid Carter can either start or pitch short a-nd long relief, as he did so effectively in 1970, and senior Dewey Brown will see relief duty again. Caldwell and Evans are lefthanders. Righthanders Billy Smith, a soph, and Mike Charron, a junior, will lend depth to the mound staff. Cha-rron was 3-2 last season, including a two-hit shutout over East Carolina. Tom Rempson, a strong lefthander from Sanford and a sopho- more who saw little action, will also be called on. “We have a combination of veterans and young people, and you never know how that situation will work out,” Esposito said. “I think the pitching will be strong and the defense will be good after some young people get experience. We’ll need those strengths to offset an expected lack of bat-ting power and run-scoring ability." MEET THE WOLFPACK 0» Indica-tes Letters Won INFIELDERS ”*Chris Cammack Sr. bats right 3B Fayetteville Chris is one of only seven players to earn all-ACC honors for three seasons, and the solid infielder has a chance to make it four years in a row on the all-star team . “he’s a fixture at third base,” says Esposito . started slowly and batted .293 last season, but has career average of .355 . included six extra-base hits among his 29 hits (99 at-ba-ts) last season . an all-America in 1969, Chris has been named to the all-District III (NCAA) team each of his three varsity seasons . was ACC Player of the Year as soph in 1969 when he became first N. C. State player to lead league with .429 average . has played for “Pierre, SD. in Basin League for three summers, and in 1969 was on the U. S. team which placed second in the World aBseball Tournament in the Dominican Republic . will lend stability and leadership to the infield . good glove man with powerful arm and good range at third . an out- standing pro prospect, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in January . starred in baseball and basketball at Faytteville Senior High, scoring 23 points when his prep team won the N. C. 4-A basketball title in 1966 . 1970 winner of the H. C. Kennett Award as the outstanding all-around, student-athlete of the year at N. C. State . married in December, 1970 . economics major. Year G AB R H 28 3B HR RBI SB K 38 Avg 1968 34 131 22 46 5 0 2 19 8 17 14 .351 1969 26 91 24 39 5 3 2 18 10 5 13 .429 1970 31 99 19 29 4 1 1 13 6 15 26 .293 91 321 65 1 14 14 4 5 50 24 37 53 .355 *Randy McMasters Jr. bats right 2B Greensboro Randy handled second base for the Pack last season, doing a fine job afield . “the year of experience will help Randy, who’s very versatile,” says Esposito . will get shot at second again, but can also play shortstop . batted .238, including 24 singles and one home run among hits . not expected to hit for power . Randy is valuable for his heads-up play and fielding, as well as for good speed—he stole six of seven bases last season . adept at double-play, and has outstanding range . drew 18 bases-on-balls, third highest total among starters . was member of Greensboro State American Legion champion- ship team . brother Reed member of Wolfpack freshman basketball team in 1970-71 . engineering major. Year G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI 58 K BB Avg.