CBF Hall of fame in Lubbock

H

Horn87

1,000+ Posts
anyone go to the ceremonies this year? am going with my family tomorrow to the parade in Lubbock and meeting, getting autographs from the likes of Keith Moreland, Kirk Dressendorfer, Joe Carter, Barry Larkin, Rafael Palmeiro, etc afterwards--had a great time last year--got to meet Swindell & Hooten--as I have stated in the past, dont know how much longer they will have the CBF Hall of Fame out here, since they still do not have a building for them--will be a great 4th regardless
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I wanted to but too many other summer trips in July
So are they never actually going to a building there?
 
well, just got back from the 4th on Broadway parade in Lubbock--went to the CBF tent to check out the new inductees, and only 4 (yes, four) were actually there--luckily for my son, two of them were former 'Horns, Dressendorfer and Moreland--also saw Ron Polk, old Miss St coach, and LSU alum Todd Walker--Joe Carter was in the parade, but someone told me he had to catch a flight out this morning--needless to say Rafael Palemiero was a no-show, but I thought he might attend this since he was the only inductee to get a standing ovation at his introduction the other nite--guess he didn't want to take any chances--Barry Larkin was also a no-show, and my son and I were disappointed, since I have a picture of him wearing a full Texas baseball uniform from the '94 alumni-varsity game (Stephen was playing at UT then)--still, they also did not have any of the finalists for the Howser, Golden Spikes, and other awards as they had in the past--really dont think it will be up around here any longer if they dont get a building soon--should have put it in Austin
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hopefully we'll have some more former 'Horns up here next year, too!
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Definitely kudos to those two, who happened to take the time to have their picture taken with my son while doing "Hook 'em"--had a good talk with Keith--both very gracious, as well as fan-friendly--like I stated before, looking forward to future Longhorns inducted!
 
Good article on Dressendorfer being inducted.
The Link


Texas' Dressendorfer would take mound any time he could
By George Watson | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Friday, July 03, 2009
Story last updated at 7/3/2009 - 1:39 am

In three seasons at the University of Texas, Kirk Dressendorfer redefined the term workhorse.

Whenever coach Cliff Gustafson needed him, whenever Dressendorfer's next start was scheduled or Gustafson signaled for him out of the bullpen - sometimes in the same series - Dressendorfer was ready to go more often than not. And even after four shoulder surgeries shortened his professional career, Dressendorfer wouldn't change a thing, especially now that his attitude and efforts are being honored as one of the newest inductees into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Something as big as this does take a couple of weeks to put it into perspective in my own mind, to determine what it really means," Dressendorfer said in the days leading up to today's 7 p.m. induction ceremony at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. "To get to this point where you're chosen as one of the best to play the college game, it's pretty mind boggling to think about the numbers, and that makes it that much more special."

What were mind boggling at the time were the numbers Dressendorfer put up on a consistent bases while pitching for the Longhorns from 1988-90. He led UT in victories and innings pitched in each of his three seasons, led in ERA in his first two years and in strikeouts his last two years.

He left Austin after his junior season and still ranks in the top three in the school's career record book in strikeouts (462), wins (45), games started (57), complete games (33) and innings pitched (4292/3). He also ranks in the top three in the UT single-season record book in complete games (15), strikeouts (176), wins (18), games started (21) and innings pitched (1682/3), all of which came during his sophomore season of 1989.

"(Former Texas pitcher) Burt Hooton always told me when he looked at the records, I have all the ones for being out there all the time," Dressendorfer said. "He said I have all the quantity ones and he has all the quality ones, and there's something to that."

What the numbers don't tell is how Dressendorfer was used. Especially during his sophomore and junior years, Gustafson, a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class of 2006, would start Dressendorfer on a Friday night and then bring him back in relief during the Saturday doubleheaders in the old Southwest Conference.

"I used most of my aces like that, but of course this was in the days before everybody had a real closer," Gustafson said. "My closer was usually my No. 1 starter the next day, and Dressendorfer handled that very well.

"Back in those days because of the way I would bring a starter back the next day in relief, the pro scouts criticized me a lot. Every time if one of my guys got arm trouble in pro ball is was because of the way I used him. They never said much about guys like (Greg) Swindell and Hooton and (Bruce) Ruffin who had 14-, 15-year major league careers."

Gustafson said that talk always hurt him because, despite perception, he said he was always careful with the health of his pitcher's arms, even getting on the case of former ace Eric Stone after overhearing Stone complain of arm soreness after a relief appearance.

Dressendorfer, though, did not experience any problems except for a three-week stint with tendonitis his junior year. But just a few starts into his first full major league campaign, Dressendorfer began experiencing shoulder problems. Four surgeries later, including a reconstructive procedure and two others to fix other problems, he never pitched in the big leagues again.

Now, he's on the other side of the ledger, coaching his children's youth league teams and watching while guys like Austin Wood throw 169 pitches in a game and Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan tell his guys that pitch counts will be pretty much non-existent, all with the knowledge of what throwing 120 to 130 pitches a game might eventually do.

"My wife just read Mike Coolbaugh's book and there are a lot of similarities in the way our dads were working with us," Dressendorfer said. "They were very demanding. I don't think I'm as tough on my kids as my dad was on me. I'm coming from a person who's been through it and been there and I'm trying to put the emphasis on teaching and having fun.

"I excelled at a young age and I'm familiar with that. I not only went on to be one of the best on my high school team and one of the best in the state, I went on to college and now become one of the best in the country, then I get into pro ball and become one of the best in the world. I just emphasize all the great lessons that were taught to me. If you want to work at it and put in the time it takes, you can be as good as you want to be."

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