The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1364233
48 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY TIM PEELER O n Sept. 1, 1971, the fledgling San Diego Padres made a bold move in calling up four promising minor leaguers, the antici- pated cornerstones of a franchise that was just three years old at the time. Among them were two players from its Triple-A team in Hawaii and two from its Single-A team in Lodi, Calif., one of which was 22-year-old left-handed pitcher Mike Caldwell. Small and wiry, Caldwell was practically overlooked in the 1971 Major League Draft, even after his sizzling 9-0 senior season with the Wolfpack and an outstanding col- legiate career in which he was twice named first-team All-ACC, voted the 1971 ACC Pitcher of the Year and posted a 32-10 ca- reer record. Fifty years ago this summer, NC State's most-accomplished major league pitcher was eventually taken in the 12th round by the Padres and signed with a $1,500 bonus. Caldwell was assigned to the rookie Northwest League's Tri-City franchise in Kennewick, Wash. He spent only two weeks there before moving to the Single-A squad in Lodi of the California League. He impressed Padres roving minor league in- structor, former Dodgers star pitcher Johnny Podres, enough to earn a September call-up, along with a trio of other rookies. "He's so cool and confident," Podres said at the time. "He's going places. He has that sinking fastball, which should help make him successful." Just 10 weeks after signing his profes- sional contract, Caldwell made his big- league debut against the Atlanta Braves, giving up his first hit to shortstop Marty Perez and striking out opposing pitcher Jim Nash to end a scoreless first appearance. Three days later at home against Cincin- nati, Caldwell entered the game with the Padres trailing the Big Red Machine 7-6 in the top of the ninth and immediately al- lowed a single to left fielder Hal McRae. Shortstop Dave Concepcion grounded out to shortstop, but there was no attempt to turn the double play on pinch runner Buddy Bradford. Caldwell intentionally walked first baseman Tony Perez, only to see Brad- ford and Perez double steal on 19-year-old rookie catcher Mike Ivie. With one out and runners on second and third, Caldwell would have been in a real pickle had reigning National League Player of the Year Johnny Bench come up in his regular cleanup spot. Bench, however, had been ejected in the second inning by umpire Harry Wendelstedt for arguing about a play at home plate involving rookie Leron Lee. It was one of eight ejections in Bench's career. Instead, Caldwell faced veteran Pat Cor- rales, who hit only .181 that season, and struck him out on four pitches. Then, he forced rookie center fielder George Foster to pop up to first baseman Nate Colbert to end the threat. In the bottom of the ninth, back-to-back singles by Cito Gaston and Colbert put runners on base, and Lee tied the game with a double off the left-field wall. Ollie Brown was walked intentionally, but Garry Jestadt ended the game with his fourth hit of the game for an 8-7 Padre victory, giving Caldwell the first of his 137 career wins in the majors. "I remember going home and immedi- ately calling [best friend and former Wolf- pack teammate Chris] Cammack and all the other people I knew back home, and told them I had just beaten the Big Red Machine," Caldwell recalled. "When you are that age, you call people at all hours of the night. "I didn't give up any runs, I got my first win and it was on from there." Two weeks later, in his sixth and final appearance of the season, Caldwell doubled off Tom Kelley in his only at-bat, ending the 1971 season with a perfect 1.000 batting average, a perfect 1-0 pitching record and a perfect 0.00 earned run average. "That first season made a lot of differ- ence for me. Those major league guys hit ground balls and struck out and popped up PACK PAST Wolfpack Pitching Legend Mike Caldwell Made His Major League Debut 50 Years Ago The San Diego Padres selected Caldwell in the 12th round of the 1971 Major League Baseball Draft and signed him with a $1,500 bonus. He went on to win 137 games in the majors over a 14-year career. PHOTO COURTESY MIKE CALDWELL