Redding’s r B When Ken Shamburg - slumped at Rochester the ’ Red Wings manager threatened to fine him $100 every time Shamburg swung at a first pitch By Roger Weigel :R-S sport reporter In his first big-time college at-bat Ken Shamburg hit a home run In his first professional at-bat Shamburg hit a home run ’ - In his first major-league at-bat Shamburg - He’s yet to get his first major-r- league atrbat but when he makes ' -the majors and he believes there will be a when Shamburg wouldn't mind extending his debut homer streak '-The Enterprise High School ' graduate recently finished his ( third tour of duty in the Balti-more Orioles bushes by putting together some big numbers for the Double-A Hagerstown Suns Shamburg 24 a 6-foot-2 195- und first baseman batted 275 Shamburg patiently with 12 home runs and 84 RBL He hit six of those homers in the final two weeks of the season for the Suns who were eliminated in the first round of the Eastern League playofTs “I was kind of off and on” Shamburg said “I never felt real good for a real long time until the last two weeks of the season” Still Shamburg earned a July promotion to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings His timing couldn't have been worse Just a few days before the promotion Shamburg an ofT-field gap hitter took a batting lesson from Orioles coach Don Buford who gave Shamburg some tips on using his hips to pull the ball with power However when Shamburg reached Rochester Red Wings manager Greg Biagini wanted him to keep hitting the ball to right-center The results were disastrous Shamburg struggled and soon found himself mired in a deep slumpi “He (Biagini) told me the next time I swing at a first pitch it would cost me a hundred bucks” Ken Shamburg Minor league statistics Year Team Avg HR RBI 1989 - Frederick (A) 1990 - Frederick (A) Hagerstown (AA) Rochester (AAA) 1991 Hagerstown (AA) 275 ' 12 Rochester (AAA) 150 0 254 321 276 333 said Shamburg whose slump worsened After collecting four hits in his first nine at-bats with Rochester Shamburg went 2-fbr-31 and was returned to Hagerstown with a 150 Triple-A batting average clutr tering his otherwise impressive resume “It’s depressing” Shamburg said “You start feeling maybe you aren't good enough to play there waits for 7 40 7 54 2 42 00 84 3 “I was going up to bat thinking too much” Shamburg said “Like the guys in the bigs say don’t think too much Go up there with a plan but don’t outlhink yourself “But the bottom line is that I had a chance to do something up there” he said “All I had to do is keep doing what I was doing But I didn’t do it” After his season at double-A Hagerstown Shamburg should open 1992 witji Rochester a shot at the majors “Next year I'd like to hit 300 or real close to it with at least 20 homers and over 100 ribbies” he said “I would like to make the Orioles next year but if I played at Rochester all year that would be all right with me” he said “I'm going to put out my best effort and whatever happens happens” Not much happened to Shamburg who played junior college ball at Butte after he finished his two-year career at Division I Louisiana Tech University with 41 career home runs and 118 RBL Despite his numbers he went un-d rafted “When I wasn’t drafted I thought I was done” Shamburg said “Playing baseball is the only thing I ever wanted to do since I was 4 yean old” But Shamburg managed to get a tryout with the Milwaukee Brewers and eventually signed as a free agent with Baltimore in 1989 “I remember after I signed I figured I’d get (to the minor leagues) and the players would be ungodly” Shamburg said “I thought they’4 be coming up with great stops and hitting seeds all ‘ over the place But with the exception of a few guys the level of play wasn’t that great” Playing for the Single-A Fred crick Keys his first season Shamf burg belted a home run in hii first professional at-bat j “It was a three-two fastball” h said “I remember running around the bases and thinking I couldn’t wait to call my parents” He finished his first season with Frederick batting 321 with seven homers and 54 RBI Play ing at Hagerstown in 1990 he bat ted 276 with two homers and 42 RBL He also played in two games at Rochester going 2-for-6 Shamburg who’s staying with his folks in Redding until mid-October plans to spend the offseason pouring concrete for a friend in Virginia lie also has i wedding date planned for Jan 25 in Shreveport La Then in February it's off to spring training where he wouldn't mind playing his way intathe “show” - “If I continue to put up good numbers I'll get my chance” he said anamo pound fi 'J