Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 4D

4b' TODAY, Sunday, March XI. 1M3 I realized there was more to life My family, God It I had a bad day I let It affect me. Now I know I've always got toiAorrowJ JJof Beckwith Double trouble Dodgers' Beckwith sets sights on future after two eye operations TOM VERDUCCI TOOAV Inrit WrHar VERO BEACH Pitching success Is predicated on precision. The terminology of the art. as if borrowed from a physics textbook, reflects that.

Pitchers 41m themselves to achieve perfect timing, rhythm, balance and mechanics' They aim their pitches, of variable speeds and spin but originating from a consistent delivery, at only cornered pieces of what is a small target to begin with. When something goes wrong in a pitcher's stock of Variables, success Is jeopardized A curve ball too high A leg lift too low. An arm too sore Any one can destroy the precision In 1981, something went wrong with Joe Beckwith's pitching precision Very wrong A freak eye injury, caused by a line drive that never hit him, put more than his success in jeopardy. It had some people, doctors among therhl referring to his career in past tense only. Beckwith contracted double vision in spnng training camp that year After six months of consulting with opthalmologists, chiropractors, hypnotists arid acupuncturists, Beckwith underwent eye surgery twice The chances the doctors gave him of ever pitching again ominously befit his double vision SO SO Five months after his second surgery, Beckwith was pitching in the 1962 spring training camp at Dodgertown He was optioned to Albuquerque (Class AAA), but was back with the Dodgers July 22 Throughout last year and this year's spring camp, Beckwith has flashed the potential he promised when the Dodgers made him their No 2 pick in the 1977 free agent draft.

He has won his battle and is winning his games So much for double vision and 50 50 "Something like that had never happened to a ballplayer before," Dodger trainer Bill Buhler says "He surprised a lot of people coming back so quickly But as great as his medical triumph was, Beckwith scored a bigger victory in the won tost column of his personal life The injury, and subsequent inactivity, afforded Beckwith the opportunity to reflect on himself What he saw this time clearly was something out of precision "Baseball was everything to me," Beckwith says "I realized there was more to life My family. Cod If I had a bad day I let It affect me Now I know I've always got tomorrow "Baseball was his great goal," says his wife, Jeanne Ann "Like all baseball players, he worked at it and worked it Then I think he realized, 'I've got all these other things in life to think about I think he enjoyed it more after that Joe Beckwith has put his vision and his life into focus The long process of recuperation and rejuvenation began after an injury on a spring day in 1981 in Vero Beach Beckwith was pitching batting practice without a protective screen in front of him Jack Perconte lined one of Beckwith's pitches directly back at him "I just ducked real fast," Beckwith says It was instinctive." The ball whizzed past his head He had escaped a serious injury or so he thought threw for about three or four more minutes." Beckwith says "I didn't have the double vision right away I was throwing the bdll wild It'happened again throwing BP two days later It got worse each time The Dodgers sent him to Los Angeles to be examined Doctors ran tests to determine if he had a tumor, suffered a stroke, or had multiple sclerosis In the cold, sterilized confines of examining rooms, they could not figure why the double vision developed "I wasn doing much to work up a sweat," Beckwith says "Everybody thought I was going insane So did They told him to wait They said the condition might eventually correct itself His vision did not improve, and neither did his patience JOSEPH THOMAS Beckwith is built sturdily 6 foot 3 and 200 pounds and had pjafMflHfSl jk ikmWmFam wawwaawwwwkW f7) jQv fc WW faaLLLLLLLLH PMi, 1 'V avH kammmmmmmmmmmVv, bsbsbsbsbsbsbsbsbsbsbsbsbh J' 0MsalBsBsBBr BsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsa BsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsB jS eMMMMMMMMMMMW sVaZJSSSsSBkMBaSlSlSlSlSlSlSlSlSlSlSlSlSlSlsVI amwmammwmamammmmmnmmmmA TLssssM maaaua. mam a i jMUMUKaa Ptf 0emlttmrimHmat0yrmmmmit kmmmYkmmmm Qmrtn'H wmmmLWaaWLmmam aaWWWW TOOAV pimiot av Oillt Cum, mniM iiiiiihiniaiii tM 4flhMfe This spring, Joe Beckwith is fighting for No. 5 spot in the Dodgers' starting pitching rotation never known what a career threatening injury was like He had knee surgery once as a freshman at Auburn University and then again, on his other knee, in his' first year of professional baseball But neither injury had sidelined him for more than three months At Auburn he pitched Southeastern Conference records for career wins (31) and innings pitched (338) He was the Dodgers' second selection, behind Bob Welch, in the June 1977 draft. He pitched as a starter, long reliever and short reliever in the minor leagues He was always strong four years and set armed and strong willed Fittingly, he always knew what college he would attend and, as it turned out, what girl he wanted Beckwith was born Auburn, Ala attended Auburn High School, and his father was, and still is, business manager of the Auburn University athletic department.

"There was never any doubt what school 1 I would go to," Beckwith says. At Auburn. Beckwith twice earned a spot on the All SEC team and once on the NCAA All District team. Apparently, his pitches off the field were just as good as those on the II I III I II uacwiTH, josem thomas YEA CUJi EKA GS CO SHO SV SO 1977 Antonio 5 5 3 33 12 12 3 0 0 78 88 40 29 20 31 1978 'Albuquerque 8 9 5 82 28 21 4 0 0 150 186 118 97 80 59 1979 Albuquerque 8 8 462 27 15 I 0 6 113 119 74 58 46 64 Los Angeles 1 2 438 17 0 0 0 2 37 42 18 18 15 28 1980 lo Angelas 3 3 I 95 38 0 0 0 0 60 60 17 10 23 40 Albuquarque 2 1 2 57 7 0 0 0 I 14 15 8 4 5 12 1981 Los Angeles DiiobUd list Did Not Pilch 1982 Albuquerque 5 6 6 68 26 12 2 12 102.1 138 90 76 55 80 Lo Angelas 2 1 2 7Q 19 1 0 0 I 40 38 14 12 14 33 MLIbtoli 6 6 2 82 74 0 0 3 137 140 49 43 52 101 field He caught Jeanne Ann off balance with a change up "I'm from Miami," says Jeanne Ann, who, like her husband, is attractive and cordial. "I'm used to walking down the street and not smiling and not looking in any direction except straight ahead.

I was Just walking along In between classes and he came up to me and asked me out. "I thought, 'What Is I wasn't used to that at all." Joe and Jeanne Ann were married In December of 1977, following his first season in pro ball (at Class AA San Antonio). That was also the year he underwent his second knee surgery. It was also the last time he had been injured before the double vision. THE EYE Injury kept Beckwith In a Los Angeles home he had purchased the year before.

He threw lightly, but could not pitch batting practice. His teammates would not hit against him. knowing Beckwith saw two batters at the plate and was unsure which visage to pitch to. "Just sitting there and waiting was really tough," Beckwith says. "I'd just sit there and go crazy." Beckwith grew weary of waiting.

He consulted a chiropractor he thought maybe when he fell to the ground he jarred the back of his neck against the optic nerve and then a hypnotist and an acupuncturist. Nothing worked. The double vision, and his ill fortune, persisted. He had another mouth to feed daughter Memll Leigh was bom in January of that year and payments to make on the house Those domestic responsibilities suddenly became heavier when major league baseball players decided to strike on June 12 Joe Beckwith was without health, baseball and paycheck. "It was scary," Jeanne Ann says Finally, six months after waiting for the injury to heal, Beckwith decided in late July to undergo an eye operation.

"I got tired of waiting," he says. "I told them 'I've got to get something done. That's a chance I'm taking Dr. Steven Feldon of the Doheny Eye Foundation attempted to restore the balance Aug. 10 by surgically weakening a muscle that helps pull the left eye down.

It did not work. "So I said, 'Let's do it on the other Beckwith says The second surgery was performed on Sept. 28. That operation, known as an adjustable recession of the right inferior rectus muscle, did work The balance was restored by pulling the right eye up Although the realignment is not immediately discemable, Beckwith's right pupil rests slighter higher above the bottom of his eye socket than does his left. He had some slight problems at first, but corrected them with eye exercises If an object appeared doubled, he focused solely on that object until it came into focus.

BECKWITH, WHO wore contact lenses before the injury, says his vision is the same now. But in his mind's eye, he sees baseball differently. "It's a job I do." he says. "When I'm out there I do the best I can. But I have to fake care of myself and my family." His job this year will either be as a fifth starter or as a long reliever.

He says he has no preference "As long as I can help the Dodgers win the pennant." he says but his strong showing this spnng may win him that No 5 slot. Beckwith is 2 0 with a 3 38 earned run average in 16 innings of work. He has walked three and struck out six. "It's a good feeling to come back like I. have to do a good Job," Beckwith says.

"I worked hard to get where I am." In his most recent outing, he earned the victory in the Dodgers' 3 2 wirt over Baltimore on Thursday. After five innings, he left Holman Stadium to the appreciate applause of the 3,700 fans in attendance and an even warmer reception from his wife. Jeanne Ann met him outside the gate He in his blue trimmed uniform and she in a summery splash of red and white, they walked hand in hand through the lush greenery of Dodgertown to the clubhouse.) The game continued behind them. 'Old Fashioned Love Song' column strikes perfect note Sirs: To let you know that your column of March 20 on Nancy (Lopez) and Ray (Knight) reached the zenith of peefeatiort. TZit this era of tawdry commercialism and the lack of rasleathat surrounds us, you so beautifully bypassed the temptation to compete with the National Enquirer.

delicate treatment of their actions and Ray fjtQjhl's statements and the combined concern for her foiuni husband made me relish the intellectual honesty had In a Chnstly fashion I am a senior citizen who reaches for the sport page first and reads the rest of the paper when there isn't muchelsertodo. However, I have a sensitivity for people in the public eyeZalso for those who, like yourself, write about them, thuKjyhen you scale to the heights' of genuine accomplish menrryou not only entertain with your story, but serve as a guide to the rest of us that you can do your work well and still maintain a relationship that makes you welcome wherever you go. To me you are to the printed word what Pavortttl Is to music just beautiful. JaeDooohua Barefoot Bay I I More coverage for college baseball Dear Sirs: Several weeks ago you printed some letters you'd received. One suggested better coverage of Florida's three excellent NCAA Division I baseball teams.

As a recent University of Florida graduate, I'm proud of our state's teams Miami, the defending national champs; Florida, who've won the SEC two years running; and the Seminoles, who as much as I hate to admit it, have a perennial national power all deserve recognition and coverage bi your spans pages. For the most part I think you put together an excellent sports section; Make it better by covering Florida's great NCAA baseball teams. Bruce Langstsa Cape Canaveral City council bungles job Dear Sirs: If you want to know the real story about what caused the Houston Astros'to leave Brevard and Cocoa Just dig out the sports section of Sunday's TODAY paper. Page 4Cis a full page Interview with the Astros' John I I McMullen, by Jon Saraceno. It clearly points out the bungling of the Cocoa town fathers.

4f Sports and baseball aside, the spring training Astros meant solid business for Brevard and Cocoa, Little league town fathers Mew the whole deal. They should be made rp pay the price at the next I We're sure not all the blame rests with the city the Astros were tough to deal with too. However, the Astros could have been kept here, were it not for little league thinking in big league Good luck Astros We'll miss you, and the business1 you brought to Brevard and Cocoa. Bm Maschmeier Cocoa Connors legend in own right Dear Sirs: I never liked tennis, out because my husband played It during his high school years in Cuba many years ago and he started to watch the games on television two or three years after we came to live in the United States. One day I sat with him and learned the rules of the game at Ithe time when a young, badly behaved spoiled brat came to the attention of the tennis fans.

His name was Jimmy Connors. It was love at first sight with the game for me and I think I was one of the few people who liked Jimmy from the beginning. It is also true that there were times that it would have been a pleasure for me to place him on my lap and give him a good spanking. I am' old enough to be his mother. I am not going to write' about his game technique, not because I do not know about It, but Just prefer to leave that to the sports writers.

I would like to write about the boy saw growing up. mellowing and becoming a husband and a father. But most important, about the player who put tennis on the front page and gave a chance to all the players after him to be able to mate a rich and productive life in that sport. For many years 1 have been enjoying all tennis tournaments and all the extremely good players during their best, but It is my hope that when the history of the game will be written Jimmy Connors will be accepted as the most courageous player. The man who never gives up, even when he' is bt a very difficult situation.

In a simple word, a real fighter. Any player who plays against him has to accept that he Is facing the most outstanding player, a hero and a legend In his own right" Connie Lepex.