The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 45

THE NEWS JOURNAL WEDNESDAY. MAY 27, 1992 Costen Shockley reminisces on his pro baseball career In December of '64, the Phillies traded him to the California Angels in a deal involving pitcher Bo Belinsky. In spring training with the Angels in '65, Shockley did well, but when he later received word he was going to be sent to Seattle he was shocked. What hurt even more was that the Angels brought up Tom Satriano, a .158 hitter, to replace Shockley at first base. Shockley never reported to Seattle.

His career, which included playing 40 games with the Angels in '65 31 games at first base, one in the outfield was over. Shockley, who never made more than $10,000 in a season while in the pros, returned to Georgetown. For years he managed in kid baseball, piloting teams on which his sons, Jeff and Curt, played. Jeff, now 25 and an inspector in planningzoning for Sussex County, was the second baseman on his father's 13-15 Senior Little League team that won the world championship in '81. Curt, now 27, who was a footballbaseball player at Sussex Central High, works for the state in the probationparole department.

He set a record for consecutive baseball games played at the University of Delaware. As for Costen Shockley, now 50 and married 30 years, he's in his 25th year as a construction manager for the LA. Construction working out of the Delmar, office. "Since my sons got out of baseball, I haven't been doing any managing," he said. "But I'll be back.

I'm waiting for my grandson, Ryan, now 8 months old, to reach playing age. I'll be back coaching him." Falls, Idaho, of the Class C. Pioneer League. He drilled 23 home runs, 6 triples, 31 doubles, had 169 hits, drove in 108 runs, stole 11 bases, led all first basemen in assists with 85 and was voted the league's Rookie of the Year. He was being painted as a super star of the future.

In 1962, with Williamsport of the Eastern League, he led the league's first basemen in putouts assists (104), double plays (110), blasted 10 home runs, batted in 82, and had a batting average of .282. He was labeled a "can't miss" future major league star. In '63, with Chattanooga of the South Atlantic League he batted .335, second highest average in the league. The guy was coming on real strong. In '674, with Little Rock of the Pacific Coast League, he led the league in home runs with 36, tied for the league lead in RBI with 112 and batted .281, earning him Rookie of the Year honors.

He accomplished all this while missing a month of the season while up with the Phillies. During his stay with the Phillies, he played in only 11 games at first base, batting .229. By MATTZABITKA Staff reporter GEORGETOWN During his professional baseball career, 1961-65, Costen Shockley says the best manager he played for was Frank Lucchesi. Shockley played in the minors for Lucchesi, who later was manager of the Phillies, 1970-72. "He was a great person to play for, a wonderful leader who was able to get 110 per cent out of his players," Shockley described Lucchesi.

"I think he got a raw deal when the Phillies fired him during the 1972 season." But Shockley, a former standout athlete at Georgetown High School (now Sussex Central), couldn't sing the same praises for Gene Mauch, a manager he played for while with the Phillies in 1964. "Mauch had a talented baseball mind, but he didn't know how to get the most out of his players. He was a great strategist, but he was never a winner. He had a personality problem. "Mauch was platoon-oriented," added Shockley.

"Because I was a left-handed hitter, I was never used against left-handed pitchers." As a high' school baseball player, Shockley gained wide recognition as an outstanding southpaw pitcher, playing first base when not on the mound because of his beefy bat. But he never got to pitch an inning in pro ball. RALPH FRESO photo Former Philadelphia Phillie Costen Shockley now works as a construction manager for a construction company. Milford Memorial schedules golf tournament MILFORD Milford Memorial Entry cost is $75, including would've done better in pro baseball and lasted longer if I had stayed a pitcher," Shockley mused. "It was as a pitcher I made a name for myself before I went into the pros.

And when I first went into the pros, there weren't too many good left-handed pitchers. "But I never let it bother my life. I have no regrets." Shockley had a brilliant career Hospital will host its second annual golf tournament at Shawnee Country Club on June 10 (rain date June 17). Bank of Delaware is sponsoring the event, which benefits the greens fee, dinner, favors and awards. Dinner consists of fried chicken, baked ham, roast beef, corn on the cob, crab salad, potato salad, coleslaw and marinated salad.

Call Barbara Ridge, 424-5802. His first day in spring training with the Phillies as a 19-year-old rookie in 1961, Shockley was in the locker room adjusting a pitching toe plate to a shoe and reaching for his pitcher's glove when Manager Mauch came in. "Get that toe plate off your shoe and get a first baseman's mitt," Mauch barked at Shockley. "From that day on, I was a first baseman," Shockley said. "When Mauch made the decision that I was to be a first baseman, I don't believe he ever saw me field or throw a ball.

He made his decision, I believe, based on reports. "Today, I sometimes wonder if I during his four years in the mi nors, before being called up the Phillies in '64. Besche Bros. Furniture In 1961, as a rookie he led the entire Phillies organization in batting with .360 while with Twin Education association sponsors benefit golf tourney cludes green fees, cart, lunch and prizes. Observer cost is a $20 do dj DJ nation which includes lunch and door prizes.

Businesses are invited Scholarship Fund, which provides two $1,000 scholarships to high-school seniors planning a career in education. Luncheon begins at noon on June 19; tee-off is at 1 p.m. Team prizes, door prizes and courses prizes will be awarded. Player cost is a $50 donation which in DOVER The Fifth Annual Benefit Golf Tournament sponsored by Delaware State Education Association will be June 19 at the Maple Dale Country Club, on Dover-Kenton Road near Dover. All proceeds will benefit the Christopher K.

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