Sports

MIKE’S SOLID TEAMMATE, PLAYERS SAY

Besides being a fine pitcher, Mike Hampton is also a solid teammate, according to those who played with him. Derek Bell said Astro players called him Bulldog for his uncompromising competitive nature and Astros utility man Billy Spiers offers strong evidence after Hampton ran off the mound to his rescue this past summer.

While pitching on the County Stadium mound in Milwaukee Hampton happened to look out to right field just as a crazed man ran on the field and physically attacked Spiers. Without hesitation Hampton sprinted out, pounced on the attacker and pummeled him thoroughly until he was dragged off by umpires and players. Ken Caminiti finished off the job.

“The guy was better off with me,” Hampton said afterwards.

For a starting pitcher to be the first one to the outfield in Spiers’ defense demonstrates Hampton’s fire, fidelity, and also his alertness.

“If you knew Mike at all that wouldn’t surprise you,” said Astros pitcher Chris Holt, one of Hampton’s closest friends in baseball. “There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for a teammate.”