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Terry Landrum is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and graduated from Highland High School. He was a good high school athlete with a desire to play professional baseball, despite not playing the sport in high school. Landrum wanted to attend junior college rather than a four year college, but he caught the eye of the baseball coach of a small school, Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilbarton. However, only a couple of months into his freshman year, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball club. Despite the quick start, his professional career was a long time developing as he slowly worked his way up from A ball in 1973 to AAA before breaking into the big leagues in 1980. His minor league stops included Orangeburg (A) in the Western Carolina League, St. Petersburg (A+) in the Florida State League, Arkansas (AA) in the Texas League, and Tulsa and Springfield (AAA) in the American Association.  He began his nine year career as an outfielder in Major League Baseball with the Cardinals on July 23, 1980 at age 25, playing with them from 1980 to 1983 before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles late in the season. He rejoined the Cardinals from 1984 to 1987. Late in the 1987 season, he was released by the Cardinals and picked up as a free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers for the remainder of the 1987 season. His final year in the big leagues was 1988 when he returned to the Orioles. Landrum played his final game in the majors on May 9, 1988 at age 33.
Landrum relates that he tried to get a job in baseball upon retiring as a player but none were forthcoming. That door being closed, he resumed his college education at New York University, where he obtained a B.S. degree in Physical Therapy. He was honored by being selected to make the valedictory address to his graduating class, though others had a higher grade point average. He commented that this honor exceeded the thrill of appearing in three World Series in baseball. Terry believes that he learned valuable life lessons in his baseball career. He never gave up, despite it taking him eight years to reach the major leagues. And once he achieved that, he said "I was not an everyday player. I would stay late and listen to everybody. I accepted criticism. That was the only way to learn." [New York Times Archive, November 22, 1998] Applying these lessons to his education, he then engaged his work ethic to learning, devoted the time to his education that it required and remained teachable and inquisitive, giving him a life after baseball.
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Thomas Jefferson Brookshier was raised in Roswell (Chavez County), New Mexico. He was an All-State player in football, basketball and baseball at Roswell High School. Tom went on to be a three year letterman (1950-1952) in football at University of Colorado, playing defense, offense and special teams. He was known as one of the fiercest hitters in the Big 7 Conference, earning first-team all Big 7 as a junior and senior. He was also a relief pitcher on the Buffaloes' baseball team. At his memorial service, teammate Frank Bernardi joked, "He had a really good fastball; he just never knew where it was going!" He was a 10th round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1953. Drafted comparatively low, Brookshier knew he had to make an impression to avoid being cut at training camp. He related that the team's number one pick was running a pass pattern down the field toward him. Brookshire delivered a hard hit that knocked the player out. Tom said he thought he would be released then and there, but when the coach jumped up and yelled, "I like that!" he knew he might have a chance. His rookie season with the Eagles, he intercepted eight passes. The following two years he spent in the U. S. Air Force, having been in the ROTC at Colorado. While in the Air Force, he became an assistant coach of the Air Force Academy with Buck Shaw, later to be his head coach with the Eagles. Brookshire went on to complete seven seasons with the Eagles, being selected All-Pro and twice making the Pro Bowl team (1959 and 1960). His playing career ended after he broke his leg in a 1961 game with the Chicago Bears.  Tom then transitioned to a career in broadcasting. As he was recovering from his broken leg, CBS Radio asked him to do a sports show in the mornings. He then began filling in on WCAU in Philadelphia. He went on to a long and successful career in national broadcasting, and was teamed at various times with Pat Summerall, Dick Vermeil and John Madden. After retiring in 1987 from CBS television broadcasting, Brookshire completed his career working in sports radio in Philadelphia on station WIR.
The Philadelphia Eagles retired his jersey number 40 and he was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1989. [Vernon Stephens is not a product of New Mexico schools, but from time to time we will write about such people and hope you enjoy the diversion.] Vernon Decatur Stephens, Jr. was born in tiny McAlister (Quay County), New Mexico. He was known as "Junior" and was the son of a minor league umpire, Vernon Stephens, Sr., who was a farmer by trade. Born in Oklahoma Territory, Vernon, Sr. and his wife Grace decided to head west in 1920, getting as far as New Mexico where Vernon, Jr. was prematurely delivered. This, however, is likely Junior's only connection with New Mexico, as the family continued on west, eventually settling in Long Beach, California. Consequently, we will only do this brief sketch about him. If you would like to read more about him, please see the excellent article on Vern from SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research, written by Mark Armour.  Junior played shortstop for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles from 1941-1955. Stephens made his debut at the age of 20 when he suited up with the St. Louis Browns on September 13, 1941. He was known as a hard hitting shortstop. His career totals included 1,859 hits, 1001 runs scored, 247 home runs and a lifetime batting average of .248.
Career highlights: 8-time All-Star Six times in the Top 10 in MVP voting Led the American League in home runs in 1945 Three times led the American League in RBI Collected 440 RBI within three consecutive seasons (1948–50) Three times in the Top 10 in batting average Twice led the American League in games played Inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006 Vernon's career statistics match up favorably with today's well known players. He was a very good hitter and fielder of the period in which he played. With respect to amounts paid in professional baseball these days, his highest salary of about $40,000 would seem modest. He was a quality player and enjoyed a nice career. Junior retired from baseball at age 35 and died of a heart attack at age 48. |
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We post articles of general interest about New Mexico athletes, coaches and sports. Some names will already be familiar to you. Others are perhaps not as well known, but we hope you enjoy them all. Archives
December 2015
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