2008 Woodie Awards
Yates recalls playing 'old ball game'
Emily Wuchner
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
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The year was 1963 and Yates was catching for the Murray State baseball team in a seven-inning conference game against Austin Peay.
Yates signaled for a curveball but the pitcher shook him off and threw a fastball, allowing a single and ending the chances for a no-hitter.
"We won," Yates said. "I would have liked to get that no-hitter. I keep reminding that guy every time I see him. I remind him that he messed us up, a chance for the record books."
Yates, now dean for the Center for Continuing Education and Academic Outreach, played baseball for Murray State from 1961 to 1964.
Yates grew up in Mayfield, Ky., and started playing for little league teams when he was eight years old. At 12, as soon as he was old enough, he began playing for an American Legion team his father helped organize. Yates said some of his love of baseball came from his father's influence.
"My dad loved baseball," Yates said. "In fact, I have two brothers that both played over here, too. We had three members of our family that all played baseball here at Murray State."
In high school Yates played football, basketball and baseball but said of the three, baseball was the best fit.
"I think I was better at it," Yates said. "I … wasn't very big, so baseball was a sport you could play regardless of size. I'm 5'10", so I'm not very big for a basketball player, and I only weighed about 145 pounds in those days, so I wasn't very big for a football player. You can play baseball without being big and bulky or tall."
Throughout his baseball career, Yates played a little at each position, but was mostly catcher and third baseman. He was recruited by former baseball coach Johnny Reagan, and the team won the OVC championship three of the four years Yates played.
Yates took ROTC while at Murray State and had a two-year military commitment after he graduated. While stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., Yates played on the post baseball team.
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