Even In Heaven, The Price Is Right
posted by Scott Hood, Monday, February 04, 2008
Right up until the moment of his passing on Friday at the age of 81. I wouldn’t doubt if the final words of his distinguished life were ‘Go Gamecocks.’
Yes, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of South Carolina athletics, and his personality was a bit gruff at times, but, boy, could he tell stories.
If you wanted to hear Price reminisce about days long gone by, all you had to do is show up early at any USC home game, no matter the sport.
He was at EVERYTHING. Football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and, of course, baseball, his first love.
Yeah, he loved baseball a lot.
I know Price is happy in heaven because he died on the first day of baseball practice. Obviously, the baseball gods granted his wish.
Frankly, it couldn’t have happened any other way.
The only thing more perfect would have been if he had died on the same day USC won the College World Series. But I guess that would have been TOO perfect.
But Ray Tanner may have been on to something when he said on Friday that with both Price and Sarge Frye looking down from the great beyond, USC could be primed for a great season.
I’ve been covering USC baseball since 2000 and Tanner became emotional talking about Price. He broke down when asked about Price and his contributions to the program.
The history books will say he served as USC’s sports information director for 30 years (1962-1992). But he didn’t just walk upon retirement as many people would have done.
Instead, he stayed actively involved with the athletic programs in an emeritus capacity and as the athletic department historian, writing a number of books on that’s subject.
Even into his 80’s, he served as the official scorer at all home baseball games and the analyst on the radio broadcasts of road games.
Ask him about Jeff Grantz and Earl Bass and the great USC baseball teams of the mid-1970’s and he would just smile and promptly launch into a tale of this game or that game or he would give you the reasons why Bass was the greatest Gamecock pitcher ever.
Gosh, he loved talking about those teams.
But he could also tell you about players that the history books have long forgotten. Last year, when Justin Smoak approached the school record (25 games) for the longest hitting streak, Price could tell you anything you needed to know about Greg Keatley, who set the mark in 1976.
All you had to do was ask.
Often, I would arrive for home baseball games just for the opportunity to pick Price’s brain about this player or that player from Gamecock history.
I can honestly say Price never disappointed. He couldn’t. He knew too much.
He did the same thing at basketball games, often holding court – literally – in the press room talking about former USC greats. If there’s one thing that’s unfortunate about his death, Price won’t be around for the 100th year reunion celebration on Feb. 22-23.
It’s also regrettable he won’t be able to experience the new ballpark. But, hey, Moses wasn’t allowed to enter the promised land, either.
My fondest memory of Price comes from a couple of years ago. As I recall, Drew Martin had a key hit as a pinch-hitter in a victory. I asked Baseball SID Andrew Kittick for Martin’s career batting average as a pinch-hitter.
He didn’t know. However, Price offered to research the question.
When I arrived at Sarge Frye Field for the next home game, Price provided me with a two-page breakdown of each of Martin’s career at-bats as a pinch-hitter. Obviously, it took an incredible amount of research, but he got the job done.
He knew how to relate to the media. I’ve dealt with a lot of media relations directors over the years, and sadly that often hasn’t been the case.
That’s why he was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the College Sports Information Directors of America in 1992.
Last Sunday afternoon was the final time I saw Tom Price in the flesh. He attended the USC-Florida women’s basketball game at the Colonial Center, hung out in the media room and sat in his usual seat on press row behind one of the baskets.
I spoke with him for several minutes when I arrived. We talked about the usual stuff - baseball, football and basketball. I think he knew my name. Twenty-four hours later, I was informed he had suffered a massive stroke.
Funeral services for Price are scheduled for Monday at 11:30 a.m.
My final conversation with Price just over a week ago is one I’ll cherish forever.
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Tom Price was a Gamecock, through and through.
Right up until the moment of his passing on Friday at the age of 81. I wouldn’t doubt if the final words of his distinguished life were ‘Go Gamecocks.’
Yes, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of South Carolina athletics, and his personality was a bit gruff at times, but, boy, could he tell stories.
If you wanted to hear Price reminisce about days long gone by, all you had to do is show up early at any USC home game, no matter the sport.
He was at EVERYTHING. Football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and, of course, baseball, his first love.
Yeah, he loved baseball a lot.
I know Price is happy in heaven because he died on the first day of baseball practice. Obviously, the baseball gods granted his wish.
Frankly, it couldn’t have happened any other way.
The only thing more perfect would have been if he had died on the same day USC won the College World Series. But I guess that would have been TOO perfect.
But Ray Tanner may have been on to something when he said on Friday that with both Price and Sarge Frye looking down from the great beyond, USC could be primed for a great season.
I’ve been covering USC baseball since 2000 and Tanner became emotional talking about Price. He broke down when asked about Price and his contributions to the program.
The history books will say he served as USC’s sports information director for 30 years (1962-1992). But he didn’t just walk upon retirement as many people would have done.
Instead, he stayed actively involved with the athletic programs in an emeritus capacity and as the athletic department historian, writing a number of books on that’s subject.
Even into his 80’s, he served as the official scorer at all home baseball games and the analyst on the radio broadcasts of road games.
Ask him about Jeff Grantz and Earl Bass and the great USC baseball teams of the mid-1970’s and he would just smile and promptly launch into a tale of this game or that game or he would give you the reasons why Bass was the greatest Gamecock pitcher ever.
Gosh, he loved talking about those teams.
But he could also tell you about players that the history books have long forgotten. Last year, when Justin Smoak approached the school record (25 games) for the longest hitting streak, Price could tell you anything you needed to know about Greg Keatley, who set the mark in 1976.
All you had to do was ask.
Often, I would arrive for home baseball games just for the opportunity to pick Price’s brain about this player or that player from Gamecock history.
I can honestly say Price never disappointed. He couldn’t. He knew too much.
He did the same thing at basketball games, often holding court – literally – in the press room talking about former USC greats. If there’s one thing that’s unfortunate about his death, Price won’t be around for the 100th year reunion celebration on Feb. 22-23.
It’s also regrettable he won’t be able to experience the new ballpark. But, hey, Moses wasn’t allowed to enter the promised land, either.
My fondest memory of Price comes from a couple of years ago. As I recall, Drew Martin had a key hit as a pinch-hitter in a victory. I asked Baseball SID Andrew Kittick for Martin’s career batting average as a pinch-hitter.
He didn’t know. However, Price offered to research the question.
When I arrived at Sarge Frye Field for the next home game, Price provided me with a two-page breakdown of each of Martin’s career at-bats as a pinch-hitter. Obviously, it took an incredible amount of research, but he got the job done.
He knew how to relate to the media. I’ve dealt with a lot of media relations directors over the years, and sadly that often hasn’t been the case.
That’s why he was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the College Sports Information Directors of America in 1992.
Last Sunday afternoon was the final time I saw Tom Price in the flesh. He attended the USC-Florida women’s basketball game at the Colonial Center, hung out in the media room and sat in his usual seat on press row behind one of the baskets.
I spoke with him for several minutes when I arrived. We talked about the usual stuff - baseball, football and basketball. I think he knew my name. Twenty-four hours later, I was informed he had suffered a massive stroke.
Funeral services for Price are scheduled for Monday at 11:30 a.m.
My final conversation with Price just over a week ago is one I’ll cherish forever.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.