Courtesy: Oakland Tribune It’s not often one gets a second chance to play professional baseball, which explains why Cal’s Bobby Kahlon is ‘walking around like he just won the lottery.
Kahlon was given the opportunity of lifetime when he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 24th round of the 1994 amateur draft, Fresh off his second straight school record setting season with nine saves as the Cal closer, Kahlon was prepared to go pro. ‘Then he got another call one he would later regret.
“I was approached by an agent and he told me I’d have a better deal in Japan than in the United States or leagues,” Kahlon recalled. “Things didn’t work out too well and I was kind of put in a bind.”
Recently, Kahlon got another call from major-league club. This time, it was Texas, which picked him in the 35thround. This time, Kahlon wasted file time in signing a pro contract.
if feels really good,” said Kahlon, who Left to go straight to the New York Penn League to play short season Class A ball for the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Despite being only 5foot10 and 175 pounds, he was throwing a pitch no one could touch; His signature nasty knuckle curve ultimately earned him a scholarship from Cal after Kahlon went a combined 111 with 12 saves in two seasons. Kahlon quickly developed another trademark while earning CoPac10 Pitcher of the Year and All-American honors as a junior at Cal: his nerdy black rimmed glasses complete with white tape.
Kahlon plans to bring the spectacles with him to New York.
I don’t think I should change now, Kahlon said. ‘A friend of mine sat on them, so I might have to get a new pair. But’ try to make them work as Jong as I can.” World Sikh News welcomes readers contributions of articles and photos of community members and events of interest.
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Article extracted from this publication >> June 30, 1995
