Gamecocks baseball dynasty: Q&A with June Raines
Q: What did it mean to you to take your first team in 1977 to the national championship game?
A: “It was quite an experience. After I got out of pro baseball, I realized the College World Series was the ultimate for college teams. Fortunately, we had a pretty good ball club with an excellent pitching staff and Mookie Wilson in center field. We felt like we could compete. We got off to a very slow start, but then we came around and turned on a good winning streak to get there. I had worked with Bobby, and, fortunately, Johnny Hunton stayed with me as an assistant coach and did an outstanding job of recruiting players. Back then, you just had two coaches, so it was a little different than it is now.”
Q: You have the longest tenure (20 seasons) of any coach in the program. Is that a point of pride for you?
A: “I was there a long time, but, of course, I think Ray Tanner could have been there 50 years if he had wanted. My 20 probably pales in comparison to what Ray was going to accomplish (before taking the job of athletics director). I was very proud of my time at Carolina. I’m still a Gamecock and still root for them. I think coach Holbrook is going to do an outstanding job.”
Q: Is there a bond with Richardson, Tanner and Holbrook?
A: “First of all, we had a love of baseball and a love of coaching young men. That’s unique in college sports, for a 40-to-45-year period, to have consistency like that. I pat them all on the back for that and contributing in every way. We had some outstanding young players and some fine young men. That kept the success going.”
Q: What’s your favorite memory?
A: “They’re all favorite memories, but probably the first year. I got off the plane (from Omaha) after we lost 2-1 (to Arizona State in the championship game) and said, ‘Maybe this is easier than I thought.’ But it got harder. Your first year you go and lose the national championship game by one run, and you say, ‘Well, let’s win it next year.’ But it doesn’t work that way.”
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This story was originally published January 17, 2015 at 9:13 PM with the headline "Gamecocks baseball dynasty: Q&A with June Raines."