SDSU’s Dietz Stages Unique Kind of Rally

Jim Dietz used to be known as the baseball coach at San Diego State, but that title hardly fits him anymore. As he begins his 20th season at SDSU, Dietz could better be described as a promoter who dabbles in coaching.

Because of the rising costs of travel, umpires, tuition and many other things, one of Dietz’s main goals is keeping his program solvent.

“I spend more time worrying and thinking about that than anything else,” Dietz said.

These days, Dietz is thinking about his latest fund-raising brainchild--Baseball Card Bonanza, which will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Feb. 1 on SDSU’s Smith Field.

Dietz compares the event to a carnival for baseball enthusiasts.

“It will be like a street fair,” he said. “The only thing that will be missing is a Ferris wheel, but maybe next year we can get one.”

Dietz put on a baseball card show at the Doubletree Hotel last year that raised almost $5,000, but he didn’t think it had enough pizazz. So this year he’s gone all out. Jim Warner, one of his assistants, is helping Dietz coordinate.

“Jim Warner has spent four hours every day for the last three months on this thing,” Dietz said. “We’re short a coach because his whole mind is on this show. I’m sure when I hired him last year he didn’t know he’d be doing this.”

In various tents spread out over the outfield, there will be baseball card dealers, some 20 major league players signing autographs, food and beer gardens, machines that will measure throwing speed and baseball clinics. Youth games are scheduled to be played on the infield throughout the day.

Dietz said Tony and Chris Gwynn, Bud Black, Dave Smith and Mark Grace are among the major leaguers who have volunteered their time. Aztec football players Marshall Faulk and David Lowery also will be there.

The Aztecs will spend nearly $50,000 traveling this season, but their recruiting budget is only $28,000. Dietz hopes to make up most of the difference with his bonanza and his budding retail business. He is selling everything from four styles of Aztec baseball caps to sweat shirts, jackets and baseball cards.

Dietz even has his own 800 number. Some days, he’ll just kick back in his office and take phone orders and complaints on parphernalia.

“Four or five years ago, all I had to do was coach,” he said. “Boy, have things changed.”

Gulls live on: It appeared that Troy State and DeVry Institute (Ga.) had broken U.S. International and Loyola Marymount’s NCAA record for most combined points in a game on Sunday. Troy State defeated DeVry, 258-141, for a total of 399 points. LMU (181) and USIU (150) combined for 331 points in January 1989. But the NCAA said Monday that they will not honor the latest record because DeVry is not an NCAA school.

Robinson update: Robby Robinson, a former Times All-County basketball selection at Madison High, appeared to be on his way to overcoming some personal problems and earning a Division I scholarship. He averaged 17 points a game for Mesa College last year and was named first team All-Pacific Coast Conference.

But this season has been a nightmare from the start. He injured his back in an automobile accident over the summer and missed the first two months of the season. Since returning 12 games ago, Robinson is averaging 14 points and shooting 44% from the field.

But Jay Mulvehal, Mesa’s coach, said it’s not just Robinson’s numbers that are down.

“The spark is not quite there,” Mulvehal said. “He doesn’t play as hard as he did in the past. We see it sometimes, but not for very long. We haven’t had the defensive intensity or the leadership that you would expect from a sophomore.

“The coaching staff has talked to him about it, but there doesn’t seem to be much change. As a coach, you always ask yourself, ‘Where have I missed the boat in trying to help this guy?’ ”

Mulvehal said he was getting phone calls from Division I recruiters about Robinson last year, but this year he hasn’t had one.

“People are seeing him, they just don’t seem to be interested,” Mulvehal said. “We think he can be one of the best players in the conference. At times, he plays like that. We’ve still got 10 games left. We’re hoping he’ll come around.”