Ex-big leaguer King, 82, dies
Former professional baseball player Jim King of Elkins died Monday in Fayetteville.
He was 82.
An outfielder, King played 11 seasons with six major-league teams. He began his major-league career in 1955 with the Chicago Cubs where he played two seasons. His first at-bat came at Wrigley Field, where he had a pinch-hit double against eventual Hall of Famer Robin Roberts.
King went on to play a year for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. He didn't play in the majors in the 1959 and 1960 seasons.
King's longest professional stint came with Washington where he played six years. He started the 1967 season with the Senators before wrapping up his career later that year playing a combined 42 games with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians.
In 11 seasons, King played in 1,125 games and finished with 117 home runs, 401 RBI and had a .240 batting average. The left-handed batter hit .270 in 110 games. He hit 11 home runs and had 46 RBI in his first season with Washington in 1961. He hit a career-high 24 home runs and had 62 RBI while batting .231 for the Senators in 1963.
King retired from White River and Alltel telephone companies after 24 years.
There will be visitation from 6-8 p.m. today at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Services will be inside the Nelson-Berna chapel at 2 p.m. Friday.
BASEBALL
Hogs' series opener 2 p.m. Saturday
Arkansas restructured weekend plans will begin with a 2 p.m. game Saturday against Eastern Illinois that will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
The Razorbacks (4-2) had to scrap their four-game series with California, which was set to begin today, because of the threat of severe winter weather. The Golden Bears elected not to spend $35,000 to $40,000 to fly their baseball contingent to Arkansas with the possibility of losing several games to weather-related issues.
Eastern Illinois (0-3) has not played since being swept by Georgia on Feb. 13-15 by a combined score of 39-6.
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said he intends to start right-handers Dominic Taccolini (1-1, 4.50 ERA), Zach Jackson (1-0, 1.29) and Keaton McKinney (0-0, 2.16) against Eastern Illinois.
Sunday's game is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. start, and Monday's game is slated for 2 p.m.
Inclement weather forces changes
Inclement weather across Arkansas and the Midwest has forced several scheduling changes for three state universities.
UALR's game Friday against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville has been rescheduled as the first game of a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock, and Sunday's game has been moved up to noon.
The University of Central Arkansas' three-game series against Missouri State that was to be played in Springfield, Mo., this weekend will be played at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., because of expected inclement weather in southern Missouri.
Arkansas State's series at Houston Baptist (Friday-Sunday) is still on as scheduled. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is scheduled to play a three-game series at Texas Southern on Saturday and Sunday.
UCA and Missouri State will play at 1 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.
In Division II, Harding will play a six-game series against St. Cloud State. The Bisons will play doubleheaders today and Saturday beginning at noon and will play single games Friday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and noon, respectively.
Sports on 02/26/2015