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Princeton University Athletics
Sigh Young
August 29, 2000 | Baseball
Aug. 29, 2000
Chris Young, whose prowess in two sports made him one of the most celebrated athletes in recent Princeton history, will leave Tiger fans wondering what might have been when he signs a professional baseball contract this afternoon with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It was erroneously reported by Baseball America yesterday that Young had already signed, and the Pirates made a similar announcement at their game last night. Young did confirm this morning that the final details had been worked out and that he was going to sign in the early afternoon.
"All of the stories saying I had signed yesterday were incorrect," Young said this morning. "I had not yet signed, but in my mind I was sure that I was going to. It's always been my dream to play professional baseball, and this is the first step."
It's also the last step in a basketball career of great promise. The 6' 11" Young started every game at center each of the last two years, earning Ivy Rookie of the Year and freshman All-America honors two years ago and first-team All-Ivy and honorable mention All-America honors last year. With 801 career points he was on pace to finish his Princeton career second all-time in scoring behind Bill Bradley. He was also on pace to finish his career first all-time at Princeton in blocked shots, second in assists and fourth in rebounding.
Unfortunately, Young's signing in baseball will, under Ivy League rules, preclude him from playing any other sport on the collegiate level. Had Young stayed eligible, he would have had to chose between professional baseball and professional basketball.
"I'm going to miss playing basketball at Princeton," Young said. "I wish there was some way to do both."
Young, a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selectioneach of his first two years in baseball, was a third-round draft choice of the Pirates this past spring. He spent the summer with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League, where he went 4-2 and was a first-team all-league honoree. Young was named the prestigious league's fifth best pro prospect.
"He did exactly what we wanted to see him do against good competition this summer," Pirates scouting director Mickey White told Baseball America. "His signing is a reflection of the dedication he showed to making himself a top pitcher."
The Baseball America story indicated that Young signed a contract that included a bonus of roughly $1.6 million.
Young led Princeton to the NIT each of his first two basketball seasons and to the NCAA tournament last year in baseball.
Princeton opens its basketball season Nov. 14 at Duke. Among the possibilities at the center position are returning sophomore Chris Krug and senior captain Nate Walton.