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When Jeff pitches, the cows come to watch -- at least that's what happened at a tournament in Morgan Hill in 1981. One of the most versatile and talented defensive players to wear AWA blue, Jeff was adept at handling every position on the field, although he was at his best in the middle of the diamond at either shortstop or second base, or on the mound. Earning the nickname "Smiley" because he played with a constant grin on his face, Jeff's finest moments as an AWA player were the 3-hitter he tossed against one of the area's better "B" teams in 1978 and the notorious beer bet he won against Brian Christie in 1980. On the other side, there was the time he ripped up his uniform in anger from fighting with teammates after a tough loss. "Smiley" injured his knee in 1981 sliding into home plate and it eventually forced his premature retirement. The middle of the three Applegate brothers hung 'em up for good in '85, and we know the cows miss him, too. |