By PETE SCHLEHR, SID Emeritus

TOWSON, Md. – Former Tiger All-American Casper Wells had no immediate answer when asked during his heyday as a major leaguer what he might be doing if he wasn't playing baseball because, at that young age, he envisioned himself active in the game for a very long time.

After a decade long journey in professional baseball, however, reality hit. Wells slugged his way through the minors for most of his first five years before making the Detroit Tigers' major league roster. Over the ensuing seasons he also saw duty with the Seattle Mariners, Oakland A's, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. He spent his final days with the Erie SeaWolves of the Eastern League. That's when, at 30-years-old, rather than experience that climb to the majors again, he called it quits.

But before Wells could take that leap into a new career, he had some unfinished business to take care of; he wanted to complete his college education. He left Towson in a hurry his junior year after the Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 14^th round. He was three semesters shy of earning a Bachelor's degree.

"I had been considering a career change and a way to transition into a life off the field," says Wells, who remains the only Towson player to be named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year (2005). "I was on my way home to Schenectady when I found out that my parents' house had been struck by lightning causing a devastating fire. I wanted to stay with them to help out wherever I could and that's when I decided to go back to school and finish my undergraduate work at Towson."

Wells returned to campus courtesy of the Detroit Tigers, who honored a three-semester scholarship commitment that had been put in place when he was drafted. This coming Wednesday Wells will be among the graduates at SECU Arena accepting his degree in electronic media and film at the university's Winter Commencement Ceremonies.

"He's not going to be one of those guys you hear about who ended his career and is now living under a bridge," says Towson head baseball coach, Mike Gottlieb. "Casper set his goals, got his degree and will be a success. He's made a very good foundation for himself."

Wells played in 277 major league games as an outfielder, batting .230. Having pitched at Towson, he made two mound appearances as a position player in relief and ultimately thought he might extend his professional career as a pitcher. But he came to the conclusion that his arm wouldn't allow him to perform at the high level expected of a major league hurler so he eventually abandoned the notion.

"When you're young you think you can play forever but then reality catches up with you," says Wells, who joins pitcher Chris Nabholz (1990-95) and infielder Al Rubeling (1940-45) as the only three Towson players to make it to the major leagues. "At some point that reality and the perception you have of yourself collide. You want to have goals that aren't just dependent on your health and ability to stay healthy and compete out there on the field."

Wells isn't sure what the future holds. Goal number one, however, has been achieved. He earned his degree.

"While I was playing I really didn't have time to think about what I was going to do other than play baseball," says Wells. "The longer I played, however, the more I came to the realization of how tough it was to keep a job in baseball with the injuries and limited opportunities. It was an awakening. It made me rethink what I wanted to do. I believe, though, that for any job that requires a resume it's beneficial to have your college degree on it."

Over the past decade Wells has developed a number of contacts and made numerous connections. If he keeps to a baseball path it would be as an on-air talent behind the mic. Beyond that he plans to let his degree and experience as a professional athlete do some of the talking.