The Lafayette Drillers, a Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, called Lafayette, Louisiana their home for two years, from 1975-1976.

The Drillers, who played their home games at Clark Field, were co-champions of the Texas League in 1975 with the Midland Cubs, finishing 72-57, before going 58-76 in 1976, the last year of affiliated professional baseball in Lafayette.

A number of outstanding players, who eventually made it into Major League Baseball ranks played at Clark Field in 1975 & 1976, including five former Lafayette Driller players.

All summer long, we’re taking a look back at some of the former players for the Drillers.

Today, Craig Barnes.

A native of West Covina, California, Barnes played both seasons that the Drillers were in Lafayette, in 1975 and 1976.

The left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder was a consistent, solid power source for Lafayette, hitting a .262 with 12 home runs, and 51 runs batted in in 1975, while hitting a .264, to go along with 20 homers and 57 RBI's in 1976.

Barnes, who played his college baseball at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California, also contributed 95 hits, 60 runs scored, 15 doubles, and three triples in 1976.

Known mostly for his bat, Barnes was also an adequate fielder, with a combined fielding percentage of .977 in his two seasons with the Drillers, playing 140 games at first base, and another 39 games in the outfield.

For teams to be successful, they need steady production from offensive players such as Barnes, and he's just a part of the reasons why the Drillers were co-champions of the Texas League in 1975.

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