Think you had a good summer job?

Your summer job probably was not as good as NIU senior Tom O’Neill’s.

O’Neill, an economics major, made $850 a month playing professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization.

Last season’s Huskie second baseman was drafted by the Giants in the 27th round of the amateur draft last June and spent the summer playing Class A baseball in Everett, Wash., of the Northwest League, and Clinton, Iowa, of the Midwest League.

O’Neill transferred to NIU from Wisconsin in 1991 because Wisconsin dropped its baseball program.

At NIU in 1992, O’Neill put together a season that caught the pro scouts’ eyes. He led the team in home runs with seven, stolen bases with 27 and in slugging with .554 percentage.

NIU baseball coach Joe “Spanky” McFarland said attitude and speed are O’Neill’s biggest assets.

“Mentally, (he’s) got the perfect attitude—he loves to play the game,” McFarland said. “He will do all the little things you need to do to win games.”

According to McFarland, O’Neill’s arm strength is his biggest weakness.

“His arm strength limits him to second base,” McFarland said.

If Tom had a better arm, he would have a shot at making it as a utility infielder.”

O’Neill said the most difficult adjustment he had to face in the minors was the wood bats. “You definitely have to swing differently, you have to make solid contact every time,” he said.

O’Neill batted .255 at Clinton.

O’Neill, who is again taking classes at NIU, will have to postpone his education next semester because he has to report to spring training in February. He plans to return to NIU next fall so he can graduate in December of 1993.

The does not know where he will be playing next season because the organization does not tell a player where he is going until he reports to spring training.

O’Neill said he knows that the odds on a major-league career are against him, but he remains optimistic. “Once you’re (in the minors) it’s all pretty much luck,” he said.

“I’ll stay with it until they release me,” O’Neill added.