SEMO PRODUCT BIESER FINALLY BREAKS THROUGH

While Charleston's Matt Whiteside will start the 1997 baseball season in the minor leagues, the news is a lot better for Ste. Genevieve's Steve Bieser.

Bieser, who had kicked around the minors for the past eight years without ever being called up to the majors, has made the opening-day roster of the New York Mets and he will be in uniform today when the Mets open the season in San Diego.

A Ste. Genevieve High product who played for Southeast Missouri State University in 1988 and 1989, Bieser is on the New York squad as a utility outfielder and catcher, according to Mets' officials.

Bieser was not available for comment Monday as the Mets wrapped up their exhibition schedule Monday with a game against Boston in Las Vegas. But his father, Norman, confirmed the obvious: his son is mighty excited.

"Steve has really worked hard and stuck with it," said Norman Bieser from his Ste. Genevieve home. "He spent a lot of time in the minors but never gave up. He's really excited."

Bieser played at Mineral Area College in Park Hills for two seasons before transferring to Southeast, where he spent most of his career as an infielder.

Bieser put up solid numbers in his two seasons playing in Cape Girardeau for coach Palmer Muench. On the school's single-season records chart, he ranks first in walks with 39; fourth in runs scored with 51; is tied for third in triples with five; and is tied for ninth in stolen bases with 15.

On the Southeast career record list, Bieser is tied for fifth in stolen bases with 26 and is tied for eighth in triples with six.

Bieser was not drafted, but he signed with the Phillies after a tryout camp and spent most of his minor-league career in the Philadelphia organization, advancing all the way to Triple A.

Last year, Bieser played for the Montreal Expos' Triple A team in Ottawa. He was picked up by the Mets this year.

Meanwhile, Whiteside -- a former Charleston High standout who later played for Arkansas State -- will begin the season pitching for Oklahoma City, the Texas Rangers' Triple A squad.

Whiteside, who has already spent several seasons as a reliever for the Rangers, shuffled last year between Texas and Oklahoma City.

Kerry Robinson, another former Southeast standout, will be in his third season in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor-league organization.

Robinson spent last year in Single A and there is a good chance he will begin this season in Double A, but Cardinals' officials said Monday that Robinson's assignment has not yet been determined.