ERIK HILL / Daily News archive 2006
Morgan Wynne slides to score for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots as the ball pops away from Lake Erie (Mich.) Monarchs catcher Eric Diedrich during the 2006 Alaska Baseball League opener at Mulcahy Stadium. See teams “Play ball!” as the Pilots and the Anchorage Bucs get their 2007 seasons rolling this weekend.
Tomorrow's heroes
Alaska baseball a unique glimpse of potential pro players
Published: June 7, 2007
Last Modified: June 7, 2007 at 06:54 PM
The Alaska Baseball League season begins this weekend, and this summer’s crop of talent will most likely produce enough future professionals to field a team.
The only difficulty is figuring out which of the 18- to 20-year-old players will make the cut. Like the game itself, it’s hit or miss, because how well they do here doesn’t always translate at the next level.
“That’s the nature of what we are - a developmental league,” said Anchorage Bucs assistant general manager Zak Basch. “We never know who will be great until they make the big leagues. We get these players when they’re kids.”
The hope is that the boys of summer develop into tomorrow’s professionals.
Each of the six ABL teams has an impressive list of Major League Baseball alumni, both current and retired. That doesn’t include the many more stretched throughout the minor leagues, ranging from the rookies of A ball to veterans of Triple-A.
But the household names who used to roam the fields of The Last Frontier are what the ABL hangs its baseball cap on - giving it credibility and longevity.
It’s a reason the ABL is considered by many to be one of the finest college summer leagues in the country. But promoting the stars of tomorrow can be difficult today because fans don’t know much about the players yet.
“The whole gist of this league is that nobody is somebody until later,” Basch said. “Jeff Kent was just some kid when he was (with the Bucs) in 1987. Now he’s a possible Hall of Fame second baseman.”
With history so important to the ABL, it’s no surprise the Anchorage Bucs and Anchorage Glacier Pilots are embracing it this summer. Each team will pay tribute to people who were instrumental in their success by dedicating games to their honor.
The Glacier Pilots, which started playing ball in 1969, will honor their all-time winningest manager, Augie Garrido, and their all-time leader in pitching victories, Dan Boone, on July 30 at Mulcahy Stadium. Both will be inducted into the Glacier Pilots Hall of Fame.
The Pilots hired Garrido, currently in his 10th season at the University of Texas, as a coach in 1973. He managed the club in 1975 and 1976, compiling an 87-37 record and finishing third and second at the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan.
Boone, a former left-handed knuckleball pitcher, had separate stints with the Pilots, first playing from 1974 to 1976 before returning in 1985 after a tour with major-league clubs San Diego and Houston in the early 1980s. He finished his pro career in 1990 with Baltimore. Boone is the Pilots’ all-time leader in career games (54) and victories (18) and ranks third in single-season saves (10).
The Bucs, which have been around since 1980, will honor the charismatic Red Boucher - credited with founding the ABL - on July 21 at Mulcahy Stadium. It’ll take place during Game 2 of the annual Mayor’s Cup series with the Glacier Pilots.
“All we have is our history,” said Basch, a former ABL pitcher who helped the Fairbanks Goldpanners win the 2002 NBC World Series title. “It makes us legit.”
Daily News reporter Van Williams can be reached at vwilliams@adn.com.
MOST VALUABLE GAMES
The Alaska Baseball League opens the 2007 season Saturday when the Anchorage Bucs host the Stockton (Calif.) Senators at 7 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium; Sunday, the Anchorage Glacier Pilots host the Stockton (Calif.) Senators at 2 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium.
St. Patrick’s Day in June 7 p.m. Saturday, June 16, Mulcahy Stadium: Glacier Pilots players will wear green hats and socks, hoping the luck of the Irish will help them beat the Oceanside (Calif.) Waves. Green beer will be served. And lots of Irish music.
Midnight Sun Baseball Game 10:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, Growden Park, Fairbanks: The Fairbanks Goldpanners host the Oceanside (Calif.) Waves in the 102nd anniversary of the popular game played with no artificial lights.
Governor’s Night 7 p.m. Monday, July 2, Mulcahy Stadium: The Bucs play the Glacier Pilots and welcome Gov. Sarah Palin. No word whether she’ll sing the “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch.
Fourth of July doubleheader 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, Mulcahy Stadium: More than just back-to-back baseball games. The Bucs and Glacier Pilots will provide a fireworks show for fans after the second game.
ABL/MLB Scout Showcase July 13-16, Mulcahy Stadium: All six Alaska Baseball League teams will play a combined 11 games over four days in front of radar gun-carrying, stopwatch-checking Major League Baseball scouts.
Mayor’s Cup 7 p.m. July 20-22, Mulcahy Stadium: Anchorage rivals - the Bucs and Glacier Pilots - battle for bragging rights in this annual three-game series. This year, the event was moved up in the schedule to give it more attention. - Van Williams
