THREE NIGHTS OF NORTHERN LEAGUE BALL - June 2002

I've just returned from a visit to Duluth, where both my wife's mother and my folks reside. I always time my visits to take in some Northern League ball. The Wade is a classic old stadium that looks a bit like pictures of old Ebbetts Field. It is a beautiful brick edifice, a WPA project completed in 1941; it hasn't changed that much since the 60s when I was there as a young boy.

The first night Nancy came in with me to help me with autographs. She planned on leaving to go to her mother's as soon as she did that for me. She came back in only 20 minutes, with everything signed. "I met this really nice player who asked to see my cards," she said, "and when he was done looking at them he offered to take them into the locker room and get them signed for me. When he came back he gave me a couple of his cards signed as well." The kind player was Papo Davila, one of Sioux Falls coaches. This is the type of kindness that I've run into many times in the Independent Leagues, where players are working toaward a second chance to get a shot with an affiliated team.

Doc Edwards, the former major leaguer who played for Cleveland and Oakland signed several cards, and she also got six cards signed by "the other Billy Williams," a coach for Sioux Falls who played briefly for the 69 Seattle Pilots. He has not responded to mail requests in the past, so I really appreciated the chance to add him to my Seattle and Cleveland (where he coached briefly in their minor league system) scrapbooks Jose Viera, once a highly touted Cub prospect was with them too. You'll find him on the 92 Excel, 93 Classic and 93 Bowman cards as well as on several minor league cards. Tony Mitchell signed several as well. He was a prospect with the Pirates and Indians systems. I would've enjoyed the chance to talk to Marlyn Tisdale. Hee had an excellent year in Billings last season, and Topps felt strongly enough about his prospect status to include him in the 2002 Heritage and Bowman sets. How he ended up in Sioux Falls this quickly would be interesting. He signed hs Billings and a 2002 Bowman for Nancy.

I was working Duluth, and caught their manager, "Dirty Al" Gallagher, who played for San Francisco in the early 70s. Travis Thompson, their closer, signed a couple 2000 Bowman for me as well. Between Nancy and I we got about 80 cards signed. The game didn't amount to much, though. It was rained out after 3 innings. Fortunately Nancy had been watching the weather and met me inside the stadium with an umbrella.

The next night I watched the Dukes take the 1st game of the doubleheader 8-2. Marlon Roche, a kid that I saw play for the River Bandits in 1996, hit two home runs to lead the offensive attack. The Dukes won the second game too, but that would've run pretty late if I'd have stayed for it. Besides, My Father had opted to join me; the fist time in about 35 years that we've gone to a game together. We both had a real good time, but he's used to retiring a bit earlier than I am.

Friday night my brother in law and I went to the game together. The Dukes were one strike away from winning the game 2-1, when Travis Thompson wild-pitched the tying run in. They lost in 11, 4-2. Got all my Schaumburg stuff signed though. Their manager, Jay Ward (how come I always think of Rocky and Bullwinkle?) signed a few cards for me, and among the player was Tom Peterman, who signed his 2000 Bowman for me. There's a laid-back atmosphere, the players aren't jaded by autograph requests, that I really enjoy. If you have an Indy League near you, give it a try.

DAYTON STICKS IT TO US AGAIN (Almost)
I cringed when I heard about Dayton's 2002 card promotion. You acquire the cards in 3 10 card sets by buying gas at Shell stations in the Dayton area. I'm sure it's extra money in the team's coffers, but it sticks it to us fans who are MWL fans and don't live in Ohio or Cincy fans who don't live close enough to acquire the cards. I called the team to call this to their attention. Fortunately, it isn't as dire as it first looks. The gentleman that I talked to said that what cards are left after the promotion will be returned to the team and will be made available sometime around the beginning of August. I'm lucky, Dayton will be in Burlington the end of August, but its going to send alot of you scrambling to find out how to catch the team to get yoour cards signed. I wish teams wouldn't mess with our cards like this, but at least its better than the promotion they had a couple of years ago.

FOLLOW-UP ON THE PEORIA/QC BRAWL
No, they didn't find out who threw the baseball that knocked someone out in the handicapped section, but the Midwest League handed down the biggest lot of fines ever and a bevy of suspensions for the brawl that I wrote about last letter. For the Quad Cities Michael Sandoval got suspended for 8 games, Jesus Merchan, J C Contreras and Travis Bowyer were suspended for three games apiece and Manager Jeff Carter and pitching coach Gary Lucas were each suspended fro 2 games. For the Peoria team, Chris Duncan. Gabe Johnson and Robison each were suspended for three games, Mike Wodnicki and Yadier Molina for 4 games each, and Danny Shaeffer, the Chiefs manager, got a 2 game suspension.

SPRING TRAINING STILL STRAGGLING IN
I've gotten 135 of 219 requests back, with Tyrell Godwin straggling in Saturday. He signed 1 and kept 1. That puts me at 61.6 percent. I finished a shade over 70 last year, so the fall-off hasn't been too bad. Worst team: Tampa Bay, only 3 of 9 back. Dewon Brazelton, Delvin James and Victor Zambrano were among the non-responses so far. Colorado, only 1 of 5, missing are Paniagua, Tsao, Gload and Uribe. Some of the first rounders failed to respond; more youngsters that usual. I had no luck with Boof Bonser, Mitch Jones, Jason Kinchen, Kenny Baugh, Dan Denham, Brian Tallet, Araon Heilman and Luis Montonez among others. Still, some may show up in my mailbox yet.
Its been a fun season so far. Peoria's new stadium is asthetically a masterpiece, but it dropped significantly as an autograph friendly stadium (now I'd have to give top honors to Beloit in the MWL) and I really don't like the sardine-can feel of the new stadium seating or the hike in the concession prices. I'm going to see the new Cedar Rapids park today. Still, I've caught Garrett Stephenson rehabbing in Peoria and have caught Rick Ankiel twice for 2 cards each time. I've also scarfed up Greg Maddux and Shawon Dunston Bobbinheads in MWL uniforms at different giveaways as well as a Pete Vonachen (WHY? because he's owner of the Chiefs, I guess) bobbinhead. My wife just shakes her head sometimes. Still, I'd rather be at a baseball game than anywhere else where the fun is legal.

That's it for awhile, take care, and have fun with the hobby. I sure do.

~ Rich Hanson