Indy Baseball Chatter: KEN RAY MAKES A SPLASH

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

KEN RAY MAKES A SPLASH

Last week's Independent Baseball Insider column was barely out the door last week when I learned Independent veteran Ken Ray was back in the major leagues for the first time since 1999, this time with the Atlanta Braves. The column (prospective subscribers may read it later today at (www.WirzandAssociates.com) was about the former Independent players who opened the season in the major leagues, plus the heart-breaking tale of Chris Coste, who did not stick with Philadelphia despite a brilliant spring.

Less than a year ago the 31-year-old righthander was pitching in the Can-Am League, making three starts for the North Shore Spirit (2-0, 2.75, with opponents hitting .143). He also had pitched in the Western League and the Atlantic League (Long Island) in 2002.

What a splash Ray has made. He made his Braves debut Thursday with two scoreless innings at San Francisco, including striking out his first batter. Some guy named Barry Bonds. He was Bobby Cox's eighth inning guy Monday night, working a scoreless eighth inning to protect a 4-3 lead before 47,332 in Atlanta's home opener. The Braves won, 5-3.

Cox has called on Ray four times in the five days he has been with the team. He has two "holds" and in four innings has allowed one hit, walked two and struck out four.

Bob Wirz

Former chief spokesman for Major League Baseball Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth. Six years as publicity director for the Kansas City Royals, and a background in newspaper, radio and television. Started Wirz & Associates, a sports PR and consulting firm, in 1985. Has written extensively on Independent Baseball since 2003.

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About 'My Nebraska'

It seems almost universally accepted that Nebraskans are friendly, hard-working people.

A native son, who eventually transitioned to the East Coast because it was the best avenue to follow his passion of continuing to work in major league baseball, has published a book to share a lifetime of memories of growing up in the Cornhusker state.

You may have guessed it when you saw the title: My Nebraska. Yes, Bob Wirz, now a youthful 85, is sharing his "rich memories of growing up in rural Nebraska" in the 1940s and 1950s in a delightful 136 pages in the book produced by Dorrance Publishing in Pittsburgh, PA.

Wirz, who got to live his passion of working at the highest levels of baseball and later developing his own sports public relations and marketing company, lovingly empties out his memories of everything from counting millions of tiny trees to playing grass-roots baseball where the age of teammates might run from the early teens to the 50s.

The colorful cover of My Nebraska, which features two paintings from Dunning, NE rancher/artist Laron McGinn that depict the beautiful landscape of rural Nebraska and the ranching lifestyle, sets the tone for the 5 x 8 book also filled with meaningful pictures.

It is "a wistful and endearing love letter to Nebraska filled with memories shared by generations raised in small towns throughout the Midwest", praises Shari Veil, who heads up the journalism and mass communications department at the University of Nebraska.

My Nebraska, a 5x8 paperback, is priced at $19.95 plus $4.00 for handling and shipping. Autographed copies may be ordered at www.WirzandAssociates.com