Indy Baseball Chatter: HAPPY DAYS FOR THESE 10 WHO HAVE '07 WORLD SERIES TIES AFTER THEIR INDY DAYS

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

HAPPY DAYS FOR THESE 10 WHO HAVE '07 WORLD SERIES TIES AFTER THEIR INDY DAYS

With the World Series about to start, I always enjoy trying to identify people within the two participating organizations who have spent time in Independent Baseball. Each one can take pride from having some hand in helping their organization, and many of them probably will have World Series rings at some future date to prove their bragging rights.

The most identifiable person this time is Red Sox rightfielder J. D. Drew, who turned out to be one of the late American League Championship Series heroes. Indy fans remember J.D. for playing his first 74 professional games (1997-98) with the St. Paul (MN) Saints. He drove in a remarkable 83 runs and hit 27 home runs for St. Paul. Drew is the only one of the 50 players expected to be on the final rosters with Independent Baseball playing experience.

The Boston organization has five others I could identify with Indy ties. Regional crosschecker Mark Wasinger spent time at Corpus Christi, TX, scout John Booher was in both the Central (Jackson, MS) and Northeast Leagues (Elmira, NY), scout Dan Madsen was at San Angelo, TX, minor league manager Chad Epperson came through the Frontier League (Cook County, Crestwood, IL), and minor league pitching coach Bob Kipper was in the Frontier at Evansville, IN,

For Colorado, scout Todd Blyleven was at Sioux City, IA, roving infield instructor Rich Dauer was in the Western League, roving catching instructor Marv Foley managed Newark, NJ in the Atlantic League and minor league coach Eduardo Villacis was at Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League.

I would welcome readers pointing out any omissions.

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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