Hollywood actor Bing Russell embraced Portland’s wild, weird 1970s and enticed Elvis with Mavericks, Big League dreams
Updated Feb 01, 2021;
Posted Jan 25, 2021
Bing Russell, right, created an unusual kind of baseball team in Portland. Former New York Yankees star Jim Bouton, left, couldn t resist the call of the wild. (Netflix)
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The 1970s weren’t being kind to Portland.
Gas shortages caused cars to queue for blocks outside filling stations. The New York Times ridiculed the city for the “bomb-site look” of its downtown. The population had begun to shrink.
But a Hollywood actor looked around the struggling blue-collar town in 1973 and couldn’t stop smiling. He called Portland his “favorite city in the world.”
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By the time Casey Stengel became manager of the Oakland Oaks for the 1946 season, the franchise already had nearly a half-century of backstory. Sometimes it stood tall and strong among Pacific Coast League competitors, but often seeming overshadowed by the San Francisco Seals, whose city was about five times
By the time Casey Stengel became manager of the Oakland Oaks for the 1946 season, the franchise already had nearly a half-century of backstory. Sometimes it stood tall and strong among Pacific Coast League competitors, but often seeming overshadowed by the San Francisco Seals, whose city was about five times the size of the Oaks town of 67,000 when the rivalry began. The Seals story (with their five PCL titles, multiple DiMaggios and Lefty O Doul and hit-crazed Smead Jolley) may be more commonly told, but the Oaks are every bit as much a part of baseball history.
The Braves have claimed right-hander Victor Arano and outfielder Kyle Garlick off waivers, the Phillies announced. Philadelphia recently designated both …
Colorado Rockies prospects: No. 18, Yonathan Daza
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18. Yonathan Daza (140 points, 11 ballots)
Yonathan Daza has the longest Rockies tenure of any PuRP on this year’s list by almost three years, having signed out of Venezuela way back in 2010. It took a long time for the righty outfielder to emerge as a notable prospect though, as he didn’t even register any PuRPs votes until the Winter 2014 list. Even after that recognition, it took another four years for Daza to make his first PuRPs list (pre-season 2018) when he was added to the 40-man roster in order to protect him from minor league free agency the first of six consecutive PuRP berths for Daza.
The path of a relief pitcher is one of the most volatile in all of professional sports.
Todd Williams’ career perfectly illustrates the tumultuous nature of that bullpen life. If his name rings a bell, it’s probably because he was on the unfortunate side of a moment that s become part of baseball lore. While pitching for the Orioles against the Marlins on June 22, 2006, Williams tried to issue an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera but tossed a pitch too close to the plate. The budding superstar ripped an RBI single into the outfield.
But that’s not the start or the end of Williams’ story in baseball. The right-hander enjoyed an 18-year career with 16 Minor League seasons and retired with 223 saves, a modern Minor League record. A four-time Rolaids Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year recipient, he accomplished much more in his career than he s typically recognized for.