1960-2012: 53 Seasons of Championship Baseball

The Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks baseball club has entered its 53rd season. The Goldpan- ners operate in a similar manner as a minor league team: playing nightly in stadiums before fans, using wood bats and minor league specification equipment, and also enduring epic road trips by bus. Looking back, it is clear that the program has made a stunning impact on the baseball world. The Goldpanners were pioneers in the promotion of collegiate sports, and rode the strength of the amateur athlete to many victories on and off the field. The Fairbanks club remains dedicated to providing minor league level competition in order to assist in the continuation of the athletes’ careers into the ranks of professional ball. Though started as a humble town team in The influence of the Goldpanners in the the “North of the Range League”, the Alas- baseball world is still on the ascent even ka Goldpanners gained wide fame almost now. Besides the growing popularity of immediately after finishing second overall the Midnight Sun Game, the team’s alum- in the nation at the National Baseball Con- ni often continue with the game after their gress World Series in Wichita, Kansas. playing careers are over, and are now positioned administratively throughout all The curiosity of the Alaskan roots, mixed levels of play. with the entertaining play of a ball team composed entirely of college athletes, en- In addition to the 200 Panners to have deared many fans in the Lower 48. The ascended to the major leagues (and one continued successes of the club led to an - Dan Pastorini - who joined the NFL as almost cult-like following during the 60s Quarterback), a large number have risen and 70s. The team’s allure has only con- to the pinnacle of baseball in the coaching tinued to grow with each passing season or front office administrative fields. -- and each surpassed record and mile- stone. During the last few years, legendary ball- player Bill Lee (66-67-08) has taken it Over the years, the club has achieved nu- upon himself to spread the word of the merous national and international distinc- world-class Fairbanks program, even de- tions, leading to world-wide fame rivalling claring that the club was “the number one that of many professional teams. amateur baseball organization in history.”

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Charlie Cole CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: Don Dennis PRESIDENT: E. Chilton Hines VICE PRESIDENTS: Phil Prax, Brian Rasley GENERAL MANAGER: Todd Dennis GAMING MEMBER IN CHARGE: Brian Rasley ASSISTANTS TO THE GM: John Denning, B.J. Hall PANNERVISION BROADCASTER: Smith Barber STADIUM OPERATIONS: Shirley Stewart TRAINING STAFF: Jim Kimbal FIELD MANAGER: Jim Dietz FIELD PREPARATIONS: Carroll Barber, Lynn Hines MARKETING DIRECTOR: Mike Cloutier VEHICLES: John Lohrke, Seekins Ford VIP, Park Surveyor/Engineer: Jason Barnebey INTERNS: Joshua Gilberts (Management) Josh Collins (Broadcasting) Tom Dennis (PannerVision)

www.goldpanners.com P.O. Box 71154 Fairbanks 907-451-0095 / 907-456-6429 2011 - .771 Winning Percentage in Team’s 52nd Year TEAM RECORDS: Talented Club Barnstormed Through Canada and Down Pacific Coast Wins: 27 Losses: 8 Batting: .321 Pitching: 1.74

The 2011 Goldpanners raced to a walked 32 batters and struck out 115. Versatile Andy Peterson of Santa Ana Speedy Matt Ivanoff of Concordia-Irvine 27-8 record behind strong, some- College, equally at home in center field, hit .308 and thrilled the crowd as he re- times outstanding, individual efforts A pair of Columbia Basic College hurl- at second base or shortstop, hit .317 corded 5 triples, showing unusual speed from both the pitching staff and the ers divided the number 5 starting slot and was the leader in stolen bases with after rounding first base. offensive weapons. On top of all of and combined they were just as good 18. Kyle Geason of Minnesota turned in that the club was a very capable de- as the four stoppers ahead of them. sparkling third base play throughout the The team’s .321 batting average was fensive unit. season and hit .315. Geason was ac- very good and also of note was the fact Lefty Mac Acker and righty Arturo claimed as the best fielding third base- that the club drew 154 walks on top of The lone disappointment of the Reyes combined for a 5-1 record and man since Jason Giambi in 1990 and that while striking out just 151 times. season was losing the Kamloops 2.48 ERA over 36.1 innings. They ranking in the top 5 all-time with the likes International Tournament to Seattle walked 10 and struck out 30, allowing of Gene Delyon and Doug Hunt, not to The combined hitting (.321) and pitching when the Panners were the victims just 6 earned runs between them mention the great Bob Boone, who be- (1.74) makes the 2011 aggregation one of an unusual triple play. came a record setting catcher in the ma- of the top producing Goldpanners teams The pitching staff posted a 1.74 ERA jor leagues. of the first 52 years. The extremely en- The pitching staff is probably the -- best in Goldpanners annals -- and tertaining team played 19 games over place to start in outlining the suc- struck out 284 in 284 innings. Alternate catcher Mike Vaughn of Fres- .500, the second year in a row the Gold- cesses. Most Valuable Pitcher no Pacific came on strong as the season panners accomplished that feat. The Blake Harrison of Concordia-Irvine BATTING CORPS progressed, ending the campaign with a combined 61-23 record of the last two posted monster numbers as he .309 average, and began producing the years is far and away the top mark post- compiled a 0.58 earned run aver- On the offensive side the headlines long ball in the process. ed in the amateur ranks. age. Harrison made seven starts were made by first baseman Robbie but oddly did not get enough sup- Buller of Houston Baptist. The big port to post wins except in the three first sacker rang up the second high- route-going efforts he made. Har- est season batting mark in team history rison, a righty, allowed only three en route to his Most Valuable Player earned runs and walked 13 while award. fanning 31. Buller’s .429 ranks second all-time to Closer Mike Rivera of Fresno Pa- Adam Kennedy’s .432 in 1995. Buller cific was perfect on the season. He finished ahead of Steve Kemp’s .425 appeared in 14 games, worked 14 which he compiled in 1974. The only innings, posted 4 saves and did not other .400 hitters in team history were allow a run, earned or unearned. Bob Boone at .405 in 1968 and Alvin Rivera walked 6 and struck out 21 Davis (1980), and Bill Dunckel (1991) in establishing his perfect mark. at an even .400 each. He became the third Goldpanners pitcher to have a 0.00 ERA behind Buller also led the way in home runs Ryan Schroyer of Arizona State and with 6, hits with 54 and runs batted in Kyle Brule, also of Arizona State with 46. and then later Oklahoma Baptist. Other players made impressive contri- The next three starters all had al- butions, as well. Leadoff hitter Chris most identical seasons. Matt Mil- Pfau from little Lincoln University in ke was 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA while Missouri hit .346 and rugged second Grady Wood was 4-1 with a 1.82 baseman Trent Bridges of Lewis-Clark ERA and Brent Clapper was also State checked in at .318. Pfau led in 4-1 while pitching at a 2.11 ERA. walks with 30 and Bridges topped the Those three starters combined club in doubles with 10. The 53rd season of the Alaska Goldpanners pro- gram has shaped up to be quite a thriller. With 2012 - The 53rd Season of Goldpanners Baseball two teams in operation, and top-notch athletes Goldpanners Operating Two Teams Again This Summer from around the world gathered in Fairbanks, the 2012 Goldpanners led by formidable coaching staff. 2012 Midnight Sun Goldpanners quest for another state championship has begun following up FAABL second place finish in first season of operation. in earnest.

As in 2011, the organization will be fielding both the Alaska Goldpanners in the Alaska Baseball League, and the Fairbanks Goldpanners in the Fairbanks Adult Amateur Baseball League.

The FAABL Goldpanners finished second last year in its first year of operation. Former Fairbanksan Randy Barber, out of a head coaching gig at Tem- pe High School in Arizona, will manage the team while returning infielder Josh Gilberts - out of the University of Wisconsin - will provide an assist by both coaching and playing in the field. 17

The featured attraction, however, remains our en- 22 try in the Alaska Baseball League. Jim Dietz re- 27 turns as Field Manager -- his 16th season in that 13 role. Dietz started with the club in 1970, and has 26 since compiled a stellar career, which was rec- 8 ognized by induction into the prestigious College 20 Baseball Hall of Fame. 24 11 Coach Dietz is joined on the field this season by a 7 full staff of experienced coaches. 33 Returning to Fairbanks as 19 Pitching Coach is former Pan- 15 ner Field Manager Tim Kelly. #4 In 1985, Kelly led the ABL champion Goldpanners all the 6 way to the summer World Se- 3 ries in Wichita, Kansas. Prior 18 to that, he was a pitcher on the

1980 club, which dominated all 32 competition and ultimately ran 14 away with the National Base-

ball Congress championship. 5 Jamie Sluys (pronounced as 21 ‘slice’) is a highly experienced 29 coach out of Everett, WA. Ja- #50 mie was a successful athlete 12 in his playing days, winning honors for his work in base- ball, and had the opportunity to play professional baseball. Instead, he focused on his education and now holds a de- gree and coaches at his Alma mater in Washington. This #52 summer, he will be focusing on infielders. Rounding out the formidable staff is Jon Tatum, an energet- ic and able young coach from the University of Alabama-Bir- mingham.

#30 1960-2011: 52 Seasons of Championship Baseball Charlie Cole - Chairman of the Board Holder of Manifold State, National, and International Titles; Record 6 NBC & Kamloops 1960 Championship: North of the Range League In 1959, shortly after the passage of the Alaska 1961 Championship: North of the Range League Statehood Bill, University of Alaska Fairbanks 1961 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament basketball coach Ray Wheeler determined to 1961 Second Place: Alaska State Championship field a baseball club. 1962 Championship: North of the Range League 1962 Championship: Alaska State Tournament 1962 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Playoff Ray sought to generate support from a number 1962 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament of local baseball enthusiasts. In the process of 1962 Second Place: N.B.C. World Series preparing for the season, he ordered a set of 1962 Award: National Non-Pro Team of the Year 1962 Award: Most Popular National Non-Pro Team uniforms to be manufactured by a local sporting 1963 Award: Most Popular National Non-Pro Team goods store: Pan-Alaska Sports, which was oper- 1963 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament ated by WWII veteran H.A. “Red” Boucher. 1963 Third Place: N.B.C. World Series 1964 Championship: Alaska State Tournament 1964 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament Despite Wheeler’s best efforts that spring, he was 1964 Second Place: N.B.C. World Series unable to get the team onto the field. Boucher, 1965 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament then stuck with a set of uniforms for a team that 1965 Fourth Place: N.B.C. World Series didn’t exist, organized his own push to see the 1966 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament 1966 Championship: Hawaii International Baseball Tourn. project through. 1966 Championship: World Baseball Tournament 1967 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament This he did, and 53 years later the Alaska Gold- 1967 Fourth Place: N.B.C. World Series panners is recognized as the all-time greatest 1968 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament 1969 Second Place: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament amateur baseball club in history. 1969 Fourth Place: N.B.C. World Series 1970 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament The successes of the club during this period are 1970 Championship: N.B.C. Big West Conference Tourn. numerous. Listed on this page are year-by-year 1970 Fourth Place: N.B.C. World Series 1971 Second Place: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament results for all Goldpanners teams. 1971 Second Place: N.B.C. World Series 1972 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament 1972 Championship: N.B.C. World Series YEAR MANAGER G W L % 1972 Fifth Place: Honkbal Baseball Week in Holland 1973 Championship: Alaska World Series 1960 Boucher 18 11 7 61% 1973 Championship: N.B.C. World Series 1961 Boucher 16 12 4 75% 1973 Championship: Kamloops International Tournament* 1974 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 1962 Boucher 31 24 7 77% Team founder H.A. “Red” Boucher enlisted in the 1963 1974 Championship: N.B.C. World Series Boucher 57 45 12 79% 1974 Championship: Kamloops International Tournament* Navy at age 17, served in the Pacific theatre during 1964 Boucher 54 35 19 65% 1975 Championship: Alaska World Series World War II as an expert signalman and meteorolo- 1965 Boucher 57 38 19 67% 1975 Championship: Kamloops International Tournament* gist, and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. 1966 Boucher 63 50 13 79% 1975 Championship: N.B.C. Far West Regional Tourn. 1967 Boucher 55 45 10 82% 1975 Second Place: N.B.C. World Series 1968 Boucher 48 37 11 77% 1976 Second Place: World Crown Tournament At Midway, Boucher served aboard the famous Big 1969 Boucher 59 41 18 69% 1976 Championship: Pueblo Tournament of Champions E -- the USS Enterprise. After the war, one of his 1970 Olsen 57 38 19 67% 1976 Championship: N.B.C. World Series tours of duty took him to the Panama Canal Zone 1976 Championship: Kamloops International Tournament* 1971 Dietz 68 46 22 68% where he was awarded the Air Force Commenda- 1972 1977 Championship: Kamloops International Tournament* Dietz 60 40 20 67% 1977 Championship: Alaska Baseball League tion Ribbon - the only Navy man so honored for ath- 1973 Dietz 66 49 17 74% 1977 Championship: Alaska State Tournament letic endeavor - for his service in the baseball pro- 1974 Dietz 80 60 20 75% 1977 Championship: N.B.C. Northwest Regional gram at Albrook Field in the Canal Zone. Albrook 1975 Dietz 68 51 17 75% 1977 Second Place: National Baseball Congress World Series 1976 Dietz 82 56 26 68% 1978 Championship: Alaska Baseball League was one of a number of Air Force and Navy teams 1977 Dietz 78 48 30 62% 1979 Championship: Alaska Baseball League that Boucher led to championships. 1978 Hines 69 41 28 59% 1980 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 1979 Hines 66 45 21 68% 1980 Championship: National Baseball Congress World Series Red and his family came to Alaska, settling in Fair- 1981 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 1980 Hines 52 43 9 83% banks in 1958 after John F. Kennedy told him there 1981 1982 Championship: Alaska Baseball League Hines 44 26 18 59% 1983 Championship: Alaska Baseball League was great potential in the far north territory. Field- 1982 Hines 57 40 17 70% 1983 Championship: Top of the World Series ing the Goldpanners in 1960 was only one of his 1983 Snow 61 42 19 69% 1983 Championship: N.B.C. Alaska Regional Tournament local projects. He also served on the Fairbanks 1984 Snow 65 42 23 65% 1983 Second Place: National Baseball Congress World Series 1985 Kelly 66 41 25 62% 1984 Championship: Alaska Baseball League City Council, and became mayor in 1966. Boucher 1986 Weathers 62 39 23 63% 1984 Third Place: National Baseball Congress World Series was elected Lieutenant Governor of Alaska under 1987 Weathers 59 40 19 68% 1985 Championship: Alaska Regional NBC State Tournament Governor William Egan, serving from 1970 to 1974. 1988 Weathers 67 46 21 69% 1986 Championship: Alaska Baseball League Pacific Division Afterwards, he served in the Alaska House of Rep- 1986 Fourth Place: National Baseball Congress World Series 1989 Harrison 52 30 22 58% resentatives and later served on the Anchorage As- 1990 1987 Second Place: U.S. Open Tournament - Hawaii Dietz 57 37 20 65% 1988 Championship: U.S. Open Tournament - Tahoe sembly. He was also a telecommunications leader 1991 Dietz 61 47 14 77% 1989 Championship: Midnight Sun Invitational in Alaska, boosting Internet access in remote vil- 1992 Dietz 47 22 25 47% 1990 Championship: U.S. Open Tournament - Ontario lages. Boucher passed away at age 88 during the 1993 Dietz 59 36 23 61% 1991 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 1994 Baumann 55 36 19 65% 1991 Championship: National Shootout Tourney - Amarillo summer solstice of 2009. 1995 Parker 51 33 18 65% 1991 Second Place: U.S. Open Tournament - Carson City Red won many accolades 1996 Parker 54 1993 Championship: Alaska Federation 24 30 44% with the Goldpanners, 1997 Leppert 56 38 18 68% 1993 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 1998 Cowgill 56 31 25 55% 1993 Second Place: Grand National Baseball Tournament none greater than being 1999 1994 Championship: Alaska Baseball League named the “Manager of the Cowgill 45 24 21 53% 1994 Championship: Alaska Invitational Tournament 2000 Cowgill 48 28 20 58% 1994 Second Place: Grand National Baseball Tournament Decade” by the National 2001 Jones 53 26 27 49% 1995 Championship: Alaska Federation Baseball Congress, 2002 Cheff 57 38 19 67% 1995 Championship: Alaska Baseball League operators of the 2003 Cheff 55 38 17 69% 1996 Championship: Hawaii International Tournament World Series of 2004 Cheff 45 29 16 64% 1996 Second Place: Kelowna International Tournament summer ball 2005 Cheff 51 1997 Second Place: Alaska Invitational Tournament 39 12 76% in Wichita, 2006 Cheff 43 21 22 49% 1997 Second Place: Kelowna International Tournament 2007 Gloyd 43 23 20 53% 1998 Second Place: Kelowna International Tourn. Kansas. 2008 Gloyd 2000 Seventh Place: National Baseball Congress World Series 38 18 20 47% 2001 Championship: Wood Bat Invitational Tournament 2009 Gloyd/Dietz 73 34 39 46% 2002 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 2010 Dietz 49 34 15 69% 2002 Championship: N.B.C. World Series 2011 Dietz 35 27 8 77% 2003 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 2005 Championship: Alaska Baseball League 2005 Winners: Midnight Sun Game Centennial TOTALS 2,834 1,853 977 65% 2009 Championship: Kamloops International Tournament Raymond “Hap” Dumont 1960-2011: 52 Seasons of Championship Baseball Charlie Cole - Chairman of the Board Boucher strengthened the organization’s ties to the Fairbanks com- 2011 Interior Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Speech for Charlie Cole munity by organizing a volunteer director board in 1963. The du- Many people might know Charles E. Cole as a local lawyer, or as the former At- ties of the Alaska Goldpanners’ Board of Directors are all geared torney General of the State of Alaska (from 1991-1994) – a man who personally toward supporting the careers of Outside college athletes pursuing negotiated with the president of Exxon in the wake of the 1989 spill. Or as the pro ball, and Fairbanks athletes pursuing college scholarships. Assistant Attorney General for the Territory of Alaska, or even as the Fairbanks city magistrate (having beaten George Sullivan in 1955). But there is an entirely Name Joined Departed *Deceased different side of Charlie that is worthy of recognition. Bill Ackiss 03/14/73 1974 Norm Jenkins 02/28/86 2011 The Fairbanks of the 1950s in which Charlie Cole arrived was still quite rugged. Cynthia Adams 05/12/02 2008 Shirley Jenkins 02/28/86 2011 Alaska was not yet one of the United States. The state of baseball in 1950s John Luther Adams 05/12/02 2008 Carl Johnson 07/01/95 2004 Steve Agbaba 04/12/67 1970 Martha Johnson 07/12/89 1995 Fairbanks was arguably the strongest in our history. The Midnight Sun League Terry Aldridge 05/01/92 ACTIVE Steve Karakash 04/07/65 1967 was burgeoning, thanks to the number of military teams operating from various Russ Amerson 10/12/77 2008 Jim Kelly 03/24/76 1980 bases around the Tanana Valley (Ladd Field, Fort Greeley, Eielson). But the real Brad Amundson 05/01/92 1995 Ed Kennedy 03/25/70 1972 color came from the local town teams -- staffed with scoundrels such as Steve Roger Anderson 05/20/81 1982 Jim Kimbal 05/13/09 ACTIVE Lenny Arsenault 03/05/80 1991 Mark Klaich 02/23/72 1976 Agbaba, Mike Stepovich, Ed Merdes, and a shortstop named Jimmy Growden. Carroll Barber 03/17/86 ACTIVE Jane Knox 05/01/92 2007 The town teams (living in that same ruggedness brought on by the unique hard- Jason Barnebey 05/13/09 ACTIVE Barney Kopf 03/09/67 1980 ships of living in America’s Northernmost city) played hard – both on the field and Dan Barrett 03/05/80 1980 Barney Kopf 01/31/86 1987 off. On the field, our local men took great delight in defeating all comers.. And Cliff Batye 05/08/07 2008 Julius Kornfeind 11/02/77 1995 Dr. James Beckley 09/20/66 1980 Walt Kozie 03/10/71 1982 they certainly took great delight in beating Anchorage, which was believed then Ben Bennett 04/22/81 1981 Eric Kuntz 05/27/06 ACTIVE (as well as now) to have been raised out of much softer soil. Bob Bloom 03/10/71 1973 Lee Lambert 11/11/81 1988 Charlie Cole had long been a baseball man before arriving in Fairbanks; in fact, Bill Boggess 04/17/68 1968 Marc Langland 02/28/73 1977 by the earliest part the decade he had played three years of varsity baseball at H.A. (Red) Boucher 05/28/63 1972 Marc Langland 01/30/80 1982 H.A. (Red) Boucher 11/29/89 2009 Mike Lawless 05/26/10 2010 Stanford University. But school at Palo Alto, CA was a different world from life Heide Boucher 06/21/69 ACTIVE Ed Lawrence 05/11/84 1988 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Playing for the town team organized by the Central Labor Mark Boyer 06/17/87 1995 Ray Leach 02/05/69 1975 Council in 1955-56 (and Sportland thereafter), Charlie became known on the Tom Brice 06/17/97 2006 Ted Lehne 03/26/69 1974 diamond for his powerful stroke and consistent hitting, as well as his dominating Lee Bridgeman 03/07/01 2004 Tony Licalsi 07/22/83 1995 Mark Browning ACTIVE Dick Lobdell 03/20/74 1975 pitching. Regularly sitting above the .400 mark in batting as an outfielder, he also Andy Bruce 07/22/83 1987 John Lohrke 04/14/04 ACTIVE regularly struck out 10 batters or more during his occasional pitching outings Don Bruce 12/01/71 1992 A.J. Maestas 05/26/10 ACTIVE (showing the value of left handed pitching). Charlie Cole, a doubles machine, Lloyd Burgess 05/06/65 1969 Rob’t Marcinkowski 05/26/10 ACTIVE was picked up for the All-Star collection of local ballplayers in 1956, and while Fred R. Burnett 05/28/63 1963 Jack Markstrom 04/28/65 1966 Wally Burnett 05/28/63 ACTIVE Harvey Marlin 04/28/65 1968 facing Ft. Greeley, Charlie struck out 11 and lost a shutout in the 9th inning as John Butrovich 05/31/66 1978 Harvey Marlin III 04/18/79 1983 the locals beat the military men 10-1. Harold Byrd 02/15/67 1995 Jon McCoy 05/12/06 ACTIVE The 1956 Central Labor Council club had a number of epic duels, particular- Phil Carboy 06/03/70 1980 Jim McNamee 03/22/67 1969 ly with the Sportland Bees, Charlie often outshining that club’s resident major Ernie Carter 05/28/63 1968 Bob Meath 04/06/77 1987 Ed Carroway 05/21/65 1967 Ed Merdes 03/22/67 1991 leaguer, Clarence Beers (formerly having a stint with the St. Louis Cardinals). So Wally Cathcart III 03/12/75 1975 Ward Merdes 05/08/92 1995 much so, that by 1957 Charlie became a player/manager for the Bees. Jerry Cleworth 05/08/01 2008 Ward Merdes 05/13/09 ACTIVE The level of baseball was so great, and was such a defining part of the town, that Jack Clowers 05/26/82 1984 Tony Messina 03/19/68 1978 game results were featured on the front page each day by the local paper. While Dean Clowers 05/01/92 1996 Tom Miklautsch 04/05/65 1995 Charles Cole 05/28/63 ACTIVE Gene Miller 01/24/68 1976 the push for Alaskan Statehood gained a head of steam with the promotion of lo- Al Collins 04/12/67 1967 Mike Minsky 05/20/87 2003 cal baseball man Mike Stepovich to the Territorial Governorship in 1957, Charlie George Craft 03/10/71 1980 Harold Moles 07/01/81 1991 was dominating all competition on the diamond. In fact, the 1957 Sportland Bees Bill Creighton 03/20/74 1981 Tom Moyer 07/15/87 2008 were one of the all-time greatest baseball forces in the world for a local town Chuck Culver 03/30/83 1995 Jack Murphy 01/24/68 1987 Sheena Cummings 05/07/08 2010 Steve Nerland 03/24/76 1980 team -- not to mention, one in Alaska! Sporting a roster that included two Coles Hap Currington 05/04/77 1977 Carl Noble 05/06/83 1995 (Charlie and his brother Dick), Beers, and brilliant moundsman Brower, the 1957 Chris Custer 05/08/07 2009 Ed Orbeck 06/07/63 1969 Bees might just be the greatest town team in Fairbanks history... an absolute Frank Danner 04/05/66 1970 Bill Pair 01/30/80 1981 juggernaut of rugged play and athletic domination. Bob Davis 03/10/71 2000 Steve Peek 05/07/08 ACTIVE Ron Davis 03/29/67 1976 Ed Perkowski 05/04/77 1978 But as fine as 1957 was for Charlie, 1958 was even greater... On the very day Frank DeLong 04/06/77 1982 Mark Poole 05/09/86 1991 the bill for Alaskan statehood was on the floor of the US Senate, Charlie started John Denning 03/18/05 ACTIVE Phil Prax 03/07/01 ACTIVE and won the 53rd Midnight Sun Game (marking the exact half-way point in the Don Dennis 01/31/68 ACTIVE Lowell Purcell 05/01/92 2000 history of the solstice classic from 1906 until today. Steve Dennis 05/12/92 1998 Phil Ramos 03/18/81 1981 Todd Dennis 04/07/01 ACTIVE Dale Rankin 03/26/75 1995 In the 1958 Midnight Sun Game, Charlie struck out 15 batters from the Ladd Jim Desmond 07/31/66 1969 Brian Rasley 05/07/03 ACTIVE Field Special Units through eight innings, but almost saw disaster strike in the Jim Dieringer 06/09/82 ACTIVE Dave Rasley 05/20/81 2009 9th. Picking up with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner account: Jim Dixon 05/13/09 ACTIVE Gretchen Ray 05/07/03 ACTIVE “The excitement continued until the final pitch of the ballgame. In the last of the Robert Dixon 05/28/63 1963 Dr. Joseph Ribar 04/05/65 1966 Larry Dotson 05/13/09 ACTIVE Les Rogers 03/16/77 1995 ninth with a two-run cushion, Cole got the first two away easily on grounders to Bob Douglass 05/01/92 ACTIVE Doyle Ruff 06/15/84 1987 short, but a missed fly ball and a single by Hammer put the tying runs on base Bob Downes 03/05/80 2001 Mort Schierhorn 12/07/77 1980 with the winning run at the plate. In sensational fashion, Clair picked a Cole de- Joe Eisenmenger 03/12/69 1973 Leo Schlotfeldt 05/08/65 1971 livery, sending the ball on its way over the low Centerfield barrier (at Griffin Park). Gerald Evans 04/05/65 1969 Ralph Seekins 03/28/79 1991 Judge Vern Forbes 03/22/67 1969 Mike Sfraga 06/24/87 1990 But Bee’s centerfielder Frank Price made a desperate racing catch of the ball Gerald Finley 04/05/65 1967 Harris Shelton 05/14/82 1992 before it dropped over the wall, saving the day for the Sportland squad.” Kevin Fitzgerald 05/25/06 ACTIVE Jack Shuttleworth 03/10/71 1987 In that game. Charlie went 1-for-1 with a run scored, four walks and an RBI -- in Al Fleetwood 03/22/67 1972 C.W. Snedden 05/28/63 1967 addition to his 11 strikeout performance. Joe Franich 05/28/63 1978 Duane Snedden 03/27/68 1990 Robert Francis 04/17/01 2010 Dr. Bryce Stallard 03/24/80 1980 You could say that Charlie retired from organized baseball at the peak of his Paul Gavora 03/22/67 1972 Rod Stephens 05/07/08 ACTIVE game. But his commitment to Fairbanks baseball didn’t end there. His on field Kevin Ginley 03/29/03 2010 Steve Stephens 03/14/73 ACTIVE determination was translated to off field management. He was the first Chair- John Glidden 05/09/86 1990 Mike Stepovich 05/28/63 1967 man of the Alaska Goldpanners’ Board of Directors -- a position he held until Conrad Gonzalez 06/09/09 2010 Mike Stepovich III 05/25/84 1987 Les Gray 05/27/70 1971 John Stein 05/13/81 1987 the arrival of Bill Stroecker -- and is a position which he holds yet again with the Dale Green 04/07/65 1965 Dave Stewart 03/10/71 1973 departure of our friend last year. But, despite all the years of off-field manage- Les Gunderson 01/19/72 1980 Bill Stroecker 05/28/63 2010 ment, Charlie wasn’t finished playing the game. B.J. Hall 03/06/81 1982 Jay Sullivan 07/12/78 1981 In 2003, once again in Palo Alto, at Stanford University’s Old Timers’ Game, B.J. Hall 02/28/86 ACTIVE Tim Sullivan 05/09/86 1988 Bob Hardin 03/13/74 1977 Dave Swanson 11/04/81 2010 Charlie distinguished himself on the field by clubbing a game-ending run scoring Col. Ken Haycraft 05/21/65 1982 Danny Thomas 03/17/76 1981 double. Jim Hayes 06/07/91 2003 Sean Timmons 05/08/07 ACTIVE As an example of the living symbol of the ideals of Interior baseball, and the Ken Henry 04/17/74 1977 L.K. Virgin 03/29/67 1969 determination, that Charlie brought to all fields of competition, sitting Alaska Hank Heuvel 04/14/76 1979 Nate Voegeli 03/16/01 2004 Al Hines 04/26/89 2009 Bob Vogt 03/06/68 1970 Governor Wally Hickel stated: “On behalf of the State of Alaska, I want to com- E. Chilton Hines 02/17/95 ACTIVE Dick Ward 01/24/68 1969 mend.. Alaska Attorney General Charlie Cole for his aggressive yet patient com- Lynn Hines 02/17/95 2009 Bill Waugaman 04/05/65 1969 mitment..” Bud Hollowell 03/18/81 1981 Emmitt Wilson 04/12/67 1972 So, in honor of the hardships endured by all Fairbanksans, and the personal Don Hoover 04/07/77 1980 Sam Woodke 04/18/79 2010 Bill Hutchinson 03/12/75 1976 Dale Woody 03/12/75 1978 dedication it takes to rise above those hardships -- flourishing personally and Raymond “Hap” Dumont Jim Jasperson 04/18/79 1981 Dale Yoder 03/12/75 1980 athletically. 1960: Goldpanners Adopted Midnight Sun Game Tradition World Famous Event Enriched by the Player and Opponent Recruiting of the Goldpanners The Midnight Sun Game tradition dates back to the earliest days of Fairbanks, Alaska. During the winter of 1905/06, two local pubs bet bragging rights for the entire winter (plus a few incidentals) on the outcome of the game. From there, the novelty of the event led to outsiders being imported to take on the Fairbanks team. In the first year of operation for the Goldpanners ballclub, Red Boucher recognized the novelty of the promotion, and the opportunity the game offered to represent Fairbanks to the outside world. # WINNING PITCHER 1 1906 California Bar 7 Eagles Club 4 Ross/Stroecker BASEBALL’S MOST NATURAL PROMOTION 2 1907 Tanana Company 2 Eagles Club 1 McLaughlin 3 1908 Arctic Brotherhood 3 Northern Commercial 2 Wakefield 4 1909 California Bar 8 N.M.’s 7 5 1910 California Bar 8 Athletics 11 Courtemanche Each June 21, on the longest day of the year (with a full 24 hours of light in the 6 1911 California Bar 16 Arctic Senators 11 Jack Buckley vast Tanana Valley), Fairbanksans celebrate the coming of the summer solstice 7 1912 Van Dycks 20 Eagles Club 5 Eddie Stroecker 8 1913 Van Dycks 11 Marquettes 13 Jack Buckley in a variety of ways, including baseball at midnight. Never once has artificial 9 1914 Van Dycks 11 Marquettes 9 lighting been used for this unique event, and never has the game been delayed 10 1915 Van Dycks 11 Eagles Club 9 Eddie Stroecker 11 1916 Van Dycks 5 Marquettes 6 Howard Logan due to darkness. 12 1917 Van Dycks Fairbanks Clothing Stanford 13 1918 Fairbanks All-Stars 20 Nenana 7 Beam 14 1919 Fairbanks Men Professionals Since the Goldpanners are the farthest North ball club on Earth, where in sum- 15 1920 Van Dycks 9 Fairbanks Clothing 7 Charles Gies 16 1921 Impromptu Only No News Report mer the sun rarely stops shining, the team annually takes advantage of its unique 17 1922 Yannigans Revelers geographic location by staging a baseball game during the midnight hour. 18 1923 Fairbanks All-Stars 4 Nenana 2 19 1924 Anchorage AK RR 6 Fairbanks Giants 0 20 1925 Radio Station 5 Sawmill 2 With Fairbanks a mere 160 miles South of the Arctic Circle, the sun is just be- 21 1926 Anchorage 8 Fairbanks 2 Bortz ginning to set in the North as the game gets under way and, at its conclusion 22 1927 Fairbanks All-Stars 6 F.E. Company Athletics 2 23 1928 Fairbanks All-Stars 7 F.E. Company Athletics 6 Shaw some three hours later, the sun begins to rise again - also in the North. It is a 24 1929 Fairbanks All-Stars 4 F.E. Company Athletics 5 Hinsey 25 1930 Standard Oil 7 Fairbanks 0 Ralph Wien phenomenon ever so rare. 26 1931 Fairbanks All-Stars F.E. Company Athletics 27 1932 Independents 8 Fairbanks All-Stars 4 Herb Johnson 28 1933 Fairbanks All-Stars 18 Independents 7 Abie Holt There is no other team tradition in baseball history to match that of Fairbanks and 29 1934 Impromptu Only No News Report its annual midnight baseball game. Certainly there is no other team tradition as 30 1935 Area Miners 9 Fairbanks All-Stars 4 31 1936 Fairbanks All-Stars 3 Area Miners 1 W. Locey old as the Midnight Sun Game. The World Series of Major League Baseball - 32 1937 Impromptu Only No News Report which is the promotion of no single team (not even the Yankees) - is a mere three 33 1938 Shields Baseball 6 Shields Softball 1 Selwyn Young years older than the annual solstice classic in Fairbanks. 34 1939 Cushman Merchants F.E. Company Athletics 35 1940 Ester Miners 3 Fairbanks Cubs 2 Vern Reake 36 1941 Cushman Merchants Ladd Field All-Stars The “high noon at midnight” classic originated in Fairbanks in 1906 at the direction 37 1942 Fairbanks All-Stars 8 F.E. Miners 5 L. Albin 38 1943 Quartermasters 6 Ladd Field All-Stars 2 Treskovich of local ballplayer and bartender Eddie Stroecker. Every year since it was a ritual 39 1944 Edmonton Yanks 3 Ladd Field All-Stars 4 to play the game on the solstice. The Goldpanners, led by H.A. “Red” Boucher, 40 1945 Team Attu 4 Ladd Field All-Stars 3 Johnson 41 1946 Ladd Field All-Stars 8 Fairbanks Allies 7 Allen adopted the concept in 1960 -- the club’s very first year of competition. 42 1947 Ladd Field Eagles 8 Fairbanks All-Stars 5 B. Brown 43 1948 Ladd Field All-Stars 12 Midnight Sun All-Stars 2 Joe Lagosky 44 1949 Fairbanks All-Stars 3 Ladd Field All-Stars 2 Valentine Though each game is unique in its own way, that first solstice game was truly a 45 1950 Fairbanks All-Stars 5 Anchorage U.S. Army 2 classic, as the enthusiastic Boucher led the Goldpanners to a 11-0 victory over 46 1951 Military Stars 4 Fairbanks All-Stars 0 Newman 47 1952 Ladd Field All-Stars 2 Fairbanks All-Stars 1 Klesitz the Fairbanks Pioneers. One of the finest moments in the history of the event 48 1953 Fairbanks All-Stars 6 Military Stars 2 Brow came in 1967, when Kumagai-Gumi Japan was the visiting team. With the Pan- 49 1954 Fairbanks All-Stars 5 Ladd Field All Stars 0 B. Roberts 50 1955 Ladd Field All-Stars 20 Eielson All Stars 8 L. Wineburn ners fresh off of a World Championship against Japan, the game took on great 51 1956 Eielson Air Force 5 Ladd Field All-Stars 7 B. Edwards international significance The Goldpanners’ starting pitcher for that game was 52 1957 Sportland Bees 6 Air Force All-Stars 0 Floyd Brower 53 1958 Sportland Bees 5 Ladd Field All-Stars 3 Charlie Cole Bill (later “Spaceman”) Lee. 54 1959 Anchorage All-Stars 16 Fairbanks Sales & Service 6 Frank Keenan 55 1960 Alaska Goldpanners 11 Fairbanks Pioneers 0 Ray Wheeler 56 1961 Alaska Goldpanners 10 North of the Range Stars 4 Paul Long 57 1962 Alaska Goldpanners 8 Military Stars 3 George Mies Over the years, the Midnight Sun Game has enjoyed wide popularity. GQ 58 1963 Alaska Goldpanners 1 Wichita Dreamliners 3 Dave Newkirk Magazine dubbed the game one of the “86 Reasons to be proud to be an 59 1964 Alaska Goldpanners 5 Grand Junction Eagles 10 Barry Lersch* 60 1965 Alaska Goldpanners 4 USC Trojans 3 George Mies American.” Baseball America called the game one of the “12 Must See Events for 61 1966 Alaska Goldpanners 8 OSU Beavers 3 Don Rose* the Baseball Fan.” For Fairbanksans, the game is a way to reflect on the passing 62 1967 Alaska Goldpanners 3 Kumagai-Gumi 10 Yasuo Fujitsu; Lee* 63 1968 Alaska Goldpanners 7 Santa Clara Broncos 0 Brent Strom* of a year, and to celebrate surviving another long winter. 64 1969 Alaska Goldpanners 2 Boulder Collegians 5 Burt Hooten* 65 1970 Alaska Goldpanners 3 Arizona Wildcats 4 Leon Hooten* 66 1971 Alaska Goldpanners 12 Stanford Indians 3 Rich Troedson* 67 1972 Alaska Goldpanners 4 Ponchatoula, LA 5 Kenny Alfred 68 1973 Alaska Goldpanners 5 Brigham Young 8 Lynn Allan 69 1974 Alaska Goldpanners 7 WSU Cougars 6 Wayne Steele 70 1975 Alaska Goldpanners 4 Vanderbuilt Commodores 3 Thad Troedson 71 1976 Alaska Goldpanners 6 Westwood Bruins 4 Greg Harris* 72 1977 Alaska Goldpanners 12 Alberta Generals 11 Mike Boddicker* 73 1978 Alaska Goldpanners 1 Wichita Coors 10 Ray Fontenot* 74 1979 Alaska Goldpanners 8 UNC Tar Heels 2 Alan Wiggins 75 1980 Alaska Goldpanners 16 Wisconsin Badgers 5 Ron Romanick* 76 1981 Alaska Goldpanners 11 Intermountain Badgers 4 Dan Plesac* 77 1982 Alaska Goldpanners 8 San Francisco Senators 3 Eddie Delzer 78 1983 Alaska Goldpanners 7 Anchorage Bucs 2 Todd Simmons 79 1984 Alaska Goldpanners 9 Taiwan Olympic - Forfeit 0 Dion Beck (forfeit) 80 1985 Alaska Goldpanners 11 Moraga, CA, Marauders 12 Blas Minor* 81 1986 Alaska Goldpanners 8 San Francisco Senators 1 John Sipple 82 1987 Alaska Goldpanners 1 Mat-Su Miners 2 Kris Kramer 83 1988 Alaska Goldpanners 6 Hawaii Island Movers 5 Jim Richardson 84 1989 Alaska Goldpanners 7 San Diego Sea World 3 Dennis Gray 85 1990 Alaska Goldpanners 12 San Bernadino Tribe 3 Jerry Stafford 86 1991 Alaska Goldpanners 9 Lake Tahoe Stars 8 Benji Grigsby* 87 1992 Alaska Goldpanners 1 Victor Valley, CA, Mets 2 Gabe Herrera 88 1993 Alaska Goldpanners 10 Lake Tahoe Stars 4 Robert Donnely 89 1994 Alaska Goldpanners 15 San Diego Stars 6 Darin Blood 90 1995 Alaska Goldpanners 10 San Francisco Seals 4 Chris Bloomer 91 1996 Alaska Goldpanners 5 Anchorage Bucs 3 Adam Pettyjohn* 92 1997 Alaska Goldpanners 12 Kelowna Grizzlies 0 Craig Jones 93 1998 Alaska Goldpanners 14 Kelowna Grizzlies 7 Pete Fredericks 94 1999 Alaska Goldpanners 7 Oceanside, CA, Waves 1 Jason Berni 95 2000 Alaska Goldpanners 3 Santa Barbara Foresters 2 Adam Heaps 96 2001 Alaska Goldpanners 2 Oceanside, CA, Waves 1 Andy Davidson 97 2002 Alaska Goldpanners 2 California Running Birds 1 Sean Timmons 98 2003 Alaska Goldpanners 3 California Running Birds 1 Drew Jenson 99 2004 Alaska Goldpanners 9 Kenai Peninsula Oilers 1 Sean Timmons 100 2005 Alaska Goldpanners 3 Omaha Zone 1 Sean Timmons 101 2006 Alaska Goldpanners 2 Beatrice Bruins 1 Chris Kissock 102 2007 Alaska Goldpanners 1 Oceanside, CA, Waves 6 Tim Stromble 103 2008 Alaska Goldpanners 10 California Running Birds 6 Bill “Spaceman” Lee* 104 2009 Alaska Goldpanners 6 Lake Erie, MI, Monarchs 1 Darrah ; Timmons, sv Midnight Sun Series vs. Kumagai Gumi Japan. Red Boucher, Bill Lee, Yasuo Fujitsu, and Manager Masayuki Furuta 105 2010 Alaska Goldpanners 4 Heroes of the Diamond 3 Simon Kudernatsch 106 2011 Alaska Goldpanners 2 Oceanside, CA, Waves 1 Mac Acker 1960: Goldpanners Adopted Midnight Sun Game Tradition

BASEBALL USED TO REBUILD FAIRBANKS SPIRIT FOLLOWING FIRE OF 1906

The history of baseball in Fairbanks In the spring of 1906, the sawdust- and bragging rights for the long winter is an integral part of the overall story insulated buildings along the Chena offseason. of the town as a whole. For over 100 River broke into flames. Without years, Fairbanks’ love of baseball has enough fuel to heat up the still- Both the town and the contest took on a helped built community spirit. No event frozen water pipes to put the fire out, new shape in the late 1910s and early demonstrates the importance of baseball the Northern Commercial Company 1920s, when the town of Anchorage in Fairbanks’ early days than the very thought to burn 2,000 pounds of bacon was established and maintained as first Midnight Sun Game in 1906. in its boilers -- thereby raising the water a work camp by the Alaska Railroad. pressure for the fire fighting effort. Fairbanks civic pride led the drive for Though established as a base of letting baseball decide which town was commercial operation in 1901 -- by Instead of allowing this dreadful blow tougher, and the Midnight Sun Game an act of sheer chance or Providence to cripple the town’s morale, immediate became a battleground for statewide -- the Fairbanks population didn’t begin plans were made to rebuild. In the most bragging rights. arriving until gold was discovered critical moment of the life of Fairbanks, the following year. As one might the community determined to live. It The 1930s saw the emergence of expect, the culture that arrived was was at this time that the gold rush camp teams of industrial workers, playing mix of gold rushers and adventurers, became a true frontier town. for such corporations as the F.E. introducing many scoundrels and Company and Standard Oil. The outlaws into the Fairbanks area. Within a month, the entire population winning pitcher of the 1930 game had worked together to build a new was Standard Oil’s Ralph Wien, For about four years, Fairbanks was a life on top of the ashes of the old. pioneering bush pilot and brother of booming town thanks to the gold found This quick success made the summer Alaska Airlines Patriarch Noel Wien. in the surrounding valleys. Between solstice a time of immense celebration Tragically, Ralph was killed later that 1903 and 1905, the gold take coming for Fairbanksans. Local hero Eddie same year when a startled missionary from Fairbanks grew from $40K to $6 Stroecker organized a special midnight grabbed Noel’s secondary yoke stick, million dollars. The freewheeling spirit ballgame to commemorate the longest causing his plane to stall and crash. that typified the entirety of the gold rush day of the year. That evening, it was era embedded itself completely in the as if the entire town exhaled for the Declaration of war in Europe and the town of Fairbanks -- the final destination first time in a month, and the resultant threat of Japanese invasion made in that illustrious and infamous period in spectacle electrified Fairbanks with Alaska a center of military activity. the history of the American West. immense optimism and hope for the Baseball was one major form of future. entertainment for the troops, and Baseball emerged as a highly popular elaborate leagues were created during form of recreation and entertainment, “Fully 1,500 people were present the height of World War II. Quite and was played vigorously. Large sums and there has never been such often, bases around the Tanana Valley of money were routinely wagered on hooting at a local game.” would each hold their own versions single plays. With only so many ways of the solstice classic. There were for a newly rich man to throw around The continued enthusiasm of the town two midnight games in 1940, three his money in those days, and with the and the relentless competitive fire of in 1948, three in 1953, two in 1954 recklessness of the age, it is easy to the athletes made the midnight game four in 1955, two in 1956, and three imagine how wild those early games a standard of Fairbanks summer life in 1960. really were. from then on. Even the arctic winters became more bearable, knowing that The Alaska Goldpanners baseball As Fairbanks slowly transformed itself June 21st approached. club, founded by World War II veteran from a temporary commercial base to H.A. “Red” Boucher, adopted the an incorporated town, baseball took on For the first decade or so, the contests Midnight Sun Game in their first year a new civic dimension, with full leagues were held between town teams. Local of competition. The year was 1960, created and maintained by local leaders teams, such as those from the initial and Boucher led the Goldpanners and hooligans alike. participant California Bar and Eagles’ to a 11-0 victory over the Fairbanks Club, battled for supremacy during Pioneers. The Panners have hosted the solstice, scoring runs on the field, the game every year since then.

Eddie Stroecker, driving force behind the first Midnight Sun Game. 1964: Tom Seaver Auditioned in Fairbanks for Southern Cal. Scholarship Boucher and Dedeaux Establish the Fabled Fairbanks “Pipeline to the Major Leagues” The Goldpanners were a hit everywhere after finishing second in the nation in 1962. In a short period of time, Red formed relationships with several West Coast colleges as he promoted summer baseball in Alaska. But it was Boucher’s bond with U.S.C. coach Rod Dedeaux that put the Goldpanners on the map. Dedeaux had one of the top college programs in the country. And Boucher, in Alaska, could help build these young boys into men. Dedeaux sent a young pitcher with hopes of transferring into U.S.C. up to Fairbanks to be sized up by Red.

Tom Seaver set the standard for a generation of Upon his arrival in Alaska, he was greeted by Goldpanners big league pitchers. In his twenty-year career in manager Red Boucher. Mr. Boucher gave Seaver a uniform the Major Leagues, the righthanded fireballer won and then drove directly to the park, where the Goldpanners 311 games and notched 3,640 strikeouts, while were playing the Bells from Washington State. The score posting a 2.86 career ERA, and picking up three was tied at 2-2. Tom was asked to get in uniform and go to Cy Young awards. Seaver was elected overwhelm- the bullpen. ingly to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 -- the first year he was eligible for the ballot Tom Seaver: “They picked me up at the airport. I got in the -- by the highest percentage in history. car, and my uniform was in the car! They said, ‘get dressed’, because they were playing. I didn’t know where we were go- But before Seaver became the National League’s ing. I didn’t know anybody on the team. 1967 Rookie of the Year, and a world-famous New York Mets champion in 1969, “Tom Terrific” was an So we drive to the stadium, and I got out and went to the Alaska Goldpanner. He played in Fairbanks for two bullpen... which is where pitchers - young and old - go and seasons with the Panners (1964-65), after his first spend their time. All of a sudden, they called down there year of college ball, at Fresno City College, and and said ‘get loose, you are going to be in the game next second after his transfer to the University of South- inning.’ And I pitched in the game.” ern California. By the sixth inning, Tom was brought into the game, having The transfer to USC came as a direct result of just got off the plane. He struck out the first batter he faced, Tom’s progress during his summer with the Fair- got the next one to pop up, and went on to win the game. banks club. In those days, Panner manager Red Boucher had struck a highly successful relation- Tom Seaver: “If there is one thread that runs through Red ship with legendary USC coach Rod Dedeaux, Boucher and Rod Dedeaux, it is their enthusiasm for what who in this case wanted to make sure Tom was they are doing. And especially talking about baseball.“ good enough to deserve a college scholarship. Even after establishing himself in the bigs, Tom would keep Red Boucher: “Tom was of the caliber I would call, in touch with Red. One of the last times they were together ‘the typical Goldpanner’. I didn’t have to teach him was at the 80th birthday party for Rod Dedeaux at USC. much as far as baseball was concerned.” Throughout the decades since 1964, the “Boucher/Dedeaux Tom Seaver: “For me, it was just going to be an Pipeline” to Fairbanks has resulted in many other similar “Your program, Red, was adventure going to Alaska. I mean, for a kid from situations, including the Fairbanks careers of other USC a vital step in my prog- Fresno? No way. I very gladly got on the plane, baseball luminaries, such as Dave Kingman, Bill “Space- and went on to Fairbanks.” man” Lee, and Bret Boone. ress toward reaching a world championship and specifically the Cy Young award of 1969. I send my heartfelt thanks to you and the members of the Goldpanners orga- nization -- May it never cease to exist.”

- Tom Seaver, 1969 1964: Tom Seaver Auditioned in Fairbanks for Southern Cal. Scholarship The Sporting News, August 26, 1967

From the top of the world to the bottom of the National League in two fast years is the saga that has unfolded for Tom Seaver and Danny Frisella.

In 1965, the two hard-throwing California collegians were teammates on the Gold- panners in Fairbanks, Alaska, the northernmost “big” city in the United States— not far removed from the Arctic Circle. Today Seaver and Frisella are team- mates and starting pitchers for the Mets in New York, the country’s largest city. Other than the differences they have encountered between life in Fair- banks and on the Great White Way, the two rookies have had to adjust to the winning and losing ways of the Goldpanners and the Mets. Seaver was with the Goldpanners in 1964 and ‘65 and both times the team, man- aged by Red Boucher, won the state semi-pro championship. Frisella helped in winning the ‘65 title. With the Mets, they’re doing their best to keep the team from dropping out of the bottom of the National League.

Seaver is well on his way to establishing himself — in his rookie year, no less — as the best pitcher the Mets have ever owned. He has al- ready tied the record for most victories by a Met righthander (11) and is a virtual cinch to better Al Jackson’s 1933 record of 13 wins.

Frisella, who joined the Mets right out of the Army on July 25 after an earlier fling this year with Durham in the Carolina League, compiled a one-win, one-loss re- cord. Frisella got his first victory over the Pirates, August 11, He was not around to enjoy the win, Don Shaw relieved him and Frisella was in a cab en route to Kennedy Airport for a weekend of Army training when he heard the news.

Seaver and Frisella recall happily their days in Alaska with the Goldpanners. “Alaska is something else,” said Seaver. “You can’t realize what a magnificent place it is unless you have been there. And it’s a lot different than most people picture it. “I can remember my first trip there. I expected it to be so cold I wore a sweater and a topcoat as I got off the plane. But the fellow who met me at the airport was wearing a short-sleeved sports shirt. “The weather in July and August is ideal, it’s in the high 60s and 70s every day and no humidity, it’s the’ time of the year when they have 24 hours of sunlight and it’s pretty weird.” Seaver said getting used to 24 hours of daylight is a little difficult at first. “I can remember waking up one night at 3 o’clock. I saw the sun coming through the windows - my first thought was that I’d overslept and blown my job.” Frisella said Alaskans kept the light from coming in the windows by covering them from the inside with tinfoil. “It’s playing night games without lights that’s really strange,” Frisella said. “We would start a game at 8 o’clock in July and we wouldn’t need the lights!’

The big game of the year is the “Midnight Sun” game, according to the two rookies. “That’s the longest day of the year,” Seaver related, “and they celebrate it by starting the game at 11 o’clock at night.” Both boys earned their keep while playing for the Goldpanners. Frisella drove a lumber truck.

“I was a grounds keeper,” said Seaver. “I’d cut the grass and water the infield.” Manicuring the Fairbanks diamond proved of some value to Seaver. As far as fielding pitchers go, no Met covers more ground than their No. 1 rookie.

Signature From Player Contract 1965: Rick Monday First Player Ever Drafted The Goldpanners are the Yankees of the MLB Draft No other baseball organization in the world has had more play- ers drafted and signed to play in the professional ranks.

The Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks court because if you’re selected own the Major League Baseball draft number one, why should you nego- like no other team in baseball history. tiate with only one ballclub?” And There have been a record 1,218 player my first question was “How long will selections devoted to Goldpanner ball- this process take?” They said, “Oh, players, dating back to 1965 and Rick about three to five years.” I said, “For- Monday -- the very first player ever get that, I’m going to play baseball.” drafted by a major league franchise. So we were in Omaha, Nebraska on the day of the draft. Arizona State Of those picks, there have been 125 was ready to play the opening game first round selections, and 19 were of the College World Series. We either the very first or second pick were in uniforms, sitting in the stands of the entire draft! In addition, there and waiting for the preceding game to have been 200 players to reach Major be over. Someone comes up and says League Baseball. This, too, is a record “It’s just come out that you were Kansas among all non-professional teams, City’s first pick in the draft.” I went out and the 16% average of drafted Gold- that night and struck out three times. panners to reach MLB is well ahead of the average ratio of 1 draftee in every Then (Kansas City Owner) Char- 33 (3%) to reach baseball’s pinnacle . lie Finley flew into Omaha and Sal Bando and I were drafted off the Dodgers broadcaster Rick Mon- same team. It was an opportunity day, who played 19 years in the ma- for me to reach out and try to grab jor leagues from 1966-84, was the the brass ring, something I dreamed No. 1 selection overall by the Kan- about as a kid wearing a Little League sas City Athletics in baseball’s first uniform and watching the Dodgers amateur draft in 1965. The 1964 play in the Coliseum. . Goldpanners infielder/outfielder re- calls that historic draft 46 years ago: What’s nice about having been the first selection in the very first draft “Nobody really knew how the process is that I get to relive the dream and was going to work. I had talked to the opportunity when that door was quite a few ballclubs, but Kansas City opened. Every year in June, it takes was going to have the first pick. Their me back to that very first year.” . scout, Art Lilly, had talked with me very briefly when I was with Arizona Four days after he was drafted, with State. He said there was a real good A’s owner Charles O. Finley in the chance that the Athletics would select stands, Monday homered in a 2-1 win me as the number one pick. But on over Ohio State to lead the Sun Dev- the periphery of all of this, nobody ils to their first College World Series knew exactly what was going to hap- championship. Monday would sign pen. No one knew the effect it was the largest bonus in the 1965 draft, going to have on both baseball overall $100,000, and went on to enjoy a pro- and the people who were going to be ductive 19-year big league career. He signed out of high school or college. remains in the game as a broadcaster Actually, I had attorneys coming to for the Los Angeles Dodgers. me saying, “Look, let’s take this to

Rick Monday Graig Nettles

The Goldpanners are the only independent team in sports 1966: Goldpanners Won World Championship history to win a world championship title. International Competition Presents Fairbanks to the World

The Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks organization is pleased to be a high-profile not-for-profit civic organization in the city of Fairbanks. Throughout the history of the program, it has also proudly served as a representative of the Golden Heart City to the rest of the world. At a time when little at all was known of Fairbanks (apart from the aviation exploits of men such as Joe Crosson, Noel Wien and Howard Hughes), the Goldpanners burst onto the national scene with a unlikely Cinderella showing at the 1962 NBC World Series in Wichita, Kansas. Immediately thereafter, the appeal of the Midnight Sun Game began to spread world-wide, resulting in successes on and off the field which are unparalleled by any other non-professional team.

In the mid 1960s, with the fame of the Midnight Sun Dietz: ‘Cuba is the Best Team We Will Ever Play’ BY ALLAN SIMPSON, SPORTS WRITER Game reaching newspapers across the country (includ- The national team of Cuba, world power in amateur baseball for the past half-dozen ing in Grand Junction, Colorado, where current General years, has established itself as a solid favorite to win the Haarlem World Invitational Manager Don Dennis first heard of the Goldpanners Tournament, and edged past the strong Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks 5-4 here ballclub in late June of 1963), the emissarial role of the Sunday. team began to take on a new international dimension. The Cubans, who have won the last two gatherings of the Pan American Games and also picked off the championship of the World Amateur Tournament in 1970, had to push across a run in the last of the eighth to topple the Alaska crew. The Goldpan- The Goldpanners first met a team from outside the 50 ners had opened tourney play by toppling Nicaragua 6-2 behind the seven-hit pitch- states in 1965 against Nassau, Bahamas, in the Nation- ing of Walt Kaczmarek. al Baseball Congress Tournament. The first meeting The Goldpanners return to action Tuesday night when they take on the Sullivans with a professional team from outside the U.S. came in in the first of two meetings between the clubs. Then, on Wednesday, the Panners will get a second crack at Cuba. Kaczmarek has been tabbed to hurl the game against 1974 when the Panners knocked off the Cordoba Caf- Cuba while big Dave Winfield will go on the mound against Grand Rapids. eteros of Mexico in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Fairbanks-Cuba game was marked by the long ball despite the closeness and relatively low score. Each team cracked three home runs and those accounted for The Panners made a huge splash on the international all four Goldpanners runs. scene in 1966 when Red Boucher took the team to Ho- The Panners’ Manny Estrada got things rolling at the start of the first inning when he lined a home run but the Cubans rallied in the second to tie the game at 1-all. nolulu to represent the United States in the World Tour- Goldpanner hurler Jay Smith, who had previously faced the Cubans in the Pan Ameri- nament and shocked the reigning champion, Japan, in can Games, ran into a rocky road in the third and gave up three solo home runs as two straight games to take the World Crown. the Cubans raced to 4-1 lead. The Panners pulled within a run at 4-3 in the sixth inning when center fielder Kerry Dineen blasted a two-run home run and then tied the game in the seventh when Win- In 1968, an eight-city tour of Japan provided yet anoth- field ripped his fourth home run of the season. The Cubans got the margin of victory er opportunity for the Goldpanners to present Fairbanks in the last of the eighth on a one-out sacrifice fly following a single and double to put to the world. USA Baseball officials sought to make the two runners in scoring position. Smith went all the way for the Panners, giving up 10 Panners the National Team, travelling to far-flung desti- hits, while Fairbanks collected nine hits off Roberto Vargas, who went the distance nations as official ambassadors of the country. for Cuba. The Cuba-Fairbanks contest was on national television in Holland and drew the largest crowd ever for baseball in the nation as 8,000 people jammed the Haarlem In 1972, when anti-Communist tensions still ran at their stadium. peak, the Goldpanners were called upon to represent America by taking on the Cuban National Team. This Panners 100 002 001 was during the Haarlem, Holland, Baseball Tournament Cuba 013 000 01x (Haarlemse Honkbalweek). The following story cap- Panners: Jay Smith (L) / Cuba: Vargas (W) tures the action: HRs: Estrada (1), Dineen (6), Winfield (6) BAHAMAS Nassau Islanders 1 0 2011 MVP ROBBIE BULLER 2011 MVP BLAKE HARRISON

CANADA Binscarth, Manitoba, Orioles 2 0 Calgary, Alberta, Jimmies 2 0 Coquiltam, B.C., A’s 1 1 Edmonton, Alberta, Tigers 2 0 Kamloops, B.C. 2 0 Kelowna, B.C., Grizzles 10 8 Red Deer, Alberta 9 4 Regina, Sask., Red Sox 1 0 Unity, Sask., Cardinals 0 1 Vancouver, B.C., All-Stars 4 0 Vancouver, B.C., Auroras 1 1 Western Canadian Players 1 0

CUBA 2 Cuba National Team 0 1960 Floyd Watson 1974 Steve Kemp 1985 Billy Bean 1997 Ryan Soules 1961 CHINA Don Merchant 1975 Steve Kemp 1986 Tim Raley 1998 Paul Lockhart Chinese Culture University 1 0 1962 Bob Maxwell 2 3 1976 Mark Naehring 1987 Dan Raley 1999 Erik Frei Chinese-Taipei Olympic Team 1963 Chinese-Taipei Univ.Games 1 0 Tom Sommers 1976 Chick Valley 1988 Miah Bradbury 2000 Brooks Conrad 2 1 1964 Fubon Bulls Buddy Hollowell 1977 Doug Stokke 1988 John Alexander 2001 Todd Leathers 1965 Graig Nettles GUAM 1978 Tim Wallach 1989 Mike Kelly 2002 Scott Robinson 1966 Continental Jets 2 0 Bob Boone 1979 Pat Dodson 1989 Darrel Deak 2003 Jeff Culpepper 1967 Bill Seinsoth 1980 Alvin Davis 1990 Todd Pridy 2004 Cameron Blair JAPAN 1968 Bob Boone Aichi League All-Stars 3 0 1980 Kevin McReynolds 1991 Bill Dunckel 2005 Justin Fuller 0 1 1969 Kawai Musical Instruments Doug Hunt 1981 Phil Stephenson 1992 Steve Dietz 2006 Mark Thompson Hemeji All-Stars 1 0 1970 Duane Larson 1 0 1982 Oddibe McDowell 1993 Travis Lee 2007 Chris Tremblay Hiroshima College Stars 1971 Kansai Big 6 1 0 Bobby Jack 1983 Shane Mack 1994 A.J. Marquardt 2008 Nick Ciolli Keio University Unicorns 1 1 1972 Dave Winfield 2 1983 Ray Roman 1995 Adam Kennedy 2009 Evan Simonitsch Kumagai-Gumi 9 1973 Gene Delyon Nagoya All Stars 1 0 1984 Luis Medina 1996 Michael Young 2010 Simon Kudernatsch Okayama All-Stars 1 1 2011 Robbie Buller Submitomo Metal Industries 0 1 Tokyo All-Stars 0 1 Tokyo Big Six All-Stars 0 1 1960 Ray Wheeler 1973 Gary Wheelock 1986 Doug Linton 2000 David Gassner KOREA 1961 George Mies 1974 Floyd Bannister 1987 Darryl Scott 2001 Andy Davidson Korea National Team 1 3, 1T 2002 Zak Basch Inha University 1 0 1962 Bob Jackson 1975 Pete Redfern 1988 Erik Schullstrom 1963 Dave Dowling 1976 Greg Harris 1989 Dennis Gray 2002 Ryan Schroyer MEXICO 1990 Gary Wilson 2002 Sean Timmons Baja Select Team 1 0 1964 John Herbst 1977 Mike Boddicker Cordoba Cafeteros 1 0 1965 Dan Frisella 1978 Tim Leary 1991 Brett Backlund 2003 Sean Timmons Mexico Olympic Team 1 0 1966 Tom House 1979 Ken Jones 1992 Toby Larson 2004 Sean Timmons 1993 Dan Boone 2005 Shannon Wirth NETHERLANDS ANTILLES 1967 Wayne Vincent 1980 Ron Romanick Antilles A Select Team 1 0 1968 Brent Strom 1981 Don Heinkel 1994 Darin Blood 2006 Sean Timmons 1995 Brian Scott 2007 Brandon Harmon NICARAGUA 1969 Brent Strom 1982 Kurt Walker Nicaragua National Team 1 1 1970 Rich Troedson 1983 Joe Magrane 1996 Brian Scott 2008 Jonathan Harmston 1971 Rusty Gerhardt 1984 Dion Beck 1997 Craig Jones 2009 Kyle Brule UKRAINE 1998 Aaron Heilman 2010 Matt Vedo Ukraine National Team 1 0 1972 Dan Grimm 1985 Tony Farynairz 1986 Mike Harkey 1999 David Bush 2011 Blake Harrison 1967: Mike Adamson Vaulted to MLB from College Twenty players have skipped the minor leagues; six are Goldpanners

Nine players made the majors from the 1966 Nevertheless, David was apparently greatly Goldpanners Of these, two - Bob Boone and disappointed by this denial of his boyhood Bill Lee - forged nearly Hall of Fame worthy dream, and he took the time to write Gold- careers. However, it is little known pitcher panners management expressing his sorrow. Mike Adamson who made the most immediate impact upon the game of baseball. The leap straight to the major leagues is not easy on anyone.. and Mike Adamson was no Adamson’s stuff was so good for the Goldpan- exception. ners in 1966 (9-0-0 record, 1.43 ERA), and U.S.C. in the spring of 1967, that he bypassed The 19-year-old’s first appearance came on the minor leagues entirely, making his profes- July 1, against the Cleveland Indians. Adam- sional debut in the American League pitching for the Baltimore Orioles.. son appeared in 3 games for the 1967 Orioles posting a 0-1 record in 3 appearances, before On June 6, 1967 Mike Adamson was drafted being sent to the International League Roch- by the Orioles in the 1st round (1st pick) of ester Red Wings for the remainder of the sea- the 1967 amateur draft (Secondary Phase). He son. While there he won 3 games while losing signed on June 27. At that time he was the first 4, pitching 60 innings and turning in a good player in draft history to go straight to the major 1.95 ERA. leagues. Mike started 1968 with the Red Wings, win- Though seemingly taken from the realm of ning 8 games and losing 4 in 60 innings and fantasy, similar mythical advancements have posted a 3.07 ERA. He was called up to the been enjoyed by numerous Goldpanners. Orioles for the remainder of the season, going 0-2 in 7.7 innings and posted a 9.39 ERA. In fact, out of twenty modern play- ers like Mike to have made their profes- sional debut in MLB, six are Goldpanners! In 1969 Mike was with both the Orioles and Red Wings clubs, building a 11-8 record in And there could have been more. David Clyde 149 innings with a 4.17 ERA with the Red was set to pitch in Growden Park for the Gold- Wings and going 0-1 in 6 games with the Ori- panners in June of 1973. Instead, he found oles. This year was his last appearance in the himself pitching in Arlington Stadium for the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball club. majors.

Clyde, who was a batboy for the Goldpanners Mike appeared in 27 games with the Roch- in the 1967 NBC World Series, had long de- ester club in 1970, winning 4 and losing 5 in sired to play for Fairbanks. However, the op- 95 innings with a 4.36 ERA. The young man portunity to vault directly to the top was too in- spent 1971 with three different minor league credible to ignore. That, and the contract terms teams, with an overall record of 1-3 in 74 in- that were being offered. As it turned out, David received a $125,000 nings and a combined 8.06 ERA. ($617,769 in current dollar terms) signing bo- nus, which was the highest bonus ever given to At age 23 the righthander had spent 5 seasons a draft pick at the time. in professional baseball and decided to look elsewhere for a career.

Mike Adamson Dave Roberts Steve Dunning Eddie Bane 1967: Mike Adamson Vaulted to MLB from College

Debut Name Club 04/25/87 Joe Magrane STL 05/25/87 Shane Mack SDP 06/18/61 Don Leppert* PIT 07/04/87 Mike Campbell SEA H.A. “Red” Boucher was a pioneer in numerous fields. In sum- 10/03/64 Dave Dowling STL 07/02/87 Alex Madrid MIL mer baseball. Boucher recognized the quality of the amateur ath- 09/02/65 Dick Selma* NYM 09/14/87 Dave Stapleton MIL 09/11/65 Charlie Hartenstein CHC lete, noting in 1960 that “collegiate baseball is becoming a viable 04/07/88 Don Heinkel STL 04/26/66 Jimy Williams STL 04/26/88 Craig Worthington BAL source for major league talent.” By utilizing no professional or 09/03/66 Rick Monday KCA 06/02/88 Don August MIL 04/13/67 Tom Seaver NYM semi-pros, as was the custom of the day, Red paved the way for 07/14/88 John Fishel HOU 07/01/67 Mike Adamson BAL 07/20/88 Roger Samuels SFG collegiate baseball to become the direct route to the major league 07/05/67 Curt Motton BAL 09/02/88 Luis Medina CLE 07/27/67 Dan Frisella NYM as it is today. 09/05/88 Mike Harkey CHC 09/06/67 Graig Nettles MIN 09/12/88 Dennis Cook SFG 09/07/67 Al Schmelz NYM 09/14/88 Chad Kreuter TEX Among the roughly 1,300 players and coaches to have donned 05/27/68 Mike Paul CLE 09/16/88 Steve Wilson TEX 07/04/68 Andy Messersmith CAL a Goldpanners uniform through the 2011 season, hundreds have 04/05/89 Phil Stephenson CHC 09/09/68 Eddie Leon CLE 06/07/89 Jeff Wetherby ATL continued their careers into professional baseball, with 200 having 06/25/69 Bill Lee BOS 07/07/89 Mike Benjamin SFG 04/09/70 Rich Hand CLE made it all the way to the pinnacle of professional baseball in Major 07/15/89 Kevin Ritz DET 04/24/70 Greg Garrett CAL 08/19/89 Rob Richie DET League Baseball. 06/14/70 Steve Dunning CLE 04/09/90 Tim Layana CIN 09/09/70 Jim Nettles MIN 09/06/90 Paul Faries SDP 06/20/71 Pete Broberg WAS 09/18/90 Brent Mayne KCR There is perhaps no better way to measure the success that the 06/23/71 Tom House ATL 09/02/90 Al Osuna HOU Alaska Goldpanners program has attained over the years than by 07/30/71 Dave Kingman SFG 05/07/91 Chris Donnels NYM 07/31/71 Jim Barr SFG the number of players they have sent to the professional ranks 05/22/91 Don Wakamatsu CWS 09/15/71 Don Rose NYM 05/25/91 Jose Mota SDP and the major leagues. The Goldpanners have so many players 09/19/71 Dan Pastorini (NFL) HOU 06/16/91 Bret Barberie MON 05/17/72 Bob Gallagher BOS in the bigs this season in fact, that they could conceivably field a 07/02/91 Mark Davis CAL 06/07/72 Dave Roberts SDP 09/01/91 Tom Goodwin LAD competitive club on the major league level of ex-players alone. 07/31/72 Brent Strom NYM 09/02/91 Ed Zosky TOR 09/10/72 Bob Boone PHI 05/17/92 Brad Brink PHI 04/08/73 John Andrews STL 05/17/92 Benji Figueroa STL The Fairbanks club’s national second place finish in 1962 helped 04/09/73 Rich Troedson SDP 08/03/92 Doug Linton TOR the club create many contacts throughout the baseball world, in- 06/18/73 Dave Winfield SDP 08/06/92 Shawn Barton SEA 07/04/73 Eddie Bane* MIN creasing the quality of athlete playing for the Goldpanners. Key 08/19/92 Bret Boone SEA 07/19/73 Craig Caskey MON 05/05/93 Pat Meares MIN contacts include collegians such as Rod Dedeaux (USC) and 04/04/74 Jim Sundberg TEX 05/29/93 Greg Brummett SFG 04/07/74 Mike Reinbach BAL Bobby Winkles (ASU), as well as pros such as Jim Campanis 05/29/93 Kevin Higgins SDP 06/14/74 Steve Swisher CHC 05/31/93 Daryl Scott CAL and Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers), both of whom visited Fairbanks 07/27/74 Rusty Gerhardt SDP 07/28/93 Ty VanBurkleo CAL 04/08/75 Jim Umbarger TEX in 1966-67. 08/13/93 Brian Turang SEA 06/14/75 Kerry Dineen NYY 09/01/93 Roger Smithberg OAK 05/15/76 Pete Redfern MIN 09/04/93 Eric Helfand OAK Other reasons for the immense success of the Goldpanners alum- 09/17/76 Gary Wheelock CAL 09/12/93 Bob Hamelin KCR 04/07/77 Steve Kemp DET ni can be offered, but perhaps the easiest explanation is the in- 09/21/93 Marc Ronan STL 04/19/77 Floyd Bannister HOU 04/05/94 Mike Kelly ATL tense conditioning only baseball in Alaska can provide. Raising 05/05/77 Jackson Todd NYM 04/05/94 Keith Lockhart SDP 04/07/78 Chuck Baker SDP the overall demands - physical as well as mental - upon a person 04/19/94 Jeff Tabaka PIT 04/07/78 Don Reynolds SDP 07/18/94 Eric Schullstrom MIN teaches them how to deal with adversity and raise the intensity of 06/29/78 Dwight Bernard* NYM 04/28/95 Todd Steverson DET 07/09/78 Dennis Littlejohn SFG their approach. All Sourdoughs are familiar with this phenomenon. 04/28/95 Gary Wilson PIT 08/06/78 Scott Sanderson MON 04/30/95 Steve Rodriguez BOS Panner athletes are taken far from home, and are expected to per- 08/19/78 Bruce Robinson OAK 05/08/95 Jason Giambi OAK form every day of the week against top-notch competition (unlike 04/11/79 Eric Wilkins CLE 08/02/95 F.P. Santangelo MON 06/08/79 Dan Graham MIN the collegiate season, which plays only on weekends). Mix in the 09/10/95 Darrell May ATL 09/07/79 Sandy Whitol CLE 04/02/96 Dan Naulty MIN ruggedness of the Alaskan experience, and the athlete is forced 09/17/79 Dave Schuler CAL 05/18/96 Shad Williams CAL 04/11/80 Dave Smith HOU to find a previously unapproached level of mental and physical 09/06/96 Mike Robertson SFG 06/01/80 Vance Law PIT 05/31/97 Jose Cruz Jr. SEA discipline in order to succeed. 06/12/80 Mike Kinnunen MIN 09/03/97 Dan Rohrmeier SEA 06/28/80 Tim Lollar NYY 03/31/98 Travis Lee ARI 09/01/80 Bobby Mitchell LAD 04/02/98 Bobby Hughes MIL A number of Goldpanners are also ascending to the top of the 09/04/80 Dave Edler SEA 06/09/99 Jacque Jones MIN game in MLB front offices. Louie Medina (83), for instance, has 09/06/80 Tim Wallach MON 08/21/99 Adam Kennedy STL 09/08/80 John Butcher TEX worked in the Kansas City Royals’ front office for over a decade. 08/27/99 Robert Ramsay SEA 09/20/80 Ken Phelps KCR 09/03/99 Cole Liniak CHC The advancement seen by Goldpanner alums in the ranks of 04/11/81 Dan Boone SDP 09/07/99 Jeff DaVanon ANA 04/12/81 Tim Leary NYM MLB personnel is an exciting recent development. Securing such 08/29/00 Jerrod Riggan NYM 04/26/81 Danny Garcia KCR 09/04/00 Todd Belitz OAK high-ranking, off-field MLB personnel positions is at least as much 05/20/81 Greg Harris NYM 09/07/00 Michael Young TEX 08/19/81 Terry Francona MON an accomplishment as achieving an on-field roster spot. For 04/06/01 Christian Parker NYY 09/02/81 Ron Roenicke LAD 07/16/01 Adam Pettyjohn DET Dan Pastorini (68), the top of the game was as starting QB for 09/09/81 Tim Tolman HOU 09/19/01 Jason Phillips NYM the Houston Oilers NFL franchise. 09/15/81 Dave Hostetler MON 05/10/02 Jason Lane HOU 04/07/82 Ed Vande Berg SEA 09/03/02 Jim Rushford MIL 04/09/82 Gary Rajsich NYM Listed on this page are the 200 Goldpanners players to ascend to 06/26/03 Aaron Heilman NYM 07/06/82 Don Slaught KCR 09/02/03 Bobby Crosby OAK the major leagues, listed by their debut date and major league club. 09/11/82 Chris Codiroli OAK 07/02/04 David Bush TOR 09/12/82 Dave Baker TOR 09/08/04 Greg Dobbs SEA 04/05/83 Mike Couchee SDP 04/16/05 Dave Gassner MIN 06/02/83 Kevin McReynolds SDP 09/18/05 Ryan Garko CLE 09/02/83 Mike Fuentes MON 04/01/06 Steve Hecht* TEX 09/02/83 Harold Reynolds SEA 07/02/07 Brendan Ryan STL 09/13/83 Jeff Doyle STL 03/21/08 Sheng-Wei Wang# BRO 09/20/83 Marty Decker SDP 07/11/08 Mike Cervenak PHI 04/03/84 Ben Hines* LAD 07/21/08 Brooks Conrad OAK 04/03/84 Dave Meier MIN 05/21/09 Kris Medlen ATL 04/05/84 Ron Romanick CAL 05/23/09 Carlos Fisher CIN 04/11/84 Alvin Davis SEA 09/01/11 Brian Jeroloman TOR 06/02/84 Jeff Cornell SFG 07/28/84 Ed Amelung LAD 05/19/85 Oddibe McDowell TEX 06/26/85 Bob Sebra TEX 09/05/85 Kevin Romine BOS 04/11/86 Dan Plesac MIL 05/30/86 Barry Bonds PIT 07/19/86 Billy Moore MON 09/02/86 Dave Cochrane CWS 09/05/86 Pat Dodson BOS Mike Adamson Dave Roberts Steve Dunning Eddie Bane 09/06/86 Brad Arnsberg NYY 04/25/87 Billy Bean DET 1971: Dave Winfield Became An Every Day Outfielder Minnesota used Dave sparingly as a pitcher; the Panners let him play. Dave Winfield used his prowess in the outfield, and his ferocity at the plate, to drive his career straight into the MLB Hall of Fame. Dave is the second Goldpanner to be inducted into that illustrious fraternity.

Allan Simpson, Sports Writer June 28, 1972

The story of how Dave Kingman gave up pitching to become one of baseball's top hit- ters has now been chronicled. It was the year 1969, as the story goes, that Kingman, then a sophomore pitcher out of the University of Southern California, was recruited by the Alaska Goldpanners to play ball for the summer in Fairbanks. His reputation as a pitcher at the time was such that he was considered one of the top collegiate throwers in the country.

However, that summer the Goldpanners, though still respecting his ability as a pitcher, also recognized his unlimited potential as a hitter like no one else had before, and in a bold move they converted the six foot six inch slugger from a pitcher to an outfielder. And since that switch, Kingman has quickly risen to prominence, gaining nationwide ac- claim for his slugging exploits with the San Francisco Giants. All this because the Gold- panners took it upon themselves to convert the multi-talented slugger from a pitcher to an everyday ball player.

And now that they've seen what's happened to Kingman, could history repeat itself? Could the Goldpanners have another Kingman in their midst? The name this time is Dave Winfield, and the similarities between his career to date and that of Kingman's at a comparable stage are actually quite amazing.

Winfield, like Kingman, was originally recruited by the Panners as a pitcher, buthis recent batting exploits have been so awesome of late, that the natural question to ask is: could he switch positions and become another Kingman?

Tuesday night at Growden Park, Winfield, who like Kingman also towers to a height of 6-6, put on another hitting exhibition which even Kingman would have been proud of, as he cracked a grand slam home run and a run-scoring single to power the Goldpan- ners to a 5-2 victory over the Grand Junction, Colo., Eagles. Winfield's bases loaded blast, which came with the Panners trailing 2-1 in the fifth, not only personally won the game for the Goldpanners, but it also helped them halt Grand Junction's win streak at 14 games, after the Eagles had taken the opener 7-5 in extra innings. The offensive display by Winfield follows one he put on Saturday when he slammed a double and two home runs—a performance which wasn't even good enough to win his own game.

So in only 12 official at-bats this season, Winfield is hitting .500 and has slugged three home runs. That’s ahead of the pace Kingman established in ‘69 when he clubbed seven home runs in a total of 64 times at bat. “We’ve known all along what Winfield’s capable of doing with the bat,” said manager Jim Dietz “and that’s why we’ve tried to work him into the lineup occasionally.” “He’ll play more and more in the outfield as the season pro- gresses, but whether he’ll ever become a full-time outfielder, it’s hard to say at this time.”

“Fairbanks, Alaska Goldpanners. Yeah, I played in Alaska for two summers, which many of these guys up here did. It was the best baseball in the country, prettiest, most majestic state in the union. And to get a chance to win and climb mountains, go dog sledding in the winter - all that. It was a wonderful experience.” - Dave’s 2001 Hall of Fame Induction Speech “I have probably never adequately thanked you and the entire Goldpanner family for giving me the opportunity to live and play in Fairbanks. Even had I not achieved the level of success I now enjoy in professional baseball, I would still appreciate the op- portunity as much.” - Dave in a Letter to Don Dennis

Dave Kingman 1971: Dave Winfield Became An Every Day Outfielder 1976: Andy Messersmith Became Baseball’s First True Free Agent Landmark Court Ruling Against MLB Reserve Clause Heralds New Era in Baseball Though the Panner program has graduated a large number of important ballplayers to the big leagues, what is truly amazing is the broad impact that the cream of that crop has had in shaping the state of the game itself. By personally taking on the highest echelons of power in baseball and then defeating them, Andy Messersmith became the most important player since Babe Ruth.

Right-hander made history by challenging reserve clause Messersmith, a product of the University of California at By Gary Caruso / ChopTalk Magazine Berkeley, didn’t like how the media portrayed him and his The Braves don’t open the regular season until the end of quest to break down the reserve clause. He had little to March, but college baseball is in full swing. Among a few say to the press then, and little has been heard from him former Braves coaching in college is Andy Messersmith, since then. the pitcher who in 1976 changed the course of baseball history -- with the assistance of Ted Turner. In fact, more than three decades later, he’s still not inter- ested in talking publicly. ChopTalk made three attempts to Messersmith, 62, is the head baseball coach at Cabrillo interview him, including one through the Cabrillo journal- College, a community college in Aptos, Calif., located on the Pacific coast, south of San Francisco, between San ism department and one through a sports writer in his area, Jose and Monterey. He just started the third season of his and he declined all of them. He does talk to the press in his second stint at the school, where he also coached from area, but only about his players and team, possibly making 1986-91. Last year, the Seahawks were 18-22 overall, 10- him the most-reticent college coach in the country. 15 (fourth place) in the Coast Conference. Messersmith won 39 games in 1974-75, led the NL in Veteran Braves fans are sure to remember Turner sign- winning percentage in ‘74 (.769) and in starts, complete ing Messersmith in 1976 -- to baseball’s first free agent games and shutouts in ‘75 (40/19/7). He won Gold Gloves contract -- and promptly issuing him uniform No. 17 with both seasons and made the All-Star team both years, giv- the “nickname” Channel on the back to promote his TV ing him three career selections. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, how- station. ever, few player acquisitions worked well for the Braves, Messersmith was one of the game’s best pitchers from and this signing fit that description. 1969-75, twice winning 20 games. He started Game 1 of the World Series for the Dodgers in 1974, when he tied Messersmith, only 30 when Turner signed him, never re- Phil Niekro for the league lead in victories. ally was the same pitcher again, though that was due to injuries, not a lack of talent. In 1975, Messersmith played without a contract and claimed he thus became a free agent who no longer was The right-hander started slowly in ‘76. He missed Spring subject to the infamous “reserve clause” that basically Training due to contract negotiations and didn’t win a game bound players to their teams for life at that point. Major until his seventh start on May 17. In June, he appeared to League Baseball refused to recognize his claim, and the matter went before an arbitration panel set up to handle be the pitcher the Braves thought they were getting -- go- disputes between players and management. ing 5-1 and earning his fourth All-Star selection. He injured a hamstring right before the All-Star break, though, and The panel ruled that the reserve clause was no more than that -- combined with a sore shoulder -- hampered him dur- a one-year option, thus making Messersmith and Expos ing the second half and he finished 11-11 with a 3.04 ERA pitcher Dave McNally the first free agents. McNally was in 29 games (28 starts). injured and retired. Messersmith likely would have found himself without a job. Messersmith won just five games in 1977, shutting down after a July 3 elbow injury that required surgery. The Braves If not for Turner, the maverick owner looking to make a sold him to the Yankees, and he pitched briefly and inef- splash with his new team and trying to create viewership interest for a major block of programming on his TV sta- fectively for them in ‘78 and for the Dodgers in ‘79 before tion. Turner signed Messersmith for what he called a “life- retiring. His career record is 130-99 in 12 seasons, and time contract” of $1 million. Actually, it was a three-year his 2.86 lifetime ERA and .212 opponents’ batting average deal that would be laughed at on today’s market. In 1976, are strong evidence of the quality of pitcher he was when however, it was major news. healthy. “Curt Flood stood up for us; Jim Hunter showed us what was out there; Andy Messersmith showed us the way. Andy made it happen for us all. It’s what showed a new life.” Ted Simmons, MLB catcher at time of Messersmith case

“I did it for the guys sitting on the bench, the utility men who couldn’t crack the lineup with (the Dodgers) but who could make it elsewhere. These guys should have an op- portunity to make a move and go to another club. I didn’t do it necessarily for myself because I’m making a lot of money. I don’t want everyone to think, ‘Well, here’s a guy in involuntary servitude at $115,000 a year. That’s a lot of bull and I know it.”- Andy Messersmith, after the Seitz ruling, as cited by Helyar.

“We should make it. We’re the ones doing the entertaining.” - Barry Bonds

“For a hundred years the owners screwed the players. For 25 years the players have screwed the owners - they’ve got 75 years to go.” - Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton

“Gentlemen, we have the only legal monopoly in the country, and we’ve f------it up.” - Braves owner Ted Turner

“I wasn’t prepared for the pressure that came down [after the Seitz ruling and his Braves deal]. I didn’t know anything about it. I came out as the dirty dog. That was a real hard thing for me. I just wasn’t ready for it.” - Andy to the NY Times, following career

Dave Kingman Andy Messesmith - 1974 National League Wins Champion 2.86 Career ERA (Seaver won in 1975 and had an identical 2.86 career ERA!) 1983: Fourteen Ascended to MLB from 1983 Goldpanners Huge 1980s Team Representation in MLB by Former Fairbanks Ballplayers The 1983 season saw what was possibly the most talented Goldpanners squad of them all, as attested by the record 14 players that later went on to MLB. One of them is a future Hall of Famer.

The Goldpanners’ “Pipeline to the Big Time” was strong throughout the late 1960s. But by the time the decade of the 1970s was over, the Goldpanners’ output had blanketed Outfielders Oddibe McDowell, Shane the professional game. Mack and Mark Davis are all speed- sters who help make the Fairbanks There were at least ten future major leagues on six of the 1970s club Goldpanners’ offense potentially le- rosters. In the mid 1980s, however, thal. The players are sharing a room the floodgates opened, resulting in Wichita during the National Baseball in a strong Goldpanners influence Congress tournament. throughout all levels of play.

The largest single group of budding “We just call it the ‘Gold Room”, said have been chosen. major leaguers played together on Goldpanners Manager Dave Snow. San Diego native is batting .322 with the 1983 team. An astounding 14 (Barry Bonds later commented to Don 35 RBI and 47 runs scored and has total players from the club eventually stolen 26 bases in 29 attempts. But he remains unsigned because made Major League Baseball! No Dennis, “‘The Gold Room? Have you the Twins aren’t offering enough other amateur team in history has been in there? It’s more like the ‘Mold money, he says. “I’m not looking for come close to either this single sea- Room’). Davis, who plays left field for Fair- son total, or the overall aggregate. banks, admits he needs to work on his six figures,” McDowell said. “They strength. just haven’t come up with the five Among all the recognizable names Snow hasn’t posted armed guards at figures I want.” on the list, of major leaguers from the ‘Gold Room’ door to protect his the 1983 club, the one that stands “My arm is not really strong yet,” Davis outfielders. But it might not be a bad The book on McDowell is that he out the most is that of Barry Bonds. idea. said. “I’ve learned a lot this summer, Barry set the all-time season and though. My biggest goal was to learn can do everything - run, hit, throw - career home run records, among how to bunt. With my speed that has though he hasn’t gotten untracked in many other achievements. “All three of these kids are outstanding the NBC. prospects,” Snow said. “It’s the best to become a part of my game.” What is amazing about Barry’s time collection of outfield talent I’ve ever with the Goldpanners is that, being “I haven’t done a whole lot in this coached.” Davis has had a pair of bunt singles unable to crack the superbly talented in the tournament and has stolen two tournament,” McDowell said. “Hope- outfield, he was forced to handle fully, things will start going right for fielding duties at FIRST BASE. bases. McDowell, Mack and Davis all come me sooner or later.” from the baseball-rich Pacific 10 Con- That season, the Goldpanners ference. McDowell patrols center field “I’m not your typical leadoff hitter,” Da- were sporting what NCAA Hall of vis said. “I don’t like to take strikes and The Hollywood, Fla., native has Fame coach Dave Snow called for Arizona State. Mack is the right been a valuable commodity to major “the most talented outfield I have I don’t like to look for walks.” fielder for UCLA and Davis plays cen- league scouts since his high school ever coached”. The trio of fielders ter for Stanford. -- all future major leaguers -- were But Davis has drawn 29 walks to lead days - McDowell has been drafted dubbed the “Million Dollar Outfield”. the Goldpanners - even if he doesn’t five times. They were Mark Davis in left, Odd- McDowell and Mack were two-thirds of ibe McDowell in center, and Shane like it. the All-Pac 10 outfield and both were Hutchinson manager Dan Radison Mack in right. The combination was All-Americans. Davis was an honor- lethal to opponents, helping lead the was coaching at Fort Lauderdale, able mention All-Pac 10 choice. Says Snow: “Mark’s a guy who contin- Panners to the title game in the 1983 ually works to improve his skills and to Fla Junior College when McDowell NBC World Series. was still in high school. Stanford co-sports information direc- become a complete players. He’s got Following is an article on the 1983 tor Bob Vazquez is astounded that a lot of confidence in his game and I Goldpanners outfield, written by Bob “I knew he was going to be a great all three are together with Fairbanks, think he can be a prospect as a center Lutz for the Wichita Eagle: fielder after he improves his throwing. one all along,” Radison said. “He which has a 4-1 tourney record. hasn’t shown what kind of hitter he Hutchinson defeated the Goldpanners, really is in this tournament. He re- 5-4, Friday night. ‘Ten years down the McDowell hit .352 and stole 36 bases for Arizona State this season, then was ally doesn’t even belong in this tour- road,” Vazquez said, “that’s an all-star nament. If he’d sign he probably be outfield.” the top pick in the secondary phase of the draft - for players who previously playing Double A ball.” As Fairbanks General Manager Don Dennis says, however, it’s difficult to tell how far a player can go at such a young age.

Davis is only 18 while Mack and Mc- Dowell are 20. “There are just too many variables,” Dennis said. “But I’d have to say that these three are tick- eted for getting a shot to play in the big leagues.”

So far in the NBC tournament, Mack has be the best long-term prospect. Davis’ stats with the Goldpanners are better than McDowell’s or Mack’s. The Barry Bonds Mark Davis Oddibe McDowell Shane Mack Jason Giambi Mark Davis Oddibe McDowell Shane Mack

2002: Goldpanners Became First Sports Team to Broadcast an Entire Season on the Internet PannerVision Kicked Open the Door to the Digital Frontier in Sports Programming

The Goldpanners’ organization leads the baseball you might expect -- something completely out of world in a number of categories on the field, but the ordinary happens which just defies belief and their successes off the field are just as impressive. stimulates wonder. Though it would be obvious to Broadcasting is no exception, with many victories suggest that the various on-field streakers deserve in the field of promotion. consideration here, there is one broadcast in particu- lar which cemented the “anything goes” attitude of In 2000, the club began audio broadcasting games the Goldpanners stream : “The Plane Crash Game” on the Internet, allowing fans around the world to of July 31, 2003. participate in the excitement. The next year, video was added to the broadcast. Though this was a ma- During the third inning of the last game of the Alas- jor milestone for sports, the programming was lim- kan portion of the 2003 season, the Goldpanners’ ited to home games only. Gero von Dehn joined the Culpepper was at bat against the Anchorage Bucs production crew and as a result, “PannerVision“ was in Mulcahy Stadium. As Jeff was stepping to the born and began to develop an attitude -- a rebellious plate, the umpire frantically called time and waved “leader of the pack” type of assurance that nobody toward right field -- where to everyone’s horror, else in the world was even trying what was already a plane was rapidly descending in an apparent at- being successfully delivered from Fairbanks, tempt to land in left field! The plane, a Cessna 207 Skywagon, had stalled and was coming down. As In 2002, the Goldpanners became the all-time first the Bucs’ left-fielder scrambled for cover, the pilot baseball team to stream an entire season over the made a last-second wave of the left wing to avoid Internet. Programming included all away games, the Mulcahy light pole, and plowed into the fences in addition to broadcasting from home. And to top just past left field. The plane flipped over and a it all off, the team’s participation in the NBC World ball of flames erupted out of one side, after which Series in Wichita, Kansas, was broadcast in its en- it came to rest on its belly with the engine sheared tirety. by PannerVision.. a tournament that included off by the fence. the Goldpanners winning their record sixth NBC championship -- and against arch-rival, the Anchor- “It was incredibly violent,” said passenger Marc age Glacier Pilots! Fisher. “My ankle snapped the second we hit. My seat may have been busted. I had seat belts on, but In 2002, no other sports team had broadcast even a I ended up in the luggage.” majority of their season online, not to mention its entirety. ESPN started streaming in early 2003, and Describing the desperate minutes leading up to the Major League Baseball followed suit a few months crash, Fisher said “There were people everywhere. later., but only by offering out of market games us- Every road was busy. It just looked like there’s no ing streams of TV broadcasts. College baseball way to go, nowhere to land. It was scarey, buddy. only began joining the online fun in the late 2000s. Ten seconds from landing, my brother and I both looked at each other and said, ‘We’re f-----.” For- Over the years, there have been many brilliant mo- tunately, the pilot and three passengers all escaped ments for PannerVision. The many game high- more serious injuries, and no one in the group was lights include the Panners’ defeat of the eventual injured. national champion Chinese-Taipei Olympic team in 2003, and also what has been dubbed “The Game” Thanks to the archival work at www.goldpanners. -- played on July 23rd in Fairbanks -- a game against com, the actual clip of this event is available for the Kenai Oilers in which Derek Bruce went 6-for-7 viewing on the Internet. There have been millions at the plate, and Jeff Culpepper went an astounding of views of all of the PannerVision games and clips 7-for-7! available online.

In addition to the game activity, there have been Be sure to tune in to PannerVision in 2011,, as all many other key moments, such as when MLB Hall games in Alaska will be broadcast live. of Famers Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, and Bobby Doerr tossed ceremonial pitches during Mid- Join our community on Facebook or on YouTube to night Sun Game broadcasts. see the bulk of the Goldpanners’ digital output -- a Brian Wahlbrink commented: “This is ME!! 96 mph: 5 stitches committment to the online world that no other team and a concussion. The helmet broke and sliced my head open. Every once in a while -- and far more often than can approach. I was trying to charge the mound when my legs gave out. I talked to this pitcher a few weeks later. He apologized, said he had trouble with his control and bought me a beer. The batter after me is Paul Janish who now is the shortstop for the Cincin- WWW.PANNERVISION.COM nati Reds. “

This past year the Goldpanners family lost a number of dear friends and team supporters. Those given particular notice are Al Hines, Tim Timmons, Bobby Meath, Robert Kent, Fred Iles, Barney Kopf, and Gary Dixon. All of them will be missed at the ballpark. The follow- ing are accounts from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Apologies if any were missed. Albert Hines - “In 1956, while on a job in Camas, Wash., he met Anita Mari- lyn Hanning, whom he nicknamed “Lynn” and they were married four months later. She was 15 and he was 20. They lived in several states, including 13 years in Wisconsin and 36 years in Alaska. “ (Panner Parent and member of board)

Irl “Tim” Timmons - “Tim served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1964. The family enjoyed the Alaska lifestyle. Tim especially enjoyed taking his kids fishing and hunting. The whole family loved getting together to cheer on son Sean, who pitched for the Alaska Goldpanners.”

Robert F. “Bob” Meath - “Bob was an old time Alaskan through and through. He believed in a solid work ethic and his word was his bond. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.”

Robert C. Kent - “His favorite pastime was attending baseball games with many friends and family joining in the fun. He especially loved the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Seahawks and the Alaska Goldpanners.”

Fredrick Lee Iles - “He was an avid Hawaiian shirt collector, a manifestation of his love for the beaches of the world. He was also a military history buff and a baseball enthusiast. He was a Goldpanner season ticket holder.” Sports Illustrated: “On the summer solstice the natural light 1967: 45-Year General Manager Don Dennis Moved to Fairbanks never dies out in Fairbanks, 160 miles south of the Arctic Circle, and on this night Camacho, a California-raised righty, 1965, when he left for Pueblo to finish his educa- would never leave the confines of Growden Memorial Park, tion at Southern Colorado State College. where the centerfield backdrop is the eight-starred Alaskan flag and Take Me Out to the Ballgame is forsaken during the While in Grand Junction though, Dennis insti- seventh-inning stretch in favor of the Beat Farmers’ 1985 gated the Eagles now valued relationship with country-punk song Happy Boy. Out with the peanuts and the Goldpanners, when he scheduled the then Cracker Jack, in with lyrics about a dead dog in a drawer, as young Alaska team for a series in the Colorado well as the most guttural refrain ever to blare from a stadium city on their way to Wichita for the national speaker: “Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba!” tournament in 1963.

With his move to Pueblo, Dennis organized the Pueblo Diablos in 1967, footing many of the “Happy Boy” expenses out of his own pocket. Slightly more By the Beat Farmers than a month after they came into being, the Diablos opened their maiden season against the I was walkin' down the street on a sunny day GOLDPANNERS BUSINESS AFFAIRS national champion Boulder Collegians. Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba HANDLED BY DENNIS A feeling in my bones that I'll have my way It was following that season, at the prodding of Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba! Goldpanners manager Red Boucher, that Den- In 1967, the Alaska Goldpanners suffered perhaps nis left Colorado, to take over the reins of the Well I'm a happy boy (happy boy) their greatest financial setback in history, when floods Goldpanners. They couldn’t have been placed Well I'm a happy boy (happy boy) ravaged the city of Fairbanks, and caused much in more capable hands. Oh ain't it good when things are going your way, Hey Hey?! damage to Growden Memorial Park. Thousands of dollars in debt as a result of the tragedy, the Goldpan- - Allan Simpson My little dog spot got hit by a car ners, always under local management, were forced Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba to go outside the state to obtain the right man to set COMING TO FAIRBANKS Put his guts in a box and put him in a drawer their troubled financial picture back in stride. They Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba found their man in Don Dennis. Though Red Boucher began lobbying Don Den- nis to come up to Fairbanks in 1963, so he could I forgot all about it for a month and a half General manager of the Pueblo Diablos at the time, take over management of the Goldpanners, Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba Dennis left his duties with that club and came to other opportunities were knocking for Don in the I looked in the drawer and started to laugh Fairbanks to take over the business aspects of the publishing world. It wasn’t until 1967 that they Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba! Goldpanners, which were in such a sad state of af- had a dramatic shift in their negotiations -- and fairs as a result of the disastrous flood. the breakthrough came in the form of a flood. Well I’m a happy boy (happy boy) 2x Oh ain’t it good when things are going your way? In his first eight seasons in Fairbanks, Dennis not It was in the aftermath of the 1967 flood that only worked the Panners into the black again, but Don was finally persuaded to come to Fairbanks his adept recruiting and organizing also resulted in -- for a commitment of two years. He has been Alaska Flag Song the club’s winning of back-to-back-to-back national here ever since then, operating as the heart championships. It is a tribute to his able leadership, and soul for both local and state baseball. Written by Marie Drake; that the Goldpanners have come to be regarded as Composed by Elinor Dusenbury the nation’s foremost semi-pro organization under Years later, Boucher would describe these suc- his direction. Eight stars of gold on a field of blue - cessful negotiations in 1967 as “the best thing I Alaska's flag. May it mean to you ever did for the Goldpanners.” Certainly, subse- The blue of the sea, the evening sky, Dennis originally became acquainted with semi-pro quent events have vindicated the decisions of all The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby; baseball in the summer in 1961, when he was sports three men. Don has built a program that is second The gold of the early sourdough's dreams, editor of the newspaper in Grand Junction, and his to none in the non-professional baseball world. The precious gold of the hills and streams; primary assignment was covering the Grand Junction The brilliant stars in the northern sky, The "Bear" - the "Dipper" - and, shining high, Eagles ball team. Through his generation of leadership, Don The great North Star with its steady light, Dennis has led the Goldpanners organization Over land and sea a beacon bright. The star of the club, and also the manager, was Sam to unparalleled heights -- steering the Alaska Alaska's flag - to Alaskans dear, Suplizio, with whom Dennis worked, and developed a Goldpanners of Fairbanks into its now recog- The simple flag of a last frontier. long and lasting friendship. Through his association nized status as the most successful amateur with Suplizio, Dennis eventually stepped into the role club in the history of baseball. of Eagles business manager, a position he held until