WooSox Announce Second Annual Polar Park Job Fair, Scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 A.M. – 1 P.M.

Club intends to fill part-time, seasonal positions by early March;

Opportunities within Ticketing, Concessions and Hospitality, WooSox Productions, Ballpark Operations, Mascots, and Merchandising;

All are welcome to virtual event.

WORCESTER, MA — In partnership with the MassHire Worcester Career Center, the Worcester Red Sox have scheduled their second annual Polar Park Job Fair for this Saturday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The WooSox will host the event over Premier Virtual, allowing prospective employees to browse opportunities and connect with hiring managers instantaneously. Details are at woosox.com.

Within the next month, the club is looking to complete the hiring of the approximately 300 part-time, seasonal positions comprising vibrant, fan-centric individuals of all backgrounds. From local high school and college students aspiring to get a foot in the door of professional baseball, to casual fans searching for a secondary, summer, or retirement job, all are welcome to attend the Job Fair. The various departments hiring include Ticketing, Concessions and Hospitality, WooSox Productions, Ballpark Operations, Mascot Acting, and Merchandising.

The club also seeks friendly, energetic Parking Attendants, Ushers, Food Vendors, Cleaning Crew Members, Field Maintenance Workers, and Team Store Retailers. In addition, Polar Park Ambassadors conduct ballpark tours and assist with pre-game ceremonies and in-game promotional activities.

The WooSox Foundation also seeks to meet those who would like to volunteer for the club’s philanthropic arm.

College students seeking WooSox Internships can attend the Job Fair and should also send a cover letter and résumé to [email protected].

Those interested in participating may register at woosox.com and set up a profile in advance on Premier Virtual. Please submit questions to [email protected].

“A warm and welcoming environment is essential at Polar Park,” said club President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Our diverse, inclusive event staff takes pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome and that people from all walks of life come together as one to enjoy our National Pastime and the Wonderful World of Worcester.”

Saints, American Red Cross, And Regions Hospital Team Up For Blood Drive On February 18

 

ST. PAUL, MN (February 11, 2022) – Community involvement is a staple for the St. Paul Saints beginning before they played their first game in 1993. Whether it’s off-season or in season, the Saints team up with their partners for the greater good. The American Red Cross Blood Drive, hosted by the Saints in partnership with Regions Hospital on Friday, February 18, brings three of the more recognizable names in the Twin Cities together for one worthy cause.

The American Red Cross is facing its worst blood shortage in over a decade, posing concerning risk to patient care. With less than a one-day supply of critical blood types in recent weeks, doctors have been forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available.

This is the time to take care of one another, and blood donation is essential to ensuring the health of the community. Blood donations can help the type of patients seen at Regions Hospital including trauma and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer.

Mayor Melvin Carter, CEO of HealthPartners, Andrea Walsh, and Regions Hospital Surgeon and MN Red Cross Board Chair, Dr. Hamlar, will join in on celebrating the outpouring support for the Twin Cities.

For more information contact the Saints at 651-644-6659 or visit saintsbaseball.com.

Blood drive safety precautions

To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, individuals who do not feel well or who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should postpone their donation.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Currently all available spots are filled and walk-up appointments aren’t available. Those donating and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

About blood donation

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors may still donate after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Knowing the name of the manufacturer is critical in determining blood donation eligibility.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Jackie Robinson Scholarship applications open for 2022 

 

PAPILLION, Neb. – Applications for the Jackie Robinson Scholarship presented by The Weitz Company are currently open and due by March 11, 2022. The Chasers Charities-Robinson Athletic Scholarship program is administered by the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Winners of the scholarship will be notified no later than April 1, 2022 and receive one $1000 scholarship that is not renewable and is to be paid directly to the student’s accredited postsecondary institution. Winners will be recognized during the Storm Chasers’ home game against the Louisville Bats on Friday, April 15, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

The scholarship recognizes the impact Jackie Robinson—the first Black player in Major League Baseball history—had on America and the legacy he left for all Americans by supporting two local Black high school athletes for their hard work, character, and motivation to make a positive impact on our local community and society.

To be eligible to apply, the student must:

  • Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident
  • Reside in one of the following counties: Sarpy, Douglas, Cass, Lancaster, Pottawattamie
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
  • Be Black, male or female, and a high school student participating in athletics
  • Be a high school senior or graduate planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited postsecondary institution

A student’s application must consist of:

  • Current, complete transcripts of grades
  • Letter of support from current supervising principal, coach, or guidance counselor
  • Statement of how and why sports have been important in your life
  • Essay answering the question: “Which athlete has inspired you and why” with examples included

Complete applications can be sent to:

Chasers Charities

c/o Omaha Storm Chasers Baseball Club

Attn: Jenna Kniss

12356 Ballpark Way

Papillion, NE 68046

Applicants may also send their application via e-mail to Community Relations Coordinator Jenna Kniss at [email protected] with all necessary attachments included. For questions or more information, applicants may contact Kniss via email at [email protected] or by phone at (402) 738-2193.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are scheduled to begin the 2022 season on April 5 at Indianapolis before welcoming fans to Werner Park for the home opener on April 12 vs. Louisville. The full 2022 schedule can be found here and single-game tickets are now available here.

For more tickets and more information, please visit omahastormchasers.com, call the Werner Park Ticket office at (402) 738-5100, and follow the team on social media. You can follow the team on Twitter @omastormchasers, on Instagram @omahastormchasers, and “like” the team on Facebook at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.

Gwinnett Stripers to Host Job Fair on February 19

 

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers will host a Job Fair at Coolray Field on Saturday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place in the Suite Lounge.

During the Job Fair, individuals with a passion for delivering exceptional fan experiences can apply for the following part-time, seasonal gameday positions:

  • Ushers / Guest Relations
  • Parking Attendants
  • Security
  • Ticket Sellers
  • Team Store Associates
  • Grounds Crew
  • Cleaning Crew
  • Hype Squad
  • Amusements Attendants
  • Video Board Production / Control Room
  • Stats Operators
  • Photographers

Coolray Field’s concessionaire, Professional Sports Catering, will also be present at the Job Fair and accepting applications for:

  • Catering/Club Attendants
  • Suite Servers
  • Cocktail Servers
  • Bartenders
  • Cooks (Premium & Concessions)
  • Cashiers
  • Runners

Applicants for all positions should bring printed copies of their resume. Parking is free, and attendees will enter through the Coolray Field Main Gate.

For those interested who cannot attend the Job Fair, please email [email protected].

The Stripers’ 2022 season is not affected by the current lockout of Major League Baseball and will go on as scheduled. Gwinnett begins the year on Tuesday, April 5 at Memphis before returning to Coolray Field for Opening Night on Tuesday, April 12 vs. Nashville.

Single-game tickets for all Gwinnett Stripers 2022 home games will go on sale to the public on Sunday, March 13 at 10 a.m. Memberships, Luxury Suites, Group Outings, and more are on sale now at GoStripers.com.

The Nine: 5 Impactful Players In Louisville Franchise History

 

LOUISVILLE, KY – As part of The Nine outreach initiative, Minor League Baseball teams are featuring a list of standout players from each team’s all-time franchise history. Below are five impactful Louisville alumni and several highlights from their tenure with the team:

1. Deion Sanders

Best Louisville Season (2001): 19 games, .459 average, 10 XBH, 6 SB, .494 OBP
Career Highlights: 4x finished 2nd in NL in stolen bases, led NL in triples in 1992

Sanders, better known as “Primetime,” starred in both the National Football League and Major League Baseball during his pro career. The former Bats outfielder scored the franchise’s first ever run at Louisville Slugger Field during the 2000 season and went on to hit at an impressive .459 clip during the 2001 campaign.

2. Billy Hamilton

Best Louisville Season (2013): 123 games, .256 average, 28 XBH, 41 RBI, 75 SB
Career Highlights: 2014 NL Rookie of the Month (June), 2014 Baseball America Major League All-Rookie Team

Speedster Hamilton stole a Minor League Baseball record-setting 155 bases in 2012 prior to his full season with the Bats in 2013. He continued his impressive pace with 75 additional steals for Louisville in 2013, which finished as nearly double the next-closest amount by any International League player that year. Hamilton ultimately earned both Mid and Postseason All-Star selections with the Bats and was named a Futures Game selection for the second straight year.

3. Hunter Greene

Best Louisville Season (2021): 14 starts, 4.13 ERA, 79 SO/65.1IP
Career Highlights: Selected second overall by Cincinnati in 2017, Rated Top 5 prospect in Reds system by Baseball American from 2018-22, 3x Top 100 prospect by BA

Greene burst onto the scene with a 100+ MPH fastball that dazzled scouts at showcases and flummoxed opponents on the diamond. He dominated at the Double-A level to open the 2021 season to rank second in all of Minor League Baseball in both wins and strikeouts en route to his first promotion to the Triple-A level. He unleashed a 104 MPH pitch against the Omaha Storm Chasers in his debut and went on to cap his first Triple-A stint with 79 strikeouts over 65.1 innings of work.

4. Dmitri Young

Best Louisville Season (1996): 122 games, .333 average, 54 XBH, 90 R, 16 SB
Career Highlights: Member of 1995 Louisville Redbirds American Association Championship team, 2003 AL All-Star, 2007 NL All-Star, 2007 NL Comeback Player of the Year

Nicknamed “the Meat Hook,” Young was a member of the Louisville Redbirds 1995 American Association championship team before becoming a standout and both mid and postseason All-Star with Louisville during the 1996 campaign. Following several productive years in the Majors between St. Louis, Cincinnati and Detroit, Young earned his second and final MLB All-Star selection of his career in 2007 by boasting a .320 average and 51 extra-base hits over 136 games with Washington.

5. Didi Gregorius

Best Louisville Season (2012): 48 games, .243 average, 25 R, 19 XBH, .981 FPCT
Career Highlights: 2018 AL Player of the Month (April), AL Player of the Week (2018), 2016 Yankees Heart and Hustle Award

The slick-fielding Gregorius converted 209 of his 2013 chances in the field between shortstop and second base with the Bats in 2012, registering a solid .981 fielding percentage while holding down the middle infield for Louisville. He went on to fill the huge shoes of Hall of Famer Derek Jeter at shortstop for the New York Yankees and was rewarded with the team’s Heart and Hustle Award for the 2016 campaign.

WooSox Foundation Establishes “Tyler’s Teammates” Program in Memory of Paxton’s Tyler Trudell

Partnership with Little Leaguer’s family will help provide equipment and registration for children to play ball throughout Central Mass.

Teammates, friends, and family of Tyler Trudell throwing a ceremonial first pitch at Polar Park on June 19, 2021.
Kate Foultz/Worcester Red Sox

WORCESTER, MA — In collaboration with his family, the WooSox Foundation is establishing “Tyler’s Teammates,” a program in memory of Tyler Trudell, the 13-year-old Paxton (MA) Little Leaguer whose unexpected death last May 13 shook his town and many others in Central Mass. Seeking to perpetuate the joy of the baseball-loving child, the program provides opportunity, equipment, and registration to regional youngsters who may not otherwise have the funds to partake in organized Diamond Sports.

Tyler’s family and teammates, with whom he played for eight years, will join Worcester Red Sox officials at Paxton Center School, this Monday, February 14, at 2 p.m. WooSox mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster the WonderDog will greet Tyler’s eighth grade classmates as well as his teammates, who will be commemorated as ambassadors of the program with custom T-shirts and certificates.

In Tyler’s memory, his mother, Lynn Trudell, has been crafting and selling bracelets with her devoted friends, and these proceeds are funding the program. In addition to being sold in Paxton at such locales as the Ten West Market at 10 West St. and online at ExercisingWell.com, the WooSox will offer these bracelets for sale at Polar Park, and add these proceeds to the program. Because Tyler sported jersey #2 after his favorite player, the Boston Red Sox’ Xander Bogaerts, Lynn asks all who purchase a bracelet to post a picture with “#2EverPresent” on social media.

“All of us with the Worcester Red Sox felt the loss of a little boy we didn’t even know,” said Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, who is President of the WooSox Foundation as well as of the WooSox. “Within hours of the news, we were moved to acknowledge his passing with a moment of silence. Several of us attended the wake, and we were touched by the sight of his teammates there in their Little League uniforms. The story and the people of Paxton touched us deeply.

“We were later inspired to learn that Tyler’s mom had been seeking to create something productive and constructive in a time of unimaginable grief, and we were touched even more so to learn of her family’s desire to help other little boys and girls experience the joy of playing ball that her son so loved. We are honored to be a partner with the Trudell family and all of Tyler’s Teammates.”

The WooSox plan to hold an equipment drive in early March, when aspiring ballplayers will be invited to Polar Park to pick out or donate equipment. In addition, the WooSox hope to honor “Tyler’s Teammates” and family at a “Paxton Day” home game at Polar Park this season. Program ambassadors will participate in ceremonies on the field and raise a flag in right-centerfield that displays the new, official “Tyler’s Teammates” logo.

Paxton Center School, part of the Wachusett Regional School District, accommodates students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Tyler was a seventh-grader last year.

Those seeking information regarding donations and receiving equipment and registration funds may visit woosoxfoundation.org.

Indians to Host Open Interviews for Game Day Employees on Wednesday, Feb. 23

 

INDIANAPOLIS – With Opening Day for the 2022 season less than two months away, the Indianapolis Indians today announced that applications are now being accepted for a variety of game day roles at Victory Field. The Indians will hold open interviews at The Vic on Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 3-8:30 PM.

Seasonal positions open for hire include guest relations ambassadors, kid zone game operators, merchandise associates, parking attendants, Rowdie Crew, stadium porters, ticket sellers, ticket takers and ushers.

Descriptions and applications for every open position can be found at IndyIndians.com/Employment.

Free parking is available in the Victory Field parking lot. Enter the ballpark through the administration entrance and be prepared to complete an application and in-person interview. Applicants must be at least 16 years old. Interviews will take place on Suite Level.

The Indians’ 75-game home schedule gets underway Tuesday, April 5 at 7:05 PM against the Omaha Storm Chasers.

“Our game day staff plays a huge role in assisting and welcoming fans at Victory Field while making our fan experience second to none,” said Indians President and General Manager Randy Lewandowski. “We plan to deliver another season full of ballpark memories and will do so through the excellent customer service our staff members provide.”

Full season, half season and mini plans are on sale, and group and premium reservations can also be made. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or [email protected].

Celebrating Black History Month: Highlighting Ryan Howard

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers from across the sport went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Over the month, we will highlight some of the best Black baseball players to ever suit up for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Ryan Howard

The Philadelphia Phillies tabbed Ryan Howard in the fifth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Missouri State University. After 85 home runs in over his first three and a half seasons, including 37 for the Reading Phillies over 102 games in 2004, Howard was promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He closed 2004 with nine more home runs and his first call to Philadelphia.

After capturing the Joe Baumann Award in 2004 with 46 home runs to lead all Minor Leaguers, Howard began 2005 in Moosic. He hit four home runs and drove in 14 over his first 23 games of the year and carried a .316 average to a second MLB call. After three weeks up with the Phillies, he returned to the Red Barons and mashed. In June, Howard hit .420 with six home runs and 27 batted in. He was recalled in early July and never looked back. All told, he batted .336 over 90 games in two years with the Red Barons with 25 home runs and 83 runs batted in. Howard closed 2005 with 22 home runs in the Majors and drove in 63 over 88 games with Philadelphia, claiming the National League Rookie of the Year award.

Howard was a staple at first base for the Phillies over the next decade. “The Big Piece” won the 2006 NL MVP Award with a Phillies franchise-record 58 home runs, a .313 average and 149 runs batted in. In addition, Howard was a three-time MLB All-Star, a Silver Slugger and claimed NLCS MVP honors in 2008 before the Phillies won the World Series. He closed his career with 382 home runs and 1,194 runs batted in during his 13-year Major League career.

In 2019, Howard was tabbed for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s All-Time Team as part of their 30th Anniversary Season celebration.

Jumbo Shrimp to hold next food & beverage job fair Feb. 12

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s 2022 season of Affordable Family Fun on the horizon, the club will hold its next food & beverage job fair for 2022 seasonal food and beverage positions from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, February 12 at 121 Financial Ballpark.

The Jumbo Shrimp are seeking candidates for:

· Concessions Lead

· Concessions Floor Supervisor

· Warehouse Coordinator

· Suite Attendant

· Concessions Attendant

· Cook

· Bartender

· Warehouse Worker

· Party Deck Attendant

· Vending Hawker

· Kitchen Utility

· Kitchen Lead

· Office Coordinator

· Clean Team

Interested applicants may find full position descriptions and an application form at www.jaxshrimp.com. Applicants may bring a completed application to the job fair. All applicants should be prepared to interview at the job fairs and are encouraged to bring a resume and dress appropriately. Potential employees are subject to a background check and drug test.

Parking for the events will be in Lot P and applicants may enter through the Home Plate Gate at the corner of A Philip Randolph Blvd. and E. Adams St.

Open positions are for seasonal employment, including but not limited to 75 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp home baseball games, additional stadium events and training.

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are an equal opportunity employer.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general Lead Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.

The Nine – Norfolk’s Top 5 Black Players All Time

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club. While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.” Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Norfolk Tides:

Outfielder D.J. Dozier was born in Norfolk, Virginia on September 21, 1965. He attended Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach and excelled as a baseball and football player. He was drafted out of high school by the Detroit Tigers in the 18th round of the 1983 MLB Draft but elected to not sign and went to play football at Penn State University. Dozier led the Nittany Lions in rushing yards all four years he played and scored the game-winning touchdown in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl to help Penn State win the National Championship. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 14th overall pick of the 1987 NFL Draft, but left the NFL after the 1989 season to pursue a baseball career. He signed with the New York Mets in 1990 and played two seasons with the Tidewater Tides in 1991 and 1992, where he totaled 107 games and batted .250 with eight home runs and 47 RBI. He played 25 games with the Mets in 1992, making him one of 67 people to have played a game in both MLB and the NFL. Dozier was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Seven players have won league MVP for the Tides, and third baseman Butch Huskey was one of them. After the MLB Strike Year in 1994, Huskey returned for his second season with Norfolk and hit .284 with 28 home runs and 87 RBI in 109 games to earn the International League MVP Award and a Postseason All-Star selection. The 28 homers are tied for the third most by a Tide in a single season. In his career with Norfolk, Huskey played 238 games between three seasons (1994-95, 1998), hitting .253 with 38 home runs and 147 RBI. He ranks among Tides franchise career leaders in home runs (T-11th) and RBI (17th). Huskey went on to play in seven different seasons in MLB (1993, 1995-2000), totaling a .267 average, 86 home runs and 336 RBI in 642 games. Huskey was one of the last Mets to wear number 42 before MLB retired Jackie Robinson’s number throughout the league.

Like Dozier, Huskey was also a football player. He played both sports at Eisenhower High School in his hometown Lawton, Oklahoma, where he was an All-State tight end and was offered a scholarship to play at the University of Oklahoma. Instead, he signed with the New York Mets after being drafted in the seventh round of the 1989 MLB Draft.

Cedric Mullins

In 2015, outfielder Cedric Mullins was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round in the MLB Draft out of Campbell University. Mullins started his baseball career as a switch hitter but decided to only bat left-handed before the 2021 season. That decision paid off, as he went on to earn his first MLB All-Star selection and won an AL Silver Slugger Award as an outfielder. In 159 games, he hit .291 with 91 runs, 37 doubles, 30 home runs, 59 RBI and 30 stolen bases. He was the second player in franchise history to record at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, joining Ken Williams (St. Louis Browns, 1922). The outstanding season placed him ninth in AL MVP voting. He was the first Oriole to start in an All-Star game since Manny Machado did so at the shortstop position in 2018.

Mullins played 126 games with the Tides between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, hitting .235 with 81 runs, 25 doubles, 11 home runs, 43 RBI and 25 stolen bases. He hit leadoff in 111 of those games.

One of the most decorated players in Tides’ history is Darryl Strawberry, who was the number one overall pick in the 1980 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. After playing the 1982 season with Double-A Jackson, he was called up to Tidewater to help the Tides compete in the International League playoffs. He went 5-for-20 in five playoff games, including a home run and two RBI, which helped Tidewater go 6-0 in the playoffs for their second Governors’ Cup title.

Strawberry started the 1983 season with the Tides and played 16 games before being called up to the Mets. He went on to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award that season. Strawberry’s success continued from there, earning eight-straight All-Star selections from 1984 to 1991. He also won NL Silver Slugger Awards as an outfielder in 1988 and 1990, where he also placed in the top-three in MVP voting those seasons.

Strawberry is one of seven former number one overall picks to play for the Tides. Among former Tides, he ranks among MLB career leaders in home runs (335, 2nd), stolen bases (221, 8th) and RBI (1,000, 8th).

In game six of the 1986 World Series, Mookie Wilson made his mark in baseball history. With the Mets down to their final out against the Boston Red Sox, Wilson hit a routine groundball to first baseman Bill Buckner which should have won Boston their first World Series since 1918. However, the ball rolled through Buckner’s legs and Mets went on to win game six and seven to win the World Series.

Prior to winning a World Series with the Mets, Wilson played in three seasons with the Tides. He played two full seasons in 1979 and 1980, while playing nine games in 1986 on an injury rehab assignment. In 282 games, he hit .280 with 180 runs, 34 doubles, 24 triples, nine home runs, 84 RBI and 103 stolen bases. He’s the franchise leader in triples, while ranking third in stolen bases and tied for tenth in runs scored with Clint Hurdle. He’s one of eight Tides to play at least 140 games in a season and owns the single-season triples record with 14 in 1980.

Nine of the Most Significant Black Players in Syracuse Baseball History

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at some of the most significant Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

In honor of Jackie Robinson’s number nine, which he wore in his lone minor league season with the Montreal Royals in 1946, here is a look at nine of the most significant Black baseball players ever to suit up for Syracuse.

Moses Fleetwood Walker

Moses Fleetwood Walker played for the Syracuse Stars in 1888 and 1889 and is known as the first Black man to play in the major leagues. Although research shows that William Edward White was the first Black man to play in the majors (playing as a substitute in one game), White passed as a white man, whereas Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first to be open about his heritage. Walker played one season in the majors with the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884, playing in 42 games, primarily as a catcher. After stops with other minor league teams, Walker finished his professional baseball career with Syracuse. He helped the Starts win the International Association pennant in 1888. The Stars were in the International League in 1889, and Walker played in 50 games before he was released from the team near the end of the season. Walker was the last Black player to play in the International League before Jackie Robinson did so in 1946 with Montreal.

Vic Power

Vic Power is the first Black player to play a full season with the Syracuse Chiefs. Power played for the Chiefs in 1951 as part of the New York Yankees organization, hitting .294 with 22 doubles and 56 RBI as a first baseman and outfielder. By some accounts, Power should’ve been the first Black Yankee player, but he wasn’t, and Elston Howard holds that title. Instead, Power combined for a .284 career batting average in 12 seasons in the majors between the Philadelphia Athletics, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, and California Angels. Power was inducted into the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame in 2008.

Willie Smith

Willie Smith pitched for the Syracuse Chiefs in 1963 and played two games in 1964 while he was a member of the Detroit Tigers system. Smith earned the nickname “Wonderful Willie” while putting together an outstanding 1963 season with Syracuse, going 14-2 on the mound with 14 complete games in 19 appearances and 145 innings pitched, including a franchise-record ten consecutive games with a win. Smith’s 2.11 ERA was the best in the league, as was his winning percentage. After his first eight wins, including seven complete games, Smith was called up and made his major league debut on June 18, 1963. After a few other appearances, Smith was sent back to Syracuse where he was named the starting pitcher for the league’s All-Star team in an exhibition against the defending champion New York Yankees. Smith threw three scoreless innings of no-hit baseball while allowing just one walk. Smith was named the International League’s best pitcher of the 1963 season and was also solid at the plate with a .380 batting average (30-for-89). Smith went on to be used primarily as a hitter in nine major league seasons, including a .301 batting average in 118 games with the Los Angeles Angels in 1964 while pitching nearly 32 innings with a 2.84 ERA. Smith was inducted into the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame in 2000.

Willie Horton

Willie Horton played briefly with the Syracuse Chiefs in 1963, but his breakout season happened in 1964. After starting the season with Detroit, Horton struggled and was sent down to Syracuse where he flourished, hitting .288 in 135 games with 28 home runs and 99 RBIs. His production in Syracuse earned him a late-season call up to Detroit. Horton remained in the majors from 1964-1980, earning four All-Star Game selections with the Tigers and winning the 1968 World Series with Detroit. Horton finished his career with a .273 career batting average and 325 career home runs in 18 seasons between the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners. Horton is also a member of the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame Class of 2000.

Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders is one of the best athletes of all time and is possibly the greatest multi-sport athlete ever. Sanders played 14 NFL seasons while playing 11 seasons of professional baseball, including nine years in the Major Leagues. Sanders played part of just one season with Syracuse, but it was where he ended his professional baseball career, playing 25 games with the Syracuse SkyChiefs in 2001. In his final professional baseball game, Sanders hit a home run and had an RBI single for Syracuse in a 12-6 win against Toledo. Sanders is the only person to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.

Terry Whitfield

Terry Whitfield played three seasons with the Syracuse Chiefs from 1974 to 1976 and was named an International League Mid-Season All-Star all three seasons. Whitfield worked his way up to Syracuse, the New York Yankees’ top minor league affiliate at the time, after he was drafted by the Yankees in the first round of 1971 MLB June amateur draft. Whitfield played briefly in three seasons with the Yankees from 1974 to 1976, but his best Major League seasons came from 1977 to 1980 with the San Francisco Giants where he played 514 games and had a .289 batting average in his four seasons with the Giants. After three years in the Japan Pacific League, Whitfield played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1984 to 1986. Whitfield is a 2008 inductee of the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame.

Greg “Boomer” Wells

Boomer Wells was a team leader and fan favorite while he played for the Syracuse Chiefs from 1978 to 1981. In those four seasons, Wells combined for a .274 batting average, 50 home runs, 64 doubles, and 226 RBIs in 379 games. Wells was a 1979 Minor-League Gold Glove winner at first base and a 1981 International League Post-Season All-Star. Despite his solid stats, Wells only played parts of two seasons in the Majors: 32 games in 1981 with Toronto and 15 games in 1982 with Minnesota. In 1983, Wells went to the Japan Pacific League where he played ten seasons. Wells is a member of the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame Class of 2008.

Clarence “Choo-Choo” Coleman

Choo-Choo Coleman played one season in Syracuse but was a member of the New York Mets in their inaugural season in 1962. Coleman hit the first home run in Mets history, albeit during an exhibition game, on Match 11, 1962 against the Cardinals. Despite this, Coleman did not make New York’s Opening Day roster and instead was sent to Triple-A Syracuse where injuries limited him to a .195 batting average in 71 games. Coleman did get an opportunity later in the season with the Mets where he hit .250 in 55 games as New York’s catcher. Coleman went on to play with the Mets in 1963 but then did not play in the majors again until 1966 where he played just six games with New York.

Bobby Mitchell

Bobby Mitchell played three seasons with Syracuse from 1969 to 1971 as a member of the New York Yankees organization. Mitchell played 69 games with the Chiefs in 1969 where he had a .328 batting average with 13 home runs, 18 doubles, 8 triples, 57 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. Mitchell’s 1969 season included a five-hit game on July 16, 1969 at Louisville. He is one of 45 Syracuse players to have at least five hits in a game since 1961. In 1970, Mitchell played 107 games with Syracuse and ten games with the New York Yankees where he made his Major League debut. Then, Mitchell played 73 games with Syracuse in 1971 before he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Mitchell played parts of four seasons with the Brewers before he played the rest of his career in the Japan Pacific League with the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Celebrating Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for Charlotte Knights.

SAM HORN (1993)

Sam Horn led the power-packed Charlotte Knights with 38 home runs in 1993 — still the most home runs by a player in single-season franchise history. The record has stood for nearly 30 years (the 2023 season will mark the 30th anniversary of Charlotte’s first season as a Triple-A affiliate after previously being a Double-A franchise).

In all, the 6-foot-5 slugger hit .269 with 108 hits, 17 doubles and 96 RBIs in 1993 as a member of the Knights, the Cleveland Indians top affiliate. A 1993 International League All-Star, Horn also led the league in home runs that season and helped guide the Knights to winning the Governors’ Cup in the team’s inaugural year as a Triple-A team. Years later, he was named to the “All Knights Stadium Team” during the team’s final season at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill in 2013.

Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (16th overall) in the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft, Horn finished with 226 home runs over a 15-year Minor League Baseball career. Horn spent parts of eight seasons in the majors with Boston (1987-89), Baltimore (1990-92), Cleveland (1993) and Texas (1995). He compiled 62 home runs in the majors and 179 RBIs in 389 games played.

BILLY McMILLON (1996-1997)

As a member of the Charlotte Knights in 1996, Billy McMillon took home International League Rookie of the Year honor after leading the league in batting average with an impressive .352 mark. For the season, he finished with 122 hits, 72 runs scored, 32 doubles, 17 home runs and 70 RBI en route to his first of three All-Star nods. He returned to the Knights a season later and became just the second player in Knights history to hit three home runs in a game. McMillon was named to the “All Knights Stadium Team” in 2013 during the team’s final season at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill.

Originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in the eighth round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft, McMillon excelled at Clemson University from 1991-1993. He compiled a career .382 batting average and was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference twice and a first-team All-American once. On October 6, 2012, he was honored for his collegiate achievements and earned induction into the Clemson Hall of Fame.

For his professional playing career, McMillon compiled a career .304 batting average with 1,101 hits, 652 runs scored, 256 doubles, 20 triples, 127 home runs, and 610 RBIs in 992 games over 11 Minor League Baseball seasons. He was a career .310 hitter over 600 International League games with the Knights, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, Toledo Mud Hens, and Columbus Clippers. He captured his second IL batting title in 2000 when he hit .345 with the Mud Hens. Overall, he also appeared in 269 games in the majors with the Marlins (1996-97), the Philadelphia Phillies (1997), the Detroit Tigers, and the Oakland A’s (2001, 2003-04).

McMillon was named to the Charlotte Baseball Round Table of Honor in 2020. McMillon, who is a coach with the Rochester Red Wings this year, has yet to be formally honored for his induction into the Charlotte Baseball Round Table of Honor. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Knights did not hold a ceremony in 2021. The Knights hope to formally induct McMillon this year.

JASON BOURGEOIS (2007-2008 & 2016-2017)

Jason Bourgeois played for the Knights over parts of four seasons (2007, 2008, 2016, and 2017) and is among the franchise leaders in a number of offensive categories. He is third in hits (404), third in games played (368), third in at-bats (1,397), third in runs scored (191), second in stolen bases (71), and tied for first in triples (12). Bourgeois was named to the All-Knights Stadium Team in 2013 as a member of the Durham Bulls.

Bourgeois made Charlotte Knights history when he singled in the top of the seventh inning of the team’s 9-4 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Sunday, August 13, 2017 from Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. That single was the 400th of his Charlotte Knights career, which moved him into the exclusive three-member club. Bourgeois, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and two walks on the day, joined Jordan Danks (449) and Joe Borchard (439) as the only members of the Charlotte Knights 400-Hit Club.

Originally drafted in the second round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Texas Rangers, the Houston, TX native played parts of eight seasons in the majors and appeared in 317 games over the course of those seasons. In the minors, Bourgeois played in parts of 18 seasons, appeared in 1,633 games and compiled 1,763 hits.

MARCUS SEMIEN (2013-2014)

Marcus Semien made his Knights debut in 2013 and returned in 2014.
Buren Foster/Charlotte Knights

Originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft, Marcus Semien first made his way to Triple-A with the Knights in 2013. In 32 games with the Knights that year during the team’s final season in Fort Mill, SC, Semien hit .264 (33-for-125) with 20 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 RBIs, and four stolen bases.

A year later, Semien was a key contributor for the Knights, who made their return to Charlotte, NC for the first time since 1988. The team opened Truist Field (then named BB&T Ballpark) on April 11, 2014. Although Semien wasn’t there for Opening Knight, he made his way to Uptown Charlotte in June and quickly excelled on the diamond with the team.

In 2014, the California native began the season with the White Sox, but was optioned to the Knights on June 1. In 83 games with Charlotte before being promoted back to Chicago on September 2, he hit .267 (81-for-303) with 57 runs scored, 20 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, and seven stolen bases. He ended up appearing in 64 games with the White Sox that year — his last in the organization. Overall with the Knights, he appeared in 68 games at shortstop over parts of two seasons and a total of 115 games (2013–14). He hit .266 with 77 runs scored, 31 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in his career with the Knights.

Since then, Semien has established himself as one of the game’s best players. In 2019, he hit .285 (187-for-657) with 123 runs scored, 43 doubles, seven triples, 33 home runs, 92 RBIs and 10 stolen bases with Oakland. He finished third in American League MVP voting. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2021 season and went on to have one of his finest seasons in his career. He hit .265 (173-for-652) with 173 hits, 39 doubles and a career-best 45 home runs and 102 RBIs.

TIM ANDERSON (2016 & 2019 Rehab*)

Tim Anderson quickly made his mark in Charlotte in 2016 and has gone on to win a batting title in the majors with the White Sox.
Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights

Originally drafted in the first round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft (17th overall pick) by the Chicago White Sox, Tim Anderson appeared in 55 games with the Charlotte Knights in 2016 and hit .304 (75-for-247) with 39 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. He was promoted from Charlotte to Chicago on June 10, 2016. At the time of that promotion, Anderson was leading the International League in hits (75) and was second in runs scored (39).

Since leaving the Knights for the White Sox, Anderson has become one of the top players in all of Major League Baseball. His career came full circle during the 2019 season when on Sunday, September 29, 2019 — the final day of the regular season — Anderson was crowned as the American League batting champion. The Tuscaloosa, AL native became the first Charlotte Knights product to win the batting title since 2002 (Manny Ramirez). Earlier that season, Anderson appeared in a short rehab stint with the Knights, coming back to the Queen City for the first time since 2015.

In 123 games with the White Sox in 2019, Anderson hit .335 (167-for-498) with 81 runs scored, 32 doubles, 18 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. His .335 batting average was the highest in the majors — six points ahead of the National League’s Christian Yelich/Ketel Marte and eight points ahead of New York’s D.J. LeMahieu, who hit .327 to finish in second in the American League.

In 2020, Anderson earned an American League Silver Slugger Award and hit an impressive .322 (67-for-208) with a league-best 45 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 21 RBIs and five stolen bases in the pandemic-shortened season.

Last year, he picked up where he left off and once again hit over .300 (.309). He was an American League All-Star for the first time in his career and helped the White Sox to the postseason for the second consecutive year.

Black History Month: The best Black players to play for the Bisons

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club or play for a team within its market.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

As part of the all new ‘The Nine’ initiative throughout minor league baseball, also be sure to check out some of the best to play for other clubs beside the Bisons at MILB.com.

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Buffalo Bisons.

Luke Easter

Of course, the only way to begin this list, or any list involving the best players to ever play for the Bisons, is with Luscious Easter. He was a giant in every sense of the word, from his six-foot, four-inch, 240-pound frame to the massive home runs he hit out of Offermann Stadium.

He was a legend. He was a folk hero. He was Luke.

“Buffalo fans have always worshipped their sport heroes, but few have ever attained the near mythical status accorded to Bisons great Luke Easter.” — plaque in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

Easter first joined the Bisons in 1956, signing on with the club two years removed from his sixth and final season in the Major Leagues. For the newly independent Bisons franchise that had just decided to sell stock to the general public in a plan to become community owned, the timing to add their most iconic player couldn’t have been any better.

From 1956-1959, Easter hit 114 home runs and drove in 353 with the Bisons. Of his many memorable games, he will always be remembered for one at-bat on June 14, 1957 when he became the first player ever to hit a home run over the Offermann Stadium centerfield scoreboard, which stood 60 feet tall and 400 feet away from home plate. It’s estimated the ball traveled as much as 550 feet.

Two months later, Easter accomplished the feat again. And with Offermann Stadium seeing its last game in 1960, Easter went down in history as the only player to ever clear the scoreboard… and he did it twice!

A member of both the International League and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame, Easter’s iconic status still holds strong as one of the greatest athletes of any sport the City of Buffalo has ever seen. He is one of only three players to have their number forever retired by the Bisons.

Frank Grant

Ulysses Franklin “Frank” Grant played three seasons with the Bisons from 1886-1888 and led the team in average and slugging percentage in each of those campaigns. He was also the only Black player before the 1940s to play three consecutive seasons with one club in organized baseball and he may have in fact been the most talented Black player to play before the color line was drawn.

Grant hit .344 in his first season with the Bisons and wowed fans with his acrobatic fielding at second base. A year later, he batted .366 and led the league with eight home runs. He tripled, homered twice and drove in eight in one game and stole home twice in another contest. In his last season in Buffalo, he averaged .331 with a career-best 11 home runs.

For his career, one out of every four hits Grant produced went for extra-bases, an impressive stat when you consider his reportedly small frame of 5’7”, 155 pounds. In 2006, Grant was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, 69 years after his passing.

Dorn Taylor

Lazy fly ball after lazy fly ball, nobody has had more success in the history of Sahlen Field than pitcher, Dorn Taylor.

The veteran was the ace of the Bisons pitching staff for the first three seasons of the Herd’s brand new ballpark in downtown Buffalo and the righty knew exactly how to take advantage of the park’s older, more spacious outfield configuration.

Not an over-powering pitcher -he had just 281 strikeouts in 504.2 innings of work- Taylor was a master of inducing soft contact and letting his fielders behind him do the work. In 39 career starts at then-Pilot Field, he was 21-7 (.750 winning pct.) with a miniscule 1.55 ERA that stands as the best in the ballpark’s history. He gave up just 202 hits in 273.1 innings of work in Buffalo.

That’s not to say the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer wasn’t excellent wherever he pitched for the Herd. He won 10+ games in each of his three Bisons seasons, and led the American Association with a 2.14 ERA in 1988 while finishing in the top 4 in the category in 1989 and 1990 as well.

A two-time Triple-A All-Star with the Bisons, Taylor finished his Bisons career with a 34-22 record and a 2.59 ERA.

Dave Roberts

A champion as a Bison, a champion in the big leagues as a player and a champion in the big leagues as a manager. It’s been quite a baseball career for Dave Roberts and it’s only getting better.

A 47th round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 1993, the fleet-footed outfielder made his Bisons debut as a late season call-up in 1998, helping the Herd to a Governors’ Cup title. He then took over on the base paths, stealing 39 bases in 1999 before matching the feat again the following season. All told, no Bisons player in the modern era has matched his 97 career steals in a Herd uniform, and he got there with an impressive 82.9% success rate.

The Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer (2013) also hit .286 with 75 extra-base hits and 194 runs scored in 276 games with the Herd. He would go on and play 832 Major League games for five teams and will forever be remembered for his stolen base and run scored against Mariano Rivera and the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS that turned the series around and propelled the Red Sox to a World Series Championship.

Of course now, Roberts is also succeeding on the bench in Los Angeles. The Dodgers have won 542 games in six years with him as their manager and took home a 2020 World Series Crown over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Brandon Phillips

In 2004, the Bisons put together one of the great offensive clubs in the history of minor league baseball, as they shattered International League records for runs scored and team average that had stood for more than half a century.

One of the biggest cogs in that offense was Brandon Phillips. A constant force in the lineup, Phillips reached base in a modern era record 51 consecutive games. He averaged .303 with 158 total hits that would’ve set a new modern era team record had it not been for Jhonny Peralta’s 181 hits that same season. Phillips added 34 doubles, 50 RBI and 14 stolen bases to his impressive campaign and finished his four-year Bisons career with the third most runs scored in team history (206).

But as good as Phillips was at the plate, his impact in the field was even better. Splitting time between second base and short, the slick-fielder made the tough look routine. And it was his amazing, instinctive play in Game 3 of the 2004 IL Semi-Finals that saved the season. With the Herd trailing the Durham Bulls 2-0 in the seventh, a bloop single over first baseman Ryan Garko’s head threatened to increase the deficit, but Phillips raced to the ball and made a spinning, off-balance, fade-away throw to the plate to retire the side. The Bisons rallied to win the game 3-2 and then to win Games 4 and 5 to complete the 0-2 comeback before moving on to beat the Richmond Braves for the Governors’ Cup crown.

It’s no surprise Phillips continued his excellent play in the field in the Major Leagues, winning four Gold Gloves for the Cincinnati Reds. He would go on and play in a part of an impressive 17 seasons in the Bigs, hitting .275 with 211 home runs, 951 RBI and two All-Star Game appearances.

Celebrating Black History Month: Highlighting Marlon Anderson

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers from across the sport went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Over the month, we will highlight some of the best Black baseball players to ever suit up for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Marlon Anderson

The Philadelphia Phillies tabbed Marlon Anderson with a second-round pick in the 1995 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Alabama. After three years in the Minors, Anderson spent the entire 1998 season with the Red Barons and flourished.

Anderson appeared in 136 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 1998, batting .306 with 32 doubles, 14 triples, 16 home runs, 86 runs batted in and 24 stolen bases. For this effort, he was voted Rookie of the Year by the International League. Anderson is one of only four players in franchise history who have earned that lofty distinction. He was recalled by the Phillies later that season and made his Major League debut in September.

After spending the 1999 season in the Majors, Philadelphia placed Anderson back on the Red Barons roster in 2000 for 103 games. His second year in Triple-A produced similar results, including a .305 batting average and IL Midseason and Postseason All-Star nods.

Anderson played 12 years in the Majors, spending time with Tampa Bay, St. Louis, the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Over 1,151 games, he held a career .265 batting average.

A Spotlight on the Top Black Players in Iowa Franchise History

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to have long, illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers. In some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Over the month, we will highlight some of the best Black baseball players to ever come through Iowa in franchise history.

Vida Blue (1970)

Vida Blue was one of the top left-handers in baseball in the 1970’s with Oakland as he helped the Athletics to three straight World Championships from 1972-74. He went straight from Double-A Birmingham to Oakland in 1969, where he went 1-1 with a 6.64 ERA in 12 games (four starts). His 1970 season that began in Des Moines was the season that put him on the path to stardom.

At just 20 years old, Blue started 17 games for Iowa in 1970, going 12-3 with a 2.17 ERA. He struck out 165 batters and allowed just 88 hits in 133.0 innings before a promotion to Oakland, where he went 2-0 with a 2.09 ERA in six starts. On September 21, 1970, in Oakland, Blue threw a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins.

The following season, at the age of 21, Blue was named the 1971 American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner after going 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA in 39 starts. He pitched 312 innings and threw eight shutouts in 1971.

Blue went on to be a six-time All-Star and received MVP votes four times and Cy Young Award votes five times. Despite playing until 1986 when he was 36 years old, Blue never stepped foot on another Minor League field after leaving Des Moines during that 1970 season.