The World Series gets underway in just a couple of hours. You might see some familiar names and faces on the television screen as both rosters are full of guys who once honed their skills in the rookie-level Appalachian League.
Here are some local connections for each of the participants in the Fall Classic:
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
--- Pitcher Kyle McClellan compiled a 3-8 record in 19 games as a member of the Johnson City Cardinals in 2002 and 2003.
--- Jason Motte appeared in nine games for the Johnson City Cardinals in 2003. He did so as a catcher, before the Cardinals converted him into a pitcher.
--- The elder statesman in the World Series, left-handed pitcher Arthur Rhodes, played in the Appalachian League way back in 1988 as a member of the Bluefield Orioles. He went 3-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 games that summer.
--- Catcher Yadier Molina hit .259 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 2001 for the Johnson City Cardinals.
--- Infielder Rafael Furcal stole 60 bases in 66 games for the Appy League’s Danville Braves in 1998.
--- Rookie outfielder Adron Chambers was playing in the Appy League just four years ago. He hit .279 for JC during the 2007 season.
--- St. Louis bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist served as Johnson City’s pitching coach in 2002.
--- Brandon Dickson is not on the Cardinals’ postseason roster, but he is in line for a World Series ring if St. Louis beats Texas. The right-handed pitcher from Tusculum College appeared in four games this summer for the big league team and was 0-0 with a 3.24 ERA.
--- Octavio Dotel never pitched in the Appy League, but he did spend several years with the Houston Astros as the set-up man for All-Star closer and former Tazewell High School star Billy Wagner. He was also a teammate of Bristol native Jimmy Gobble’s with the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox.
TEXAS RANGERS
--- The most notable Appy League alum in the World Series is Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton, one of the majors’ most feared hitters. Hamilton hit .347 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs in 1999 for the Princeton Devil Rays. During his lone appearance in Bristol’s DeVault Stadium that summer, he was 3-for-11 with a run scored and RBI against the Bristol White Sox over the course of a three-game series.
--- Texas starting pitcher Colby Lewis went 7-3 with a 1.95 ERA in 11 starts for the Pulaski Rangers in 1999. One of those victories was a seven-inning gem against the Bristol White Sox on Aug. 7 at DeVault Stadium, when he yielded just two unearned runs in Pulaski’s 9-4 triumph.
--- C.J. Wilson, the Game 1 starter, was 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA in eight starts for the Pulaski Rangers in 2001.
--- Texas relief pitcher Neftali Feliz was 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in eight games (seven starts) for the Danville Braves in 2007.
--- Texas infielder Elvis Andrus appeared in six games and hit .278 for the Danville Braves in 2005.
--- Pitcher Matt Harrison compiled a 4-4 record and 4.09 ERA in 2004 for the Danville Braves.
--- Veteran outfielder Endy Chavez was a Kingsport Met in 1997 and 1998.
--- Former Milligan College baseball coach Danny Clark is the minor league pitching coordinator for the Rangers.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement