Kingsport Times-News from Kingsport, Tennessee • 36

It doesn't really matter whether this Met (left) is out at second or not After all rookies will be rookies Appy League play may not be the big time but it's still baseball sorta IlltionnommONORimilmaktilemmommummaidg Kingsport Met Luis Martinez (above) is congratulated by batboy Kevin Brickey during last summer's action Congratulations were few for the Mets last year but this group of Paintsville Yankees (below) still had plenty to shake hands about N'''r 7 ioz 1174140N 4 44014141r 1 c'' 0 0 4'' '04r if" II ea SKI tt iS4 I 1 11r) A 4 I '44'4fk It doesn't really matter whether this Met A -7e '4 0 w- 0 I A (left) is out at second or not After all rookies will be rookies -1 4 A i 0 4" 1 i I d464S 1 I 11 7 I A) k-p 00 )4 4 i- At '7 i-li-' a tralos i 1 ---PJ 44 40 cdi 1 1 00 ol: 240 st24I 2r 44A '141g 14 1 -e Csil 119 ft' 0 4nr "4 40s4I'' it 'Yip 4 -4 2 N1 ill 12j 4s4 I 041si41 04 as 4 55e355 1 1 13 '-5' I 3 04e 5 111S 11 i I I 1 'V 9 I' 3 It i aii 1 I I 4 1 Appy League play ''11 may not be the big Kingsport Met Luis Martinez (above) is congratulated by batboy Kevin Brickey ime 4 it still b' during last summer's action Congratulations were few for the Mets last year but this baseball sorta group of Paintsville Yankees (below) still had plenty to shake hands about By KEN DATZMAN Times-News Sports Writer If you attend Appalachian League baseball games this summer leave the cooler at home but be sure to bring a towel You'll need it to wipe away the tears Play in the Appy League will make you cry Guaranteed It's the foundation of baseball There's an old saying that anything can happen in the Appalachian League: Amen There's no other way to look at it Rookies are rookies Tile Appalachian League which opens play the last week in June and closes the last week in August is wild pitches dropped foul balls crazy throwing errors players forgetting to tag home plate coaches screaming at youngsters trying to learn the basics and hot bus rides to remote fields And just think this year the league is expanding so more fans can witness this unparalleled style of baseball The Appy League had six affiliate teams last year Kingsport (Mets) Bristol (Tigers) Johnson City (Cardinals) Elizabethton (Twins) Bluefield (Orioles) and Paintsville (Yankees) comprised the league This season Pikeville (Ky) and Pulaski Va will join the 12-week parade Pikeville will be one of the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league clubs and Pulaski will be a co-op consisting of the Atlanta Braves who pulled out of Kingsport three years ago and the Chicago Cubs Pikeville and Pulaski have been members of the Appy League before Most of the Appy managers have yet to be named but the Kingsport Mets have already appointed Ed Olsen has their head man this season Olsen who was the Kingsport Mets' coach last year will replace manager Al Jackson who will be the Mets' minor league pitching instructor The Kingsport Mets finished in the cellar last season and ended with a 15-game losing streak Olsen is head coach at Grossmont (Calif) Junior College The Appalachian League also has a new presi- dent Bill Halstead took over for Paul Fyffe who resigned Fyffe owner of the Paintsville Yankees was appointed league president in 1980 The Appy League which first originated in 1910 has produced many outstanding major league players Jim Brosnan Pedro Ramos Boog Powell Mark Fidrych Denny McLain Fritz Peterson Sparky Lyle Richie Hebner and Tony Oliva are some former Appy players who made to it the big leagues year Kingsport (Mets) Bristol (Tigers) Johnson City (Cardinals) Elizabethton (Twins) Bluefield (Orioles) and Paintsville (Yankees) comprised the league This season Pikeville (Ky) and Pulaski Va will join the 12-week parade Pikeville will be one of the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league clubs and Pulaski will be a co-op consisting of the Atlanta Braves who pulled out of Kingsport three years ago and the Chicago Cubs Pikeville and Pulaski have been members of the Appy League before Most of the Appy managers have yet to be named but the Kingsport Mets have already ap- pointed Ed Olsen has their head man this season co Olsen who was the Kingsport Mets' coach last year will replace manager Al Jackson who will be the Meta' minor league pitching instructor The Kingsport Mets finished in the cellar last season and ended with a 15-game losing streak Olsen is head coach at Grossmont (Calif) Junior College Le he Appalachian ague also has a new prem dent Bill Halstead took over for Paul Fyffe who resigned ffe owner of the Paint- sville Yankees was appFyointed league president in 1980 The Appy League which first originated in 1910 has produced many outstanding major league players Jim Brosnan Pedro Ramos Boog Powell Mark Fidrych Denny McLain Fritz Peter- son Sparky Lyle Richie Hebner and Tony Oliva are some former Appy players who made to it the big leagues By KEN DATZMAN Times-News Sports Writer you attend Appalachian League baseball games this summer leave the cooler at home but be sure to bring a towel You'll need it to wipe away the tears Play in the Appy League will make you cry Guaranteed It's the foundation of baseball There's an old saying that anything can happen in the Appalachian League: Amen There's no other way to look at it Rook- ies are rookies Tile Appalachian League which opens play the last week in June and closes the last week in Au- gust is wild pitches dropped foul balls crazy throwing errors players forgetting to tag home plate coaches screaming at youngsters trying to learn the basics and hot bus rides to remote fields And just think this year the league is expanding so more fans can witness this unparalleled style of baseball' The Appy League had six affiliate teams last year Kingsport (Mets) Bristol (Tigers) Johnson City (Cardinals) Elizabethton (Twins) Bluefield 16 Kingsport TimesNelis Tuesday March 23 1982 Times-Mows tile shots Jos Willis es raanog asanic minu muuui 1 4 90 0 it 'It 6 ti i 4 $(tAi43 4' A lik 'f- 1 I I li -4 ri it 0-'7 4 11- owl Am i44 44 1 4 4- -A 0 114 )- -N1 14 1 iit 1 '1 7 ttiv 1 li i 0 i 1 0 0 71 6 0 do -d -ow 1 -11-' 1 4 NNritn it it 1 90' rj 4-- i 0 1 (1 0 i) i Timos-Nows Ole ohoke Joe Mins 16 Kingsport Times-News i Tuesday March 23 1982.