Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 127

1 I 4 A "We wanted to form teams that will pfay to 11111 for their towns 99 -7 Byron Pierce Dallas businessman andfounder 4 4'1 1 4 04 1 tr qv" t- to 7 1 1 ''c' 1 pawmm4-operk" 4 i 10 fb seJ44" -4 -----T i 0 te a it 011161 all It L-4 1 1 I 1-' i' ft i 4 4 9i 4 st Millifillen for 111" --4bis- I'llt arr IIN'' (- t' 1 'r -111 tr2-imrl-twif 1)1 4 O'ff0g4L4 JIM 1 Ne 4 i' I' AT 11 1 1000 Ek' l' 4 IF" Allko 4 11 i 1 1 4 0 2 0al 1 Lt 4' '44f AC 3 t-- 'tk t- -60- 1 rp4 A')V a 4 44144414Alk 1 I Nitn't 0444 0 eowoaoa 11144- 0111 I t- igeportowitoll otiii'-' row AO 4 Oa 4144 et SO og 411104 tee" VINPIRO gm 410 00 veto IA 10 wi 'Iota 480 I 0 ezo'l dA04t dtes koi -44 4 to lop 144411110410 mo i 1 11 It tee te ioitif era lb- Jamie Robinson gets her feet wet along the right-field line Fans can enjoy the game and the spa for $10 including a hot dog and soft drink provided by a waitress in a tuxedo 1 'T---i- 1 1 1 1 I 7 TT 44 i i 1 it Lb rt--4 440: 11-1 It might be the min ors I but it 7 all major fun 4 YLER Mike Carter Field Midland and San Antonio) They were a ''''t olga4r1 vil40 Stein enjoys it enough to consider McBroom asking for recommendations is about 150 miles and a cou- too far from Dallas for hands-on owner- tii'l s'' i making a career of it Only one orga- on players The coach mentioned pie of hours away from The ship and besides they weren't for sale f-01 4 -014 P-1 lo4 nization could change his mind Gould an unpaid assistant after finish- 1 I "I would love to work for the Rang- vo 4 Ballpark in Arlington in So Pierce and Bryant tried a different ing his eligibility as an all-conference terms of distance and time tack I 011 lI A ers" he said "Otherwise I'll stay right outfielder 4 But in tenns of attitude ambiance "We decided heck let's create our I 1 4 here' AI 1 1 Gould went to Tyler with no major- and atmosphere it's on a different plan- own league" Pierce said The pitchin coach league aspirations He eventually wants et The premise was simple: Play in me- 4 1 4 to coach and is using this as experience Mike Carter Field and the tenant dium-sized cities that would embrace 4 it Ill Larry Carter had his cup of coffee in "It's a place to say I played profes- Tyler Wildcatters is minor-league The the team stock the teams with players 3' the majors He appeared in six games for sional baseball" he said "It's helped me Ballpark in Arlington of course is culled from tryouts hire former major- 's --o the San Francisco Giants in 1992 learn a different system It's a different major-league leaguers as managers for name recogni- "I'm proud of what we're doing That entitles him to have his name game There's more strategy you learn permanently affixed in the pages of the different things This can only help" By no means should that be construed tion and to control costs institute a here" Tyler Wildcatters general man- Baseball Encyclopedia It doesn't en- as a slight though $20000-per-month per-team salary ager Lee Smith says The married guy title him to fame and fortune Minor-league means small the field cap seats fewer than 5000 as opposed to "We wanted a hometown league like BY SIMON GONZALEZ Carter spent 1993 at Phoenix the Gi- Britt Bonneau a 23-year-old infielder The Ballpark's 49000-plus it was in the '40s and '50s" Pierce said ants' Triple-A affiliate but was released from Farmers Branch played Class-A Minor-league means a quality of play "We didn't want farm teams We want- Fort Worth Star-Telegram after the season He was a 29-year-old ball for the Chicago Cubs last year but that can't approach the Rangers on their ed to form teams that will play to win for without a job and with two arm surger- he was released before spring training worst days A handful of the players in their towns" 4 PHOTOGRAPHY les on his resume He was married in February and But Stein knew Carter from the days thought about finishing his education had a cup ofcoffee in The Show Some the fledgling Texas-Louisiana League 'The baseball lady' BY MILTON ADAMS when both were in the Giants' orga- and finding a real job advanced as high as Double A or Triple I Lee Smith is upbeat energetic a Fort Worth Star-Telegram nization and hired him as a combina- "I was going to go back to school this A before being released Many never human dynamo tion pitcherpitching coach summer" he said "But then I found out as to is her job Tl to attract the "I wanted to come here to see if I about this job" were drafted out of high school or col- she said "We try to give the adults a citizenry She It oyer to Mike Carter Field could do it again" he said Bonneau an All-American at Lub- lege time to forget about their worries and and once there to make sure they are Carter showed he could pitch when he bock Christian decided to chase his But minor-league also means an em- the kids something to do outside where entertaine sufficiently so they will threw the first (and so far only) no-hitter dreams for one more season phasis on fun on wacky promotions and they can breath real air and have fun back ack for more in the league on June 21 but old injuries "Hopefully I'll catch someone's eye" sponsor tie-ins for everything from That's my job and my job is to get you to pitching changes to car windshields Smith is the Wildcatters general come back flared up after that start he said "If it doesn't happen it doesn't It manager is a nice title but she has "I was still rehabbing" from shoulder happen It's been fun" shattered by foul balls "The best is when I'm in the grocery little in common with general surgery last August he said It was just It means hustle from players either store and someone comes up and says The veteran manager Tom Grieve and his major- desperately trying to catch a scout's eye 'You're the baseball lady' my fifth start I was going to come out of league brethren the game but I got talked into staying I Pat Woodruff one of five Tarrant and keep alive major-league dreams or The manager County residents on the roster knows While Grieve is charged with putting tried to do too much too early" who just play out of the love of the game he will never make the majors The I 984 a quality team on the field Smith is Bill Stein was going to take a year off He doesn't mind coaching full time Most of all it means baseball graduate of Arlington High is 27 years responsible for a franchise from baseball But then he was recruited because he figured he would do that While the major-league players and old and had his shot when he was in the The manager takes care of the players to manage the Wildcatters when his playing career was over He their $12 million average salaries are on Philadelphia Phillies' and Detroit Ti- and she does the rest She schedules pro- The former Ranger and holder of the didn't expect it this soon though strike the Wildcatters play on for their gers' organizations He spent two years motions she takes tickets she works in American League record for consecu- "I'm on the edge all the time" he said $909-per-month average paychecks it's in Double A and for one heady week the concession stands she puts toilet tive pinch hits lives in Arlington He I guess its because I still want to be out They endure long bus rides to "stadi- advanced to Triple A paper in the bathrooms she helps with figured Tyler was close enough for a there But I like the coaching part urns" that might or might not have visit- He doesn't need to play baseball He the tarp if it rains She does public rela- commute so he agreed It's given me a new outlook I just like ing clubhouses that have bumpy fields has an executive job in an oil and gas tions community relations media rela- Stein has been a minor-league man- being around baseball" and dim lights company in Dallas lined up tions ager and coach since his playing career This is the minor leagues This is fun She doesn't have to work this hard ended in I 985 but he has never had this The rookie "I have something to fall back on" he She has a law degree and passed the bar kind of responsibility Clay Gould is the leading hitter in the said The founders exam in Pennsylvania and Florida But "I'm basically in charge of all baseball league with a 331 average throw" ut the sport is in his blood So the gh The Texas-Louisiana League is the jobs in law including the time she was operations" he said "Signing releas- Thursday Not bad for someone who Wildcatters' center fielder endures the brainchild of Dallas businessman Byron an agent's assistant in Philadelphia ing they're all my decisions If I want to figured he would never play an inning of cramped clubhouses the bus rides the Pierce and Rep John Bryant D-Dallas bored her Jobs with the Phillies and drop a pitcher down from over the top to pro ball low pay The two were interested in buying a running Twins whetted her appetite for sidearm I can do that You don't have It changed for the former Arlington minor-league franchise in Texas but a baseball operation to talk to someone higher up in the orga- High School and UT-Arlington stand- li Its a lot of fun he said "You only ve once You might as well take advan- found there were only three (El Paso "I'm proud of what we're doing here" nization Plus there's no paperwork" out when Stein called UTA coach Butch (More on TYLER on Page 6B) --1 1 VOol nAbr 1 A Wildcatters pitch- lik at o- -4 1 1 for a game Players er Cody Farr from 1 4' tt i i kJ 'Pt i ilielroo tiraar i 1 4 '4' dit 'i i 441' 4( Arlington dresses jt A lot te 1 I 1 le 4 i'l li 4 -orgkfr 'I l' LLi 7 I it I 1 1 don't get a large or 4vIt dressing area in 1 4 467 i 1 4 A- mety-rt r4 1 the minor leagues 11 PI OA -4'1' a A- a nor large pay- A I 1 am'e checks nor large 7 -k Li '( Llo? tik 41fvot 0 crowds But there 1 are some rewards I I 1 Irrk44 such as Tyler It -1) ') pitcher Rod fluff- 1 1 -'r i man's postgame 1' lyZ)f0--1'''' i 1 1 At Iti4 tb W-4 A 1 A 4 I Beddow 1 1 70 Aitt Co -I 0 I 1 1 ail 0 kiss from Melinda 'I 1 I 1 4t 1 "We wanted to form teams that will piay to win for their towns" Byron Pierce Dallas businessman andfounder Jamie Robinson gets her feet It rnight be the minors TYLER Mike Carter Field is about 150 miles and a couple of hours away from The Ballpark in Arlington in terms of distance and time But in terms of attitude ambiance and atmosphere it's on a different planet Mike Carter Field and the tenant Tyler Wildcatters is minor-league The Ballpark in Arlington of course is major-league By no means should that be construed as a slight though Minor-league means small the field seats fewer than 5000 as opposed to The Ballpark's 49000-plus Minor-league means a quality of play that can't approach the Rangers on their worst days A handful of the players in the fledgling Texas-Louisiana League had a cup of coffee in The Show Some advanced as high as Double A or Triple A before being released Many never were drafted out of high school or college But minor-league also means an emphasis on fun on wacky promotions and sponsor tie-ins for everything from pitching changes to car windshields shattered by foul balls It means hustle from players either desperately trying to catch a scout's eye and keep alive major-league dreams or who just play out of the love of the game Most of all it means baseball While the major-league players and their 12 million average salaries are on strike the Wildcatters play on for their $909-per-month average paychecks They endure long bus rides to "stadiums" that might or might not have visiting clubhouses that have bumpy fields and dim lights This is the minor leagues This is fun The founders The Texas-Louisiana League is the brainchild of Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and Rep John Bryant D-Dallas The two were interested in buying a minor-league franchise in Texas but found there were only three (El Paso Wildcatters pitcher Cody Farr from Arlington dresses for a game Players don't get a large dressing area in the minor leagues nor large paychecks nor large crowds But there are some rewards such as Tyler pitcher Rod Iluffman's postgame kiss from Melinda Beddow wet along the right-field line Fans can Midland and San Antonio) They were too far from Dallas for hands-on ownership and besides they weren't for sale So Pierce and Bryant tried a different tack "We decided heck let's create our own league" Pierce said The premise was simple: Play in medium-sized cities that would embrace the team stock the teams with players culled from tryouts hire former major-leaguers as managers for name recognition and to control costs institute a $20000-per-month per-team salary cap "We wanted a hometown league like it was in the '40s and '50s" Pierce said "We didn't want farm teams We wanted to form teams that will play to win for their towns" 'The baseball lady' Lee Smith is upbeat energetic a human dynamo She has to be It is her job to attract the citizenry of Tyler to Mike Carter Field and once there to make sure they are entertained sufficiently so they will come back for more Smith is the Wildcatters' general manager It is a nice title but she has little in common with Rangers general manager Tom Grieve and his major-league brethren While Grieve is charged with putting a quality team on the field Smith is responsible for a franchise The manager takes care of the players and she does the rest She schedules promotions she takes tickets she works in the concession stands she puts toilet paper in the bathrooms she helps with the tarp if it rains She does public relations community relations media relations She doesn't have to work this hard She has a law degree and passed the bar exam in Pennsylvania and Florida But jobs in law including the time she was an agent's assistant in Philadelphia bored her Jobs with the Phillies and Twins whetted her appetite for running a baseball operation "I'm proud of what we're doing here" enjoy the game and the spa for $10 including a hot dog and soft drink provided 1- "I'm proud of what we're doing here" Tyler Wildcatters general manager Lee Smith says BY SIMON GONZALEZ Fort Worth Star-Telegram 4 PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILTON ADAMS Fort Worth Star-Telegram she said "We try to give the adults a time to forget about their worries and the kids something to do outside where they can breath real air and have fun That's my job and my job is to get you to come back "The best is when I'm in the grocery store and someone comes up and says 'You're the baseball lady'" The manager Bill Stein was going to take a year off from baseball But then he was recruited to manage the Wildcatters The former Ranger and holder of the American League record for consecutive pinch hits lives in Arlington He figured Tyler was close enough for a commute so he agreed Stein has been a minor-league manager and coach since his playing career ended in I 985 but he has never had this kind of responsibility "I'm basically in charge of all baseball operations" he said "Signing releasing they're all my decisions If I want to drop a pitcher down from over the top to sidearm I can do that You don't have to talk to someone higher up in the organization Plus there's no paperwork" Stein enjoys it enough to consider making a career of it Only one organization could change his mind "I would love to work for the Rangers" he said "Otherwise I'll stay right here" The pitching coach Larry Carter had his cup of coffee in the majors He appeared in six games for the San Francisco Giants in 1992 That entitles him to have his name permanently affixed in the pages of the Baseball Encyclopedia It doesn't entitle him to fame and fortune Caner spent 1993 at Phoenix the Giants' Triple-A affiliate but was released after the season He was a 29-year-old without a job and with two arm surgeries on his resume But Stein knew Carter from the days when both were in the Giants' organization and hired him as a combination pitcherpitching coach "I wanted to come here to see if I could do it again" he said Carter showed he could pitch when he threw the first (and so far only) no-hitter in the league on June 21 but old injuries flared up after that start "I was still rehabbing" from shoulder surgery last August he said "It was just my fifth start I was going to come out of the game but I got talked into staying I tried to do too much too early" He doesn't mind coaching full time because he figured he would do that when his playing career was over He didn't expect it this soon though "I'm on the edge all the time" he said "I guess it's because I still want to be out there But I like the coaching part of it It's given me a new outlook I just like being around baseball" The rookie Clay Gould is the leading hitter in the league with a 331 average through Thursday Not bad for someone who figured he would never play an inning of pro ball It changed for the former Arlington High School and UT-Arlington standout when Stein called UTA coach Butch by a waitress in a tuxedo Mc Broom asking for recommendations on players The coach mentioned Gould an unpaid assistant after finishing his eligibility as an all-conference outfielder Gould went to Tyler with no major-league aspirations He eventually wants to coach and is using this as experience "It's a place to say I played professional baseball" he said "It's helped me learn a different system It's a different game There's more strategy you learn different things This can only help" The married guy Britt Bonneau a 23-year-old infielder from Farmers Branch played Class-A ball for the Chicago Cubs last year but he was released before spring training He was married in February and thought about finishing his education and finding a real job "I was going to go back to school this summer" he said "But then I found out about this job" Bonneau an All-American at Lubbock Christian decided to chase his dreams for one more season "Hopefully I'll catch someone's eye" he said "If it doesn't happen it doesn't happen It's been fun" The veteran Pat Woodruff one of five Tarrant County residents on the roster knows he will never make the majors The I 984 graduate of Arlington High is 27 years old and had his shot when he was in the Philadelphia Phillies' and Detroit Tigers' organizations He spent two years in Double A and for one heady week advanced to Triple A He doesn't need to play baseball He has an executive job in an oil and gas company in Dallas lined up "I have something to fall back on" he said But the sport is in his blood So the Wildcatters' center fielder endures the cramped clubhouses the bus rides the low pay "It's a lot of fun" he said "You only live once You might as well take advan(More on TYLER on Page 6B) 3 i '1 6es 0 vperntoeolt- 41404441A 044 I ro41 1140444 1 i i 1 itrrrtr4d Lpirtur i itylf 444 16 WAWA vt: TNief a Isa era- e4-14) rer -p eto der.