The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 68

I The Sun THE ROSTER FRIDAY, April 10, 1987 Variety is the spice of Spirit players By DAVID BRISTOW Sun Sports Writer SAN BERNARDINO Tonight, 25 young men will be dressed in San Bernardino Spirit uniforms and sharing the home dugout at Fiscalini Field. They will playing their first-ever game in the California League as they open the season against the visiting Reno Padres. It will be the first time in 37 years that San Bernardino has been represented by a minor-league team. For the last two months, the city and county of San Bernardino have been seemingly bombarded with information about the team as the area geared up for tonight's game. And now it's time to play ball.

So, just who are these guys that call themselves the San Bernardino Spirit? They come from as far away as Bayamon, Puerto Rico, in the case of catcher Victor Cabrera. Some of them have never been paid to throw a baseball before, such as infielder Vince Shinholster, while others, like 22-year-old pitcher Steve Witt, are already seasoned minor-league veterans at tender ages. Some, like second baseman Don Stearns, have spent the last two months trying to gain a spot on the Spirit roster, while others, like pitcher James Filippi, joined the team as recently as this week. The oldest is relief pitcher Rubio Malone, who is 27. Toronto Blue Jays transfer Brian Morrison, an outfielder, is the youngest at 20.

Only three have college degrees from four-year schools -pitcher Walt Stull, catcher Mike Patterson and outfielder Page Odle. On a biographical questionnaire supplied by The Sun, the most popular hobby was golf with 11 listings, while fishing was second with eight. Only three of them are married pitcher Malone, second baseman Stearns and outfielder Ted Milner. All of them seem to be young, funloving guys. Two favored conversational topics: Beer, and members of the opposite sex.

It is a team of young men trying to make a living at what they love most in the world. Making a living on this team is a risky opportunity at best. The top players will make only $700 a month; a $400 paycheck probably will be the norm. A contract doesn't ensure a job: Because of the team's independent status, players can be released at any time without notice anytime a better hitter or fielder shows up at Fiscalini Field. Most minor-league teams have official affiliations with major- organizations, which means the big-league club provides the farm team with players.

The Spirit has no such arrangement officially known as a Player Development Contract (PDC) so players were acquired by alternate means. The club advertised on radio stations across the Southland, publicizing the fact that they were looking for players. They held an open tryout Feb. 2, and 350 prospects showed up. They contacted colleges and.

other minor-league teams to try to locate What they ended up with is a 27-man squad, the majority of whom have minor-league experience, and some of whom have checkered pasts. One fan has likened the squad to the 28 26, 38 20 A 3 29 12 5 6 3. 15 25 19 In this reproduction of the cover photograph, Spirit personnel are identified by uniform numbers. Those without numbers are assigned letters. See roster below.

SAN BERNARDINO SPIRIT ROSTER No. Name Hgt Wgt Born Birthplace Residence PITCHERS 2 Malone, Rubio 5 Hayes, Todd 8 Filippi, James 13 Childers, 6-1 150 5-9-59 Los Angeles Los Angeles 6-2 180 12-28-63 El Monte Cerritos R. 6-0 180 9-23-63 Ontario Fullerton 6-3 185 2-15-65 Ft. Leavenworth, Kan Portland, Ore. 17 McCormack, Ron 6-2 190 9-26-64 Renton, Wash.

Renton 20 Walker, Steve 26 Smith, Larry 27 Greeniee, Robert 30 Stull, Walt Witt, Steven 11-20-62 Toronto San Diego 10-10-59 March AFB Moreno Valley 8-9-63 East Meadow, N.Y. Massapequa, N.Y. 8-22-62 San Diego Sacramento 12-27-63 Fullerton Anaheim A Marrett, Scott 6-5 200 3-9-64 Edwards, Ca. Calabasas CATCHERS 10 Patterson, Mike 6-1 190 10-14-64 Lynwood Huntington Park 18 Sheridan, Mike 6-0 200 10-12-65 Upland Upland 22 Cabrera, Victor 5-11 185 1-8-65 San Juan, P.R. Bayamon, P.R.

INFIELDERS 9 Shinholster, Vince 11 Baham, Leon 29 Clark, Rod 1 Brocki, Michael, 6 Stearns, Don 38 Stevens, John OUTFIELDERS 3 Combs, Marcus 7 Milner, Ted 12 Hartsock, Brian 14 Huth, Ken 28 Morrison, Brian Odie, Page X-Lee Davis (released) 25-Rich Dauer, manager French Foreign Legion, where men went to escape their pasts. Shortstop Leon Baham has openly admitted that a past drug problem, coupled with a serious injury, set back a promising pro career. He used to play for the Oakland A's Double-A club in Albany, N.Y., and was invited to the organization's majorleague camp. But then a torn rotator cuff and drugs brought his career to a. halt.

Baham has since kicked the habit, and sees the Spirit as his ticket back to the big leagues. "I never thought I would have another shot at pro baseball," said Baham, 25. "But my goal is still to play in the big leagues, and I think, with this team, I have a good chance." Another former minor-leaguer, outfielder Ken Huth, pins his minor-league demise on a bad attitude. A power hitter and good all-around player, Huth once played Double-A ball with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, but was cut in part, he says, because of a poor attitude.

"The reason I'm not in the majors right now is my attitude," said Huth, 25. But, he adds, "That was then, and I learned my lesson. Before I decided to come out for this team, I made up my mind to give it my all and I'm going to give 110 percent for this Several players, including Baham and pitcher Witt younger brother of the Angels' Mike Witt have suffered serious injuries that caused career setbacks. They all came to San Bernardino for the same reason: To make it to the major leagues "The Show," as they affectionately call it. Of the 26 players on the roster, four have no previous minor experience.

Third baseman Shinholster, outfielder Marc Combs, second baseman Mike Brocki and infielder John Stevens are all rookie professionals. One group of players who stand apart from the rest of the squad are the eight who are under contract with four ma jor-league organizations. The San Diego Padres have sent five players: catcher Cabrera, outfielder Odle and pitchers Filippi, Jeff Childers and Robert Greenlee. The Angels sent pitchers Witt and Scott Marrett, while outfielder Brian Morrison came via the Toronto Blue Jays. Pitcher Steve Walker was signed by the Kansas City Royals after he had made the Spirit.

Catcher Mike Patterson is one Spirit player already looking ahead to a career after baseball. Patterson wants to join the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Said Patterson: "I love all that cloak and dagger stuff." Patterson said he has an application in with The Company, but says CIA officials want him to spend two years working in local government first. And what would a baseball team be like without a handful of colorful nicknames. The Spirit certainly fills the bill.

There's Brian "Bam-Bam" Morrison, an outfielder whose favorite TV show is the Flintstones. Patterson answers to Mother Goose or Patty. Baham is sometimes known as the Ice Man, and Huth's friends sometimes call him Cannon. First baseman Rodney Clark is known as The Creature. Certainly not the kind of guy you'd like to make smalltalk with while standing on the firstbase bag.

6-1 190 5-10 188 6-1 197 6-0 180 6-6 185 5-9 160 2-4-64 La Mirada Diamond Bar 6-0 180 9-17-61 Torrance Calimesa 6-0 190 1-25-65 Lynwood Anaheim 5-10 180 8-12-61 Los Angeles Los Angeles 6-3 220 10-3-65 Norwalk Cypress 6-2 195 7-30-64 Flint, Mich. Moreno Valley 6-1 180 6-1 185 6-1 190 6-1 200 5-11 200 5-9 155 Y-Harry 15-Stan. Sanchez, coach 7-18-62 Fresno 4-13-61 Riverside 5-31-62 Twentynine Palms 2-27-62 Arcadia 8-26-66 Oakland 8-11-63 Long Beach Ritch (released) 19-Tommy Thompson, coach Upland Van Nuys Hesperia Pasadena Oakland Santa Paula disabled list. Z-Demetrio Deigadillo, trainer.