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

The Sun FRIDAY, April 10, 1987 S4ITHE ROSTER pint players Variety is the spice By DAVID BRISTOW Sun Sports Writer SAN BERNARDINO Tonight, 25 young men will be dressed in San Bernardino Spirit uniforms and sharing the hone 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 Baya-mon, Puerto Rico, in the case of catcher Victor Cabrera. Some of them have never been paid to throw a baseball before, such as in-fielder 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 Ma-lone, 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 sup-piled 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, fun-loving 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-league 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 flPDO 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 players. 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 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 major-league 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 team." 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-league experience. Third baseman Shinholster, outfielder Marc Combs, second baseman Mike Brocki and inf ielder 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 major-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 small-talk with while standing on the first-base bag. 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, Rublo 6-1 150 5-9-69 Los Angeles Los Angeles 5 Hayes, Todd 6-2 180 12-28-63 El Monte Cerrttos 8 FlllppI, James 6-0 160 9-23-63 Ontario Fullerton 13 Chllders, Jeff 6-3 165 2-15-65 Ft Leavenworth, Kan Portland. Ore.

17 McCormacfc, Ron 190 9-26-64 Ronton, Wash. Ronton 20 Walker, Steve 6-1 190 11-20-62 Toronto San Diego 26 Smith. Larry 5-10 168 10-10-59 March AFB Moreno Valley 27 Greenlee, Robert 197 8-9-63 East Meadow, N.Y. Massapequa, N.Y. 30 Stull, Walt 6-0 180 6-22-62 San Diego Sacramento Witt, Steven 64 165 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 16 Sheridan, Mike 6-0 200 10-1245 Upland Upland 22 Cabrera, Victor 5-11 185 1-8-65 San Juan, P.R. Bayamon, P.R MFIELOERS 1 Brockl, Michael 5-9 160 2-4-64 La Miracle Diamond Bar 6 Stearns, Don 6-0 180 9-17-61 Torrance Callmesa 9 Shinholster, Vine 6-0 190 1-25-65 Lynwood Anaheim 11 Baham. Leon 5-10 180 6-12-61 Los Angeles Los Angeles 29 Clark. Rod 6-3 220 10-3-65 Norwaik Cypress 38 Stevens, John 6-2 195 7-30-64 Pint, Mich. Moreno Valley OUTFIELDERS 3 Combs, Marcus 5-9 155 7-18-62 Fresno Upland 7 Mllnor.Tod 6-1 180 4-13-61 Riverside VanNuys 12 HartsocK.

Brian 6-1 185 5-31-62 Twentynlne Palms Hesperla 14 Huth, Ken 6-1 190 2-27-62 Arcadia Pasadena 28 Morrison, Brian 6-1 200 6-26-66 Oakland Oakland Odle. Page 5-11 200 6-11-63 Long Beach Santa Paula X-Lee Davis (released) Y-Harry Rltch (released) -On disabled list. 25-Rlch Dauer, manager 15-Stan Sanchez, coach 19-Tommy Thompson, coach Z-Demetrlo Delgadillo, trainer.