Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 45

i I 2D DETROIT FREE PRESSMONDAY, APRL 3, 1969 Hens a tough test for Wockenfuss 1p Skeldon vf Stadium 1 TOLEDO Vj Recreation rv )MjCHilQAM It SW Lake --y I Huron. London Port Huron Sarnia ri MICHIGAN Jl (p) ONTARIO Wi Lake Erie 30 Zf a86 MIES i i r-To Sarnia-Pt. Huron Hwy. 22 Labatt Park vs JrsjdeDrk MvzHp-j Dundasa Hwy-2Easl I if vs? ONTARIO Hwy. --To Windsor-Detroit Maumaa I BY JOE CYBULSKI Free Press Special Writer The Toledo Mud Hens are hoping the Midas touch of manager John Wockenfuss will help them lay the golden egg this season.

Or at least keep them out of hot water. Wockenfuss, who begins his third season managing a Tigers minor-league team, replaced Pat Corrales (now a Yankees coach) as manager of Toledo, Detroit's Triple-A team. In his managerial debut in 1987, Wockenfuss led Lakeland to a 74-61 record and a fourth-place finish in the Florida State League. His success continued last season when he guided Glens Falls, formerly Detroit's Double-A affiliate, to a first-place finish in the Eastern League. The season before, Glens Falls was last, 28'2 games behind.

Though Wockenfuss, 40, is in the dawn of his career as manager, he has already established himself as a no-nonsense disciplinarian able to maintain a good rapport with his players. "I can be a disciplinarian, if need be," Wockenfuss said. "If they want to play in the big leagues, you have to learn, and hopefully something I taught someone will help them make it." Wockenfuss has a tough task. The Mud Hens finished last in the International League last season (58-84), Wh games out of first place. "It's going to be rough," Wockenfuss said.

"We have a few key players out with injuries and a real lack of power. This team is going to have to hit and run a lot." Wockenfuss played with the Tigers from 1974-83 before being traded with outfielder Glenn Wilson to Philadelphia for pitcher Guillermo Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman in March 1984. He retired in 1985. "The last few years, actually for quite a few years before I retired, I thought about managing," he said. "My success has meant a lot more, being able to come back in the Tiger organization.

I spent nine wonderful years in Detroit. The people are great, and I have many friends there." Players to watch Milt Cuyler, outfielder: Drafted by the Tigers in 1986. Cuyler was a Florida State League All-Star last season at Lakeland. He led the league in runs (100) and was second in hits (143). His .296 average was fourth in the league.

Mike Trujillo, right-handed pitcher: Signed as a free agent in 1988. Trujillo appeared in six games for the Tigers last season and has spent parts of four season in the majors with Boston and Seattle. Rob Richie, outfielder: Drafted by the Tigers in 1987. Spent last season at Glens Falls were he led the Eastern League in hits (155), total bases (235) and RBIs (82). Was named Eastern League most valuable player in 1988.

Jim Walewander, infielder: Drafted by the Tigers in 1983. Spent parts of the last two seasons with the Tigers. Appeared in 88 games with Detroit last season. DOMINIC TRUPIANODetroit Free Press TRIPLE-A TOLEDO LAST YEAR: 58-84, eighth in International League, games back. MANAGER: John Wockenfuss, first season at Toledo.

Managed at Lakeland in '87 and Glens Falls in '88. STADIUM: Ned Skeldon Stadium 10,001 seats. TICKETS: $4 box, $3 reserved, $250 general admission, $1 discount senior citizens and 14-under. CALL: 419-893-9483 WRITE: 2901 Key Maumee, Ohio 43537. '89 schedule APRIL i 5, 6, 7 Tidewater 8, 9, 10 Richmond 12,13,14,15 at Tidewater 16, 17, 18 at Richmond 19 at Columbus 21, 22, 23 Syracuse 24, 25, 26, 27 Rochester 28, 29, 30 at Syracuse MAY 1 2,3,4 5,6,7 8,9 10 11 12 13, 14, 15 16,17 19, 20, 21 22.23,24 25,26 27, 28, 29 30,31 at Syracuse at Rochester Columbus at Columbus Richmond Detroit (exh.) Richmond Tidewater at Omaha at Iowa at Oklahoma City at Denver Oklahoma City Denver JUNE 1 2 Denver at Columbus Stadium stto 3,4,5 6.7,8 9, 10, 11 12, 13, 14 15, 16, 17 18, 19, 20 22,23 24, 25, 26 28,29 30 at Pawtucket Iowa at Tidewater at Richmond Scranton Nashville at Indianapolis at Louisville Buffalo Syracuse JULY 1.2 3,4,5 7, 8, 9, 10 13, 14, 15 16, 17, 18 19,20 21,22 24,25 26, 27, 28 29,30 31 Syracuse at Pawtucket Columbus Tidewater Omaha Louisville Rochester at Nashville at Buffalo at Scranton Pawtucket AUGUST 1 2,3,4 5,6 7.8 9.

10. 11 12, 13, 14 15, 16, 17 18, 19, 20 21,22,23 24,25 26, 27, 28 29,30 31 Pawtucket Indianapolis at Tidewater at Richmond Scranton Pawtucket Richmond at Columbus at Scranton at Syracuse at Rochester Columbus at Columbus SEPTEMBER 1 at Columbus DOUBLEHEADERS: April 9, May 16, May 25, June 13, July 29, August 1. DOMINIC TRUPIANODetroit Free Press double-A London tigers i Tigers hqje diamond in London is full of jewels BY JOE CYBULSKI Free Press Special Writer Many Detroiters will travel to Lon- don this summer to see a diamond, but it won't be part of the crown jewels. It's a baseball diamond, and the action will be provided by the London Tigers. An off-season move by Detroit's Double-A farm club from Glens Falls, N.Y., to London, Ontario, will offer local baseball fans a chance to see some of the Tigers' top prospects in person.

London is a two-hour drive from Detroit, via highway 401 from Wind-; sor. Combined with the proximity of the Toledo Mud Hens, Detroit's Triple-A team, there will be enough professional baseball in the area this summer to satisfy even the most rabid fans. While in Glens Falls, the Tigers endured sagging attendance and a stormy relationship with the mayor. The club averaged just under 900 fans a game in a stadium that holds 8,000, finishing seventh out of eight teams in attendance in the league. The move to London already appears to be a success.

The London Tigers have sold more than 1,200 season tickets and are expecting at least 3,000 fans per game. "The response we've gotten here has been enormous, beyond any realis-'. tic expectation," said Steve Howe, director of marketing and public rela-; tions for the London Tigers. Howe is not the former Dodgers pitcher. I One of the main reasons for the smooth transition from Glens Falls has been the support from London's may-; or, Tom Gosnell.

He will throw out the first pitch in the team's home opener, Friday vs. Albany. Although all appears well in Lon-' don's inaugural season, Howe noted that the team has had its tribulations such as the time the souvenir program almost went to press with no pictures of the players. After sending a photographer to spring training to photograph the play-' ers, the pictures were shipped back via Federal Express. The photographs got entangled in red tape at the customs office at the Canadian border and nar-; rowly made the deadline.

"We have had numerous little fires," Howe said. "But we haven't reached a blaze situation yet." The team also hopes that a million-dollar face-lift to Labatt Park and several promotions will maintain the level of excitement. Besides a visit from the Famous Chicken mascot, the team will host Used Car Night, during which used cars donated by local dealers will be given away. The London Tigers will also sponsor Suitcase Night, in which anyone bringing a packed suitcase (with clothes) to the park is eligible to win a trip to Las Vegas. The winner is taken from the park to the airport by limousine immediately after the game and flown to Las Vegas.

Former Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss will make his manage-'. rial debut as skipper of the London Tigers. "Hiring Chambliss was probably the catalyst," Howe said. "This city was really excited, but when the an- nouncement was made about Chamb-: liss, it made it all for real. Hiring a big-name ballplayer like Chambliss gave us credibility." Chambliss played in the majors I with Cleveland, the Yankees and Atlan-.

ta, finishing with a .279 career average and 2,109 hits, including 185 home runs. He also was the Yankees' hitting instructor in 1988. "I've played 16 years in the majors, and I know what it takes," Chambliss said. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see, though." Players to watch Tom Aldrich, designated hitter. Drafted in 1988, Aldrich led Bristol i (Rookie League) in batting average hits (74), doubles (17) and RBIs Clark, catcher.

The Tigers' 1 first pick in the 1986 draft. He wa3 a I Florida State League All-Star for Lake- land last season. Led Lakeland in average doubles (17) and RBIs (66). Everson, right-hander. Ever- son, signed as an undrafted free agent 1987, was born in Livonia and played baseball at the University of Michigan.

'He was a Florida State League All-Star last season and led Lakeland with 17 saves. Darren Hursey, left-hander. Hur-sey, drafted by the Tigers in 1986, was i'a Florida State League All-Star last season with Lakeland. He was 15-8 iwith a 2.39 ERA. Scott Aldred, left-hander.

A gradu-'ate'of Montrose High, Aldred was ArhcA hv trio Tiorpra in 1 98fi. He led LAST YEAR: 80-57, first in Eastern League, two games ahead. MANAGER: Chris Chambliss, first S63SOIl. STADIUM: Labatt Park 5,400 S63tS TICKETS: $6.50 box, $5.50 chair, $4 reserved, $3 senior citizens and 12-under (Canadian money). NEAREST AIRPORT: London Airport.

CALL: 519-645-2255 WRITE: 89 Wharncllffe Road North, London, Ontario, Canada N6H2A7 '89 schedule JUNE 1 Harrisburg 2- 4 Canton 5-8 at Harrisburg 9- 11 at Canton 12-15 Hagerstown 16- 18 at Williamsport 19-22 at Hagerstown 23- 25 Williamsport 28-30 New Britain UJLY 1-3 Reading 4-7 at New Britain 8-10 at Reading 12-13 at Albany 14-17 Albany 18-20 Harrisburg 21-23 Canton 24- 26 at Harrisburg 27- 30 at Canton 31 Hagerstown AUGUST 1-2 Hagerstown 3- 6 at Williamsport 7-8 at Hagerstown 10- 13 Williamsport 14-16 New Britain 17- 20 Reading 21-23 at New Britain 24-27 at Reading 28- 31 at Albany DOUBLEHEADER: June 3. Ready for air conditioning this summer? 1 GET Nj "SWvftrf 7- 9 Albany 10-12 Harrisburg 14-16 Canton 18- 20 at Harrisburg 21- 23 at Canton 25- 27 Hagerstown 28- 30 at Willlamsport MAY 1-4 at Hagerstown 5-7 Williamsport 8- 11 New Britain 12-14 Reading 16-18 at New Britain 19- 21 at Reading 22- 25 at Albany 26- 28 Albany 29- 31 Harrisburg 1 CARRIER SECURE. cash back! Buy Now and get up to $400 CASH BACK on a purchase of a Carrier deluxe furnace, and deluxe-central air conditioner. LIMITED TIME OFFER. CALL US TODAY FOR DETAILS AND A FREE ESTIMATE.

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Designed With Serviceability in Mind. OUWJFW MOOELS -MTWtX, 310. MCS, MLWO. MXD Ufi2ZZZ2E Other Farm teams Class A Lakeland Tigers LAST YEAR: 77-61, third In Florida State League, games back. MANAGER: John Llpon, second season at Lakeland.

Llpon has managed minor-league baseball for 26 seasons. STADIUM: Joker Marchant Stadium 7,077 seats. TICKETS: $3 box, $2 adults grandstand, $1.50 senior citizens and under-14 grandstand. CALL: 813-686-1133. WRITE: P.O.

Box 2785, Lakeland, Fla. 33806. Class A Fayetteville Generals LAST YEAR: 62-73, 10th In South Atlantic League, 21 Vj games back. MANAGER: Gene Roof, first S63S0I1. STADIUM: Joseph P.

Riddle Stadium 3,500 seats. TICKETS: $4 box, $3 general admission, $2 students, senior citizens, military and children 5-12, under-5 free. CALL: 919-424-6500. WRITE: P.O. Box 221 Fayetteville, N.C.

28302. We aren't until you Class A Niagara Falls Rapids LAST YEAR: First season, New York-Penn League. MANAGER: Rick Magnante. Managed Bristol 1987-88. STADIUM: Sal Maglie Stadium 2,500 seats.

TICKETS: $3 reserved, $2 general admission, 50-cent discount for senior citizens and 12-under. CALL: 716-298-5400 WRITE: 1201 Hyde Park Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14305 Rookie Bristol Tigers LAST YEAR: 46-27, second In Appalachian League, one game back. MANAGER: Ruben Amaro, first year in Tigers' organization. Managed Auburn, a Phillies Class A affiliate, In 1977.

STADIUM: Randolph Field seats. TICKETS: $2 adult, $1 children. CALL: 703-466-8310. WRITE: P.O. Box 1434, Bristol, Va.

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