Stories of the famous and not-so-famous men and women from a time when baseball was "Arkansas' Game." Backroads and Ballplayers Weekly is always free and short enough to finish in one cup of coffee.
Thanks for the reply. Other names that I remember and one is a HOF, Ferguson Jenkins. Adolfo Phillips, Pat Corrales (who managed and coached) another outfielder who could knock the cover off the ball, Alex Johnson. I believe that the manager of those teams also went to the Show for a time, Frank Lucceshi (guessing now). Great teams and always fun to follow, especially for a pre-teen-age kid.
How come no one connects Richie (Dick)Allen to the Arkansas Travelers? I remember seeing Allen play at the Travelers old ball park in Little Rock. Watched him hit a home run that cleared the light poles and may still be in orbit. Also wasn't he the first black to play for the Travelers? During the 60s, the Travelers had a lot of good players stop there on the way to the Show!
A great question. In the three years they played in the International League and PCL some future superstars passed through LR. The Travs were very good in '63 when Allen played and the Travs were in the IL. They were even better in 1964, but that was a big time for Razorback football and an affiliation with the PCL was strange at best. By the end of the season the Phillies had raided the Travs roster several times. Your are so right, that time deserves more attention.
Thanks for the reply. Other names that I remember and one is a HOF, Ferguson Jenkins. Adolfo Phillips, Pat Corrales (who managed and coached) another outfielder who could knock the cover off the ball, Alex Johnson. I believe that the manager of those teams also went to the Show for a time, Frank Lucceshi (guessing now). Great teams and always fun to follow, especially for a pre-teen-age kid.
How come no one connects Richie (Dick)Allen to the Arkansas Travelers? I remember seeing Allen play at the Travelers old ball park in Little Rock. Watched him hit a home run that cleared the light poles and may still be in orbit. Also wasn't he the first black to play for the Travelers? During the 60s, the Travelers had a lot of good players stop there on the way to the Show!
A great question. In the three years they played in the International League and PCL some future superstars passed through LR. The Travs were very good in '63 when Allen played and the Travs were in the IL. They were even better in 1964, but that was a big time for Razorback football and an affiliation with the PCL was strange at best. By the end of the season the Phillies had raided the Travs roster several times. Your are so right, that time deserves more attention.
Love those stories of ole coal hill baseball