What are they doing Now?

[Bear]

Here is a new thread dealing with former Giants. Post here if you here what a former player is doing today. I always find this interesting.:beerbang:

[Bear]

Henry Schulman
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Then: Lewis, born in Berkeley and drafted out of Cal by the A's, was a fleet center fielder and base-stealing specialist for 13 seasons in the majors, most notably 1991-95 with the Giants. He won a Gold Glove in 1994 and swiped 247 bases before retiring at age 34 midway through the 2002 season, rather than accepting a trade from the Cubs to the Pirates.

Now: Lewis is president and co-founder of Tastes on the Fly, a company with more than $20 million in annual revenues from eight airport eateries in San Francisco, Boston and New York. The three at SFO are Yankee Pier, Perry's and Il Fornaio Caffe Del Mondo. Lewis, 41, lives in San Ramon with his wife, Raquel, and 14-year-old son, Austin. "D-Lew" also is assistant varsity coach at Dougherty Valley High in San Ramon, where Austin (much bigger than his dad) plays first base.

Quote: "I think I was a forward thinker for an athlete. Most players have the mentality that 'I'll go home when they tear the jersey off my back.' For me, I knew my son was getting to be 8 years old. I knew I already started a business. I thought it was a perfect time to retire. Because I played for winning teams my whole career, I just could not go to a team that was a perennial loser. It just didn't make sense to me. It was a good time to cut the cord."

Three questions:

1. Did you learn anything in baseball that helped you in business?

"Yes, centering myself around winners, people who are dedicated and work hard, the people who are the first to be there and the last to leave. You hear that a lot in baseball. A lot of the same characteristics you hear over again in winning clubhouses transfer into the business world."

2. What are you proud of?

"I'm graduating from Cal on May 22. I'm getting a degree in interdisciplinary studies. I promised my dad and myself that I would graduate. I thought it was important now for my family to have that degree."

3. How much ball do you watch?

"If I watch baseball games, I watch Giants games. I'm seeing the players I coached (as a roving instructor): Emmanuel Burriss, Fred Lewis, Nate Schierholtz, a lot of outfielders. It's fun to see them mature and play in the higher leagues."

I always like Lewis who was a great "D" centerfielder and a favorite of Dusty Baker who named his son after Lewis.:beerbang:

[Swede]

Darrell Evans will be the inaugural field manager of the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League.

[Bear]

Darrell Evans will be the inaugural field manager of the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League.

Is that Victoria, BC?:confused:

[Swede]

Yes, Victoria, B.C.
The 2008 GBL champion Orange County Flyers are managed by former Giant and Hall of Famer Gary Carter.

[Swede]

Keeping with the GBL theme....Jeffery Leonard currently resides in San Jose, California, and is also the current manager of the Reno Silver Sox of the Golden Baseball League.

This league is an independent league, playing AA level ball. They have three teams in Canada, one in Utah, two in Arizona, three in California, and one in Tijuana, Mexico.

[SF Kid]

Ken Griffery Jr. to be joining the Mariners very soon! :shrug:

Talk about a pure and simple PR move. D'oh. Ask me if I care. Did he ever play for the Giants? :pound:

[Bear]

Ken Griffery Jr. to be joining the Mariners very soon! :shrug:

Talk about a pure and simple PR move. D'oh. Ask me if I care. Did he ever play for the Giants? :pound:

Than what is this post doing in this thread?:buttkick:

[TkleMstr52]

Hahahahaha

[McCovey]

Speaking of Atlee Hammaker. Here's a S.F. Chronicle article from about four years ago.


WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Atlee Hammaker
Ex-pitcher looks back with pride

Injuries that bedeviled his career with Giants left him frustrated

Steve Kroner, Chronicle Staff Writer (skroner@sfchronicle.com)
Sunday, April 17, 2005

Atlee Hammaker easily could look back on his big-league career with great pride or great disappointment.

Pride comes from the fact that the former Giants left-hander put together a dominant 1983 season in which he led the National League with a 2.25 ERA, and that he overcame several injuries to spend a dozen years in the majors.

Disappointment would come from the fact that those injuries prevented him from having the type of career he might have envisioned in the early 1980s.
Actually, Hammaker -- whom the Giants acquired from Kansas City in the Vida Blue deal just prior to the 1982 season -- admits he reflects on his time in the big leagues with both pride and disappointment, although disappointment isn't the word he uses.

"It was frustrating," Hammaker said during a recent phone interview from Knoxville, Tenn., where he lives. "... It was frustrating to me, and to management. You can get labeled, 'He's good when he's on, but he's hard to keep on the mound.'

"Sure, sometimes you think about what could have been, should have been, but I look at my whole career as a rewarding experience."

Few big-league experiences could have been more personally rewarding for Hammaker than the one he enjoyed exactly 22 years ago today. At Candlestick Park on April 17, 1983, Hammaker retired the first 21 Reds before Johnny Bench broke up his bid for perfection with a single leading off the eighth inning. Hammaker wound up with a two-hitter in a 3-0 victory.
In his next start, he held the Cubs hitless for five innings at Wrigley Field en route to a three-hit shutout.

So how good does Hammaker believe he was when he was at the top of his game?

"I didn't think anybody could touch me," he said in a rare bit of bravado.

Unfortunately for Hammaker, injuries could touch him. By the time he toted a 1.70 ERA into the 1983 All-Star Game at Comiskey Park, he had been dealing with shoulder tendinitis for probably his previous three starts. Nevertheless, he agreed to pitch that night, and wound up allowing seven runs in two-thirds of an inning. Fred Lynn tagged him for the first grand slam in All-Star Game history.

To those fans who believe Lynn's slam irreparably ruined Hammaker's psyche, he politely might answer, "Rubbish." Hammaker said his All-Star Game memory is a positive one. That doesn't mean he wasn't aware of those negative perceptions.

"I already knew what people were gonna say," Hammaker said, adding that he put off going on the disabled list because, in essence, he wanted to prove to any doubters that the slam would not affect him.

His first start after the All-Star Game: a complete-game, 4-2 win over the Cubs. His last start of '83: a 14-strikeout, one-walk, 7 2/3-inning outing against Houston. So much for a damaged psyche.

A damaged body, that's another matter. Hammaker missed most of the 1984 season after having arthroscopic surgery on his rotator cuff and enduring bone spurs in his elbow. He missed all of the '86 season because of shoulder problems, surgery on both knees and a debilitating virus.

Hammaker returned in 1987, and had a 10-10 record for the Giants in their NL West-championship season. Of course, some fans remember Hammaker in '87 only for the three-run homer he allowed to the Cardinals' Jose Oquendo in Game 7 of the NLCS in St. Louis' 6-0 romp.

Unlike Lynn's slam, Oquendo's home run hasn't been that easy for Hammaker to accept.

"Now that one was frustrating," is how Hammaker put it.

He spent the next 2 1/2 seasons with the Giants before they released him in August 1990. He pitched briefly for the Padres in 1990 and '91, and then after "Tommy John" surgery cost him all of the '92 and '93 seasons, Hammaker finished his career with the White Sox in 1994 and '95.

In the decade since he retired, Hammaker devoted much of his time to working for a charitable organization, the Knoxville Christian Community Foundation. He also is a part owner of some Papa John's pizza franchises in the Columbus, Ga., and Chicago areas.

More recently, Hammaker, 47, has become a part owner of a company that handles office-records management. He also works as a pitching instructor at a Knoxville baseball facility called "The Yard," run by former Blue Jays infielder Garth Iorg.

Hammaker and his wife, Jenny, have been married for more than 25 years. Befitting someone who played two years as a shooting guard at East Tennessee State ("I was a slasher," he said), Hammaker could put together a basketball team with his daughters. The Hammaker starting five: Erica, 18, a freshman at Belmont College; Jenna, 16; Alesa, 13; Christa, 11; and Anna, 8.

The former Giants with whom Hammaker remains close are fellow pitchers Dave Dravecky, Gary Lavelle and Scott Garrelts. Hammaker still hasn't seen the Giants' ballpark in China Basin, but he did make it to the final game at Candlestick on Sept. 30, 1999.

That day provided Hammaker with a full-circle, what-it-all-means perspective. For one, Hammaker said that former Giants general manager Al Rosen told him, " 'Don't ever have any regrets about your career. You were always one of my favorite players.' That meant a lot to me."

Also that day, Marge Wallace was wearing a Hammaker jersey. Wallace, a physically and mentally challenged woman who used to station herself outside the Giants' clubhouse before each game, was one of the team's most devoted and noted fans (she died in 2003). Seeing Wallace in one of his jerseys, "I was as proud as I've ever been," Hammaker said.

[WillTheThrill]

The Giants of 1989... Where Are They Now???

This is a look at the 1989 Giants -- some of whom played in the 1989 World Series and some who didn't make the post season roster -- and what they're doing 20 years later.

I got the idea to do this from an article I read online, which included a lot of this information. But there were some glaring omissions on the list, like Dave Dravecky, Mike Krukow and Bob Brenly. (I think they weren't on the list because the article was about guys who actually played in the Bay Bridge series.)

I wanted to find out what happened to every single guy who played on that '89 team. This is what I found out, mostly from that article I mentioned and from Wikipedia. Not all the news is good. Particularly for a guy I barely remember, Russ Swan. :(

There are a few other random guys who played with the '89 team, whose names I barely remember and whom I couldn't find any online information: Ed Jurak, Jim Weaver, Jim Steels, Randy McCament, Joe Price, Ernie Camacho, and Stu Tate.

The only "name" I couldn't find anything about was Bob Knepper. The guy seems to have disappeared of the face of the Earth. And considering how unpopular his sexist views were, maybe that's for the better? :shrug: And for Mike Benjamin, the most recent information was something he did in 2003.

Here's my list... in alphabetical order:

.

Player (in 1989) ---> in 2009

Bill Bathe (No. 3 catcher; Game 3 homer) ---> Fire captain in Tucson, Ariz.

Steve Bedrosian (Relief ace acquired at midseason) ---> High school baseball coach outside Atlanta

Mike Benjamin (Rookie middle infielder) ---> ???; coached his son's Arizona Little League team to the Little League World Series in 2003

Jeff Brantley (Bulldog righty out of 'pen) ---> Cincinnati Reds broadcaster

Bob Brenly (Only played 12 games for G's in final season) ---> Broadcaster, color analyst for Cubs games

Brett Butler (Spunky center fielder, leadoff man) ---> Triple-A manager for Diamondbacks

Will Clark (Star first baseman; The Thrill) ---> Special assistant for Giants

Dennis Cook (Journeyman pitcher in 2nd season) ---> Head coach of team Sweden's national baseball team, which competes in the bi-annual European Baseball Championship.

Kelly Downs (Perennially promising right-hander) ---> Owns construction business in Salt Lake City

Dave Dravecky (Miraculous, though short lived, return from arm cancer) ---> Christian motivational speaker and author

Scott Garrelts (Surprise ace, 14-5, 2.28 ERA) ---> Lives on a golf course in Shreveport, La.

Rich (Goose) Gossage (future HOF'er pitched 1/2 season for G's) ---> Lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is active in the community promoting and sponsoring youth sports

Atlee Hammaker (Fan favorite, as scapegoat) ---> Businessman in Knoxville, Tenn.

Charlie Hayes (Rookie at beginning of 14-year career on other teams) ---> Gives baseball lessons and operates a team along with a facility for the instruction of baseball, called "Big League Baseball Academy" in Houston, Texas.

Tracy Jones (Journeyman outfielder, played part of '89 with G's) ---> radio talkshow host in Cincinnati

Terry Kennedy (Sturdy left-handed hitting catcher) ---> Double-A manager for Padres

Bob Knepper (Controversial 70's pitcher, returned to Giants for final two seasons) ---> ??? could find no information online ???

Mike Krukow (He was 4-3 in his final season) ---> Play-by-play announcer for Giants radio & tv

Mike LaCoss (Right-handed pitcher; Buffy) ---> Lives near Visalia and writes newspaper column

Mike Laga (Journeyman first baseman) ---> currently lives in Florence, Massachusetts. He has three children.

Craig Lefferts (Reliever, sprinted in from bullpen) ---> Pitching coach, Class-A Vancouver (A's)

Greg Litton (Nondescript rookie utilityman) ---> Gemologist in Pensacola, Fla.

Candy Maldonado (Unlike Atlee, forgiven for '87) ---> General manager of Dominican League Gigantes

Kirt Manwaring (Up-and-coming catcher) ---> Lives in Scottsdale, Ariz.; part-time instructor

Kevin Mitchell (League MVP with 47 homers) ---> Said to be living in San Diego

Terry Mulholland (Played for first of 11 MLB clubs) ---> Part owner of the Dirty Dogg Saloon, a bar in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Donell Nixon (Late-inning defense, pinch runner) ---> Runs drug awareness program in Georgia

Ken Oberkfell (Journeyman infielder) ---> Triple-A manager for Mets

Rick Reuschel (Big Daddy; All-Star starter at 40) ---> Runs family farm in Quincy, Ill., with brother Paul

Ernest Riles (The guy they got for Jeffrey Leonard) ---> Living in Ellenwood, Ga.

Don Robinson (Slugging pitcher; Caveman) ---> High school pitching coach in Bradenton, Fla.

Pat Sheridan (Added in June for outfield depth) ---> Insurance agent in Detroit area

Chris Speier (Final year of nearly two-decade career) ---> Bench coach for Cincinatti Reds

Russ Swan (0-2 in two games for the Giants) ---> On April 17, 2006, Swan was found unconscious after a fall in a stairwell in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He died nine days later at a hospital.

Robby Thompson (Hard-nosed second baseman) ---> Works in Cleveland Indians front office

Jose Uribe (Shortstop and fan favorite) ---> Died in 2006 car crash in Dominican Republic

Matt Williams (Struggling youngster, batted .202 in '89) ---> Part owner, Arizona Diamondbacks

Trevor Wilson (Rookie pitcher) ---> Lives in Oregon City, Oregon.

.

[Bear]

Great Post!!!:righton::righton:

[WillTheThrill]

Here's an article about what the last Giant to throw a no-hitter (John Montefusco) thinks about the most recent Giant to throw one (Jonathan Sanchez, obviously). The article also includes some information about what has happened to Montefusco since he retired.

http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_14489102?source=rss&nclick_check=1

John 'The Count' Montefusco rooted for Sanchez's no-hitter
By Andrew Baggarly

abaggarly@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/28/2010 06:45:56 PM PST

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It took almost 33 years for a Giants pitcher to follow up John "The Count" Montefusco's no-hitter.

And then it took Montefusco almost eight months to talk about it.

Montefusco, 59, ignored a flurry of interview requests after Jonathan Sanchez held the San Diego Padres hitless on July 10. Finally speaking by phone with the Mercury News over the weekend, the 1975 NL rookie of the year said he was reticent to take any spotlight away from the Giants left-hander.

But, yes, Montefusco said he was watching — and rooting.

"I was happy for him," he said. "I really was."

Montefusco's phone always rings off the hook whenever a Giants pitcher makes a serious bid for a no-hitter. It was no different on that otherwise quiet Friday night in July, and he caught the last two innings on television from his home in Las Vegas.

He also got the first call for comment — while the game was still going on.

"It was the Giants cable broadcast," Montefusco said. "They wanted me to go on the air. What am I going to say? It's the kid's game, not mine. For a couple days after that, my phone was ringing off the wall. I just didn't want to pick it up. First off, if I did one (interview), I'd have to do all of 'em. And it's the kid's day. Let him have it."

Plus, Montefusco wasn't sure how he'd sound in interviews. He'd have to admit the truth: that he'll miss his place as the last Giant to throw a no-hitter.

"You know, yes, I will," said Montefusco, who threw his no-hitter at Atlanta's now-demolished Fulton County Stadium on Sept. 29, 1976. "But I wanted him to get it. Actually, I wanted to see a perfect game. I missed being perfect by one walk. It was a shame the third baseman (Juan Uribe) made that error (in the eighth inning), but thank God it wasn't scored a hit."

Montefusco has experienced imperfection in his post-baseball life.

He battled drug addiction and spent two years in prison before a jury acquitted him on charges of assaulting his ex-wife.

He recently moved back to the New Jersey shore and would like to return to coaching.

Montefusco expects his phone will keep ringing and the "floodgates will open" now that Sanchez ended the no-hitter drought. He said Tim Lincecum is bound to throw a no-hitter.

"And Matt Cain's got a chance to throw one," Montefusco said. "They have an unbelievable staff. Sanchez is so talented, maybe he'll throw another one, too. I think he'll have a great career.

"It's all confidence. That's all it is. He's got to trust his stuff. He's got some of the nastiest stuff, and he's a left-hander to boot. He cannot be afraid to challenge people. Use the fastball to get ahead, then throw some of that nasty stuff."

Does Montefusco fear he'll slip a little further from memory now?

"Nah, I did a lot of crazy stuff," he said. "So I know they'll never forget me."


.

[Bear]

He was a crazy guy, and always loved to talk about himself. I never thought he was a great pitcher, and was more lucky than good. However he did do the most with what he had, and most people can't say that.:p