Boston Red Sox 1997 spring training official game program

68 Pages·1997·8 MB·English

by  Boston Red Sox (Baseball team)

City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, Florida • $2.00
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1997 SPRING TRAINING
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Team Behind the Team.2
New Alternative Red Sox Caps.4
International Scouting: The Journey of Checo & Kato.6
Red Sox in the Community.8
Meet Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams.10
Meet the Red Sox Coaching Staff..... 14
Boston Red Sox Individual Players .16
Boston Red Sox 40 Man Roster Listing.31
Scorecards . 32
Boston Red Sox Non-Roster Listing.34
Red Sox Spring Training Bat Kids.41
Boston Red Sox Non-Roster Invitees.42
New Faces.48
Fenway Park Home Schedule & Ticket Info.56
Baltimore Orioles Roster..58
Chicago White Sox Roster.58
Florida Marlins Roster.59
Minnesota Twins Roster.59
Red Sox Baseball Operations .60
Philadelphia Phillies Roster . 62
Pittsburgh Pirates Roster . 62
St. Louis Cardinals Roster. 63
Texas Rangers Roster.63
THE BOSTON RED SOX MISSION:
The Boston Red Sox organization is dedicated to maintaining a perennial, championship-caliber baseball team and providing
our fans high quality Friendly Fenway™ experiences at the ballpark, throughout our community and through broadcast services.
Boston Red Sox
Spring Training Tickets: [phone] • Florida Executive Offices: [phone]
City of Palms Park, 2201 Edison Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901
This Spring Training Came Program is Published By: Marci Blacker, Red Sox Coordinator of Florida Operations; Kevin Hawk, AdHawk Graphics; InterPrint;
Kevin Shea, Red Sox Director of Commnuications & Baseball Information; Also Contributing: Kate Cordon, Red Sox Communications & Credentials Administrator;
Tom Moore, Red Sox Baseball Operations Assistant; Fred Seymour, Red Sox Baseball Information Manager; Jack Maley, Cover Photography
THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM
John L. Harrington is the chief ex¬ from 1958-60, Mr. Harrington was
ecutive officer of the Boston Red Sox. aboard the USS Charles R. Ware, a
Mr. Harrington Joined the Red Sox in Navy Destroyer that travelled exten¬
1973 after serving as controller of the sively throughout the world.
American League of Professional Mr. Harrington is a director of the
Baseball from 1970-73. He is also National Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown, N.Y., Fleet Bank and
the New England Sports Network. He
is also affiliated with various chari¬
ties, serving as trustee of the Dana-
Farber Cancer Institute and the Catho¬
lic Charitable Bureau of Greater Bos¬
ton. He is also a Director of the Base¬
ball Assistance Team (BAT) and the
National Little League Foundation.
John is currently serving as the
chairman of several baseball commit¬
tees, including the Realignment/Ex¬
pansion Committee and the Labor John S. Buckley
Policy Committee. In addition he
Executive V.P. for Administration
serves as a member of the Television
Committee and the Revenue Sharing to the Red Sox since 1974. His pre¬
Committee. vious involvement with the Red Sox
John and his wife, Maureen, reside also included advising ownership in
in Westwood, MA and have three the financing of the Fenway Park
John L. Harrington married children: Debra (McNulty), renovation and the evaluation of their
Brian and Sean. new spring training facility in Fort
Chief Executive Officer
Myers, Florida.
currently the executive director and John was raised in Jamaica Plain
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trustee of the Yawkey Foundations, and graduated from Boston Latin
which support numerous humanitar¬ School. He graduated cum laude from
ian, cultural, educational and athletic Boston College with a B.S. degree in
endeavors. 1966, and is a certified public ac¬
Prior to entering baseball in 1970, John S. Buckley was named Red countant and member of the AICPA
Mr. Harrington was an assistant pro¬ Sox executive vice president for ad¬ and Massachusetts Society of CPAs.
fessor at the Graduate School of Man¬ ministration in January of 1994. John He is a trustee of the Boston Latin
agement at Boston College, his alma was a partner with the professional School Association and Catholic
mater, where he conducted courses service firm of Ernst & Young, where Charities and a director of the Boys
in Managerial Accounting and Man¬ he served as an advisor to privately- and Girls Clubs of Boston and Junior
agement Information Systems. He owned and entrepreneurial busi¬ Achievement. Mr. Buckley also
earned his Bachelors degree from BC nesses. He had extensive involve¬ served as a director of the Francis
in 1957 and his Masters degree in ment in consulting with professional Ouimet Caddie Scholarship Fund.
Business Administration in 1966, sports franchises and served as the John and his wife, Nancy, reside in
while also being licensed as a certi¬ firm's national sports franchise tax Westwood MA and have four chil¬
fied public accountant in 1966. partner. dren, Kerry, Denise, Marlene and
A commissioned naval officer Mr. Buckley had been an advisor John, Jr.
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Dan Duquette was named execu¬ January 25, 1990. During his six 1986 and 1987 seasons.
tive vice president and general man¬ years with Montreal, Dan was instru¬ In 1992, Duquette was named The
ager of the Boston Red Sox on Janu¬ mental in assembling the contending Sporting News Major League Execu¬
ary 27, 1994. Duquette, 38, contin¬ Expos of 1992-94 with players such tive of the Year in a vote conducted
ues his dedicated efforts to bring New as Ken Hill, Mel Rojas, Larry Walker, among 26 Major League teams. He
England a perennial champion-cali¬ John Wetteland and Marquis was also named the UPI National
ber team. Several key mid-season Grissom. From 1992-94 the Expos League Executive of the Year. Previ¬
acquisitions turned the 1996 club had one of the lowest payrolls and ously, Dan was a member of Base¬
around as the Red Sox had the best the best record in baseball over a ball America's Organization of the
second-half record (49-28) in the three-year span (255-183 .582), in- Year five times, first with Milwaukee
Major Leagues, leaving them just shy (1985-86-87) and then with Montreal
of a Wild Card playoff berth. (1988, 90). The Expos were honored
Duquette was presented with a as the 1993 Topps Major League Or¬
1997 Honor Award by the American ganization of the Year.
Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Dan currently serves on the Board
for his "involvement in baseball and of Directors of the Major League
significant achievement in his profes¬ Baseball Scouting Bureau and is a
sion." The Boston Jaycees also se¬ member of the Major League Base¬
lected Duquette as one of Boston's ball Playing Rules Committee. He is
Ten Outstanding Young Leaders in also an active proponent of the Jimmy
1996. Fund, the United Way, the Genesis
In 1995, Duquette lowered the pay¬ Fund, and Catholic Charities. In
roll considerably and assembled an 1996, Dan and his wife, Sharon,
American League Eastern Division chaired the most successful Cardinal
Champion team after insightfully or¬ Stewardship Appeal campaign ever.
chestrating a multitude of transactions Dan is an avid alpine and cross¬
and roster moves which brought 53 country skier, and during the off-sea¬
players overall, including a team- son, he not only enjoys skiing
record 26 pitchers, onto the Major recreationally, but he's also active in
League roster. The 1995 squad he Daniel F. Duquette competitive racing events. When Dan
assembled was alone in first place joined the Red Sox in January 1994,
Executive V.P. & General Manager
from May 13 through the end of the he returned home to his native New
season and finished with an 86-58 eluding baseball's best record in 1994 England with his wife, Sharon
.597 record. The Red Sox went from (74-40). (Brophy), who graduated from the
7 games under .500 in 1994 (54-61) Dan is a native of the Western University of New Hampshire, their
to 28 games over in 1995. After the Massachusetts town of Dalton, where daughter, Denise, and their two sons,
season, the Boston Baseball Writers he was a catcher and teammate of Dan, Jr. and Dana. The Duquettes
selected Duquette as Baseball's Ex¬ former Red Sox pitcher Jeff Reardon make their home in Acton, MA.
ecutive of the Year. He also finished at Wahconah Regional High School.
second in the voting for The Sporting He played varsity baseball and foot¬
News' Executive of the Year honors. ball at Amherst College and earned a
Before joining the Red Sox, bachelor's degree in English Litera¬
Duquette was vice president and gen¬ ture in 1980. He began his profes¬
eral manager of the Montreal Expos sional baseball career in July 1980
since September 19, 1991. At that with the Milwaukee Brewers as an ad¬
time, he was the youngest G.M. in ministrative assistant in scouting and
the Major Leagues. He joined the player development. Dan was in the
Expos on October 8, 1987 as direc¬ Brewers minor league and scouting *
tor of player development, and was departments for five years and was
named assistant general manager on then named scouting director for the
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New Alternative
Red Sox Caps For 1997
This season, in addition to their next several years, usually white at on Red Sox caps were half red and
traditional navy blue caps, the Red home and gray on the road. It was half blue and from 1975-78, the
Sox will sport two new alternate in the teens and twenties that pin¬ team wore red-crowned caps. Im¬
baseball caps to be worn at various stripes became fashionable for ages of those red caps are vivid for
times during the anyone who can
season. One of
recall the magic
the new caps has
of 1975 and the
a red crown with
likes of Carlton
a blue brim and
Fisk, Fred Lynn,
a white "B", out-
Carl
lined in blue.
Yastrzemski,
The other cap
Luis Tiant, Jim
has a white
Rice, Dwight
crown with a
Evans, Bernie
blue brim and a
Carbo, and Rico
red "B", outlined
Petrocelli.
in blue. The Red
After careful
Sox will continue
consideration by
to wear the tradi¬
the Red Sox or¬
tional navy caps
ganization, this
predominantly.
year's additional
Although, the
styles were cre¬
traditional solid
ated as a result of
navy blue caps
requests on
have been part of
Fenway Park fan
the Red Sox uni¬
surveys over the
form since the
last two seasons.
early thirties,
Many other Ma¬
when Tom
jor League
Yawkey began
ballclubs and although many Red teams, including Baltimore, Chi¬
his storied ownership of the Red Sox,
Sox fans today might deny that the cago, Cleveland, Seattle, and
the team has actually worn several
different caps in their long history. Red Sox ever wore the infamous Toronto have successfully imple¬
In 1901, the year the franchise be¬ trademark of their division rivals, the mented alternate caps for use on
gan, the team wore a pillbox shaped team actually did wear gray pin¬ weekends or at special events.
cap with two horizontal blue stripes, striped caps. Teams experimented The 1997 alternate caps were first
hand-picked by manager Jimmy with various new uniform styles in seen by the public in December at
Collins. Two years later, in 1903, the the early thirties. In 1931, for in¬ the WinterFest fan event, held in
style changed to one wider horizon¬ stance, Red Sox caps had gray pin¬ conjunction with the 1996 Baseball
tal blue stripe on the same pillbox stripes with a small red sock on front Winter Baseball Meetings. Red Sox
cap, which was a throwback to the and a red bill. The caps we know players and staff modeled the caps
1 890's. today were introduced in the 1933 while they greeted fans and signed
The Boston Americans officially and '34 seasons, and the only no¬ autographs.
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became the Boston Red Sox in 1907, table changes since then came in the
and the team wore plain caps for the mid-seventies. In 1974, the crowns
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CROSSING THE DIVIDE
The Continuing Journey of the Dominican Republic's Robinson Checo & Japan's Taka Kato
Each February, hundreds of pro¬ Now, the 6-2, 209-pounder is here, ciative smile, "I am a lucky man and
fessional baseball players head to and is very thankful to the Red Sox I'm very happy now. Every time I
Spring Training camps in Florida for giving him the opportunity to go pitch, like my father says, I will
and Arizona to begin a season-long fulfill his dreams. Kato, who previ¬ 'try, try, try'."
journey. Veterans, rookies and ously pitched for the Chiba Lotte From the other side of the world,
invitees all work hard with hope, Marines in the Japanese Pacific meet Dominican-born and raised
enthusiasm and determination to be League, was the Marines' first- Robinson Checo, the 6-1, 185-
among the 25 that continue the round selection in the 1993 draft pound right-hander, who hasn't
journey and head north after the and received the largest signing bo¬ made his Major League debut yet,
Grapefruit League season to begin nus in the history of Japanese pro¬ but has confidently set his goals
the 162-game regular season. Upon fessional baseball. Kato was side¬ high. As a member of the Red Sox,
commencing their journey in Feb¬ lined with a knee injury in 1995 and Checo has his eyes on both a World
ruary, each and every player fo¬ became a free agent after leaving Series Championship and Cy Young
cuses on the ultimate destination, the ballclub. He was signed by the Award honors. On December 4,
the opportunity to vie for a World Red Sox on October 28, 1996 and 1996 the Red Sox announced that
Series Championship. traveled to the United States to re¬ they had signed Checo to a two-
Two young men, from com¬ ceive medical care to repair the in¬ year Major League contract, repre¬
pletely different backgrounds and jury to his knee. Today, Kato is con¬ senting the very first agreement in
different parts of the world, are in tinuing his rehab and is eager to fine which a Major League baseball
the midst of such a journey, as they tune his forkball and trademark team executed a player transaction
work out at the Red Sox Spring curve ball. He works tirelessly to with a Japanese Professional Base¬
Training camp in Fort Myers, ball Club. Checo is a strong, power
Florida. Their journey began many pitcher, who has a fierce air of con¬
years ago, as kids playing for youth fidence and competitiveness.
baseball teams in countries far, far "In Japan, I was the #1 pitcher
away from the five fields of the Red for the Hiroshima Carp," says
Sox Fort Myers training facility. Checo, "and my mother now says
Japanese pitcher Takayasu Kato and 'go, Checo, go win the American
Dominican pitcher Robinson Cy Young!'." Checo was a
Checo, who, thus far, have played centerfielder before he was con¬
their entire amateur and profes¬ verted to a pitcher because he says
sional baseball careers outside the his arm was "very strong and very
United States, have come to the Red fast." In fact, Checo claims to have
Sox spring camp with the hope that been clocked at 99 miles an hour
they may realize their dream to play while playing in Japan.
for the Red Sox in the Major The 25-year-old Checo was born
Leagues and battle to earn the right in the Dominican Republic, but
to place a World Series Champion¬ played in the Hiroshima Toyo
ship ring on their finger. Takayasu Kato Carp's organization since he began
Photo courtesy of Kyodo News.
When left-handed pitcher a stint with their Western League
Takayasu Kato was growing up, the prepare himself for live competition farm team in 1992. General Man¬
idea of playing professional base¬ and the challenge of facing hitters ager Dan Duquette described
ball in the United States was be¬ in the majors. Taka, as he is infor¬ Checo as "a first-class pitcher,
yond his wildest expectations. mally called, says with an appre¬ whose talent and ability, high-
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lighted by his excellent arm and prepared for the exuberance of the can be tiring, it also serves to de¬
outstanding power fastball, give Red Sox faithful. According to the velop incredible arm strength and
him the potential to be an impact two pitchers, Japanese baseball fans endurance.
player on our major league staff this are always very vocal and excited The Boston Red Sox organization
coming season." during games. They bring trumpets, is dedicated to the mission of pro¬
The right-hander displayed his drums, and other musical instru¬ viding their fans a perennial cham¬
ability when he pitched for a Do¬ ments to play loud songs when their pionship caliber team. In order to
minican team during the winterball team is at bat. achieve this goal, the ballclub has
playoffs prior to the 1996 season. In their free time off the playing made a commitment to discovering,
He dominated some of the best field, Kato and Checo participate in acquiring and developing players,
current Major League hitters play- a myriad of activities. Checo is a at both the minor league and ma¬
student of the martial arts, with Ka¬ jor league levels, from the United
rate being his forte. Kato, like other States and throughout the interna¬
Japanese teenagers, was encour¬ tional baseball arena. Dan
aged to participate in a wide vari¬ Duquette has allocated a significant
ety of activities in addition to base¬ amount of resources into building
ball, including basketball, swim¬ a superior scouting network all over
ming, handball, volleyball, track, the world. The Red Sox currently
ping-pong, and even singing. "You have baseball affiliations at every
do everything. It is the Japanese corner of the globe including, Aus¬
style," says Kato of his busy life. tralia, Japan, the Dominican Repub¬
Kato also began to study the English lic, Korea, the Far East and South
language and has a good reading Pacific rim and Venezuela.
and writing foundation, but he has Boston has forged a strong work¬
not had much practice speaking the ing relationship with the Hiroshima
language. Checo, whose native lan¬ Carp, a relationship that will prove
guage is Spanish, picked up Japa¬ to be mutually beneficial. The ac¬
nese while he was playing in quisitions of Robinson Checo and
Robinson Checo
Hiroshima, but says that Japanese Taka Kato are a prime illustration
is a very hard language. Some of of the expansive efforts of the Red
ing for the Puerto Rican All-Star his teammates comment that Sox international scouting mission.
team including Boston's own Checo's Japanese is better than his Duquette, with Executive Director
Wilfredo Cordero. English. He and Kato currently at¬ of International Baseball Opera¬
Kato and Checo already feel tend English classes after each day's tions Ray Poitevint, wish to bring
comfortable living in the United workout. some of the world's very best young
States and have very much enjoyed Both pitchers agree that although baseball talent into the Red Sox or¬
their short time here. They have baseball is the most popular sport ganization, and to see the game of
both visited Boston once and have in Japan, as it is in the United States, baseball grow and flourish through¬
differing opinions about the likes of the philosophies of baseball work¬ out the entire world. With contin¬
the beloved Green Monster at outs are quite different in the Far ued efforts in the international
Fenway. "I love it," says a confident East. In high school, for instance, arena, Red Sox fans will be able to
Checo, while Kato shakes his head Kato was the best pitcher on his watch talented players like
and laughs, "it's too close!". They team, so he started every game and Robinson Checo and Taka Kato as
each noted that ballparks in Japan would often throw as many as three they continue their journey with the
are usually symmetrical, without to four hundred pitches during bat¬ Boston Red Sox on the road to a
such features as Fenway Park's ting practice. Kato and Checo also World Series Championship.
nooks and crannies, centerfield tri¬ say that pitchers are expected to
angle and looming Green Monster. "pitch through" soreness, pain and
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If they were to take the mound at fatigue. Checo believes that al¬
Fenway Park today, both would be though throwing so many pitches
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HUMBLE HEROES
The Boston Red Sox in the Community
Professional athletes lead Yawkey on the field's
very public lives. They are un¬ scoreboard, Little Fenway will
der intense scrutiny while per¬ ensure that Boston's Fenway
forming in front of large crowds, Park legacy lives on. Little
trained cameras, and countless Fenway will be utilized by
reporters, and they run the risk young baseball players, from T-
of being defined solely by their Ball to Legion Ball. Tim has al¬
acts on the field. But many ways made time in his work
ballplayers, particularly mem¬ schedule to go the extra mile,
bers of the Boston Red Sox, do whether it has been making a
some of their best work away charity appearance or simply
from the limelight. The entire stopping to take the time to
Red Sox organization, from the meet and sign autographs for a
Red Sox pitcher Mike Maddux quizzes children at a "Sox Talk" event
front office to the clubhouse, has group of young children.
held in Hyde Park.
made community relations ef¬ Since joining the Red Sox,
forts a large part of their everyday busi¬ the community. ARO is a national, com¬ Heathcliff Slocumb has embraced the
ness. Last season, the team had 100% par¬ munity-geared organization consisting of Jimmy Fund and the battle against can¬
ticipation in community activities. While professional athletes and individuals in cer as his major community focus. Dur¬
everyone participates, the following play¬ the sports world who have joined to¬ ing the 1996 season, he joined forces with
ers have made remarkable contributions gether to generate awareness and create a local business (Boston Market) to ben¬
to the Red Sox community relations ef¬ projects for the betterment of America's efit the battle against cancer. This past
forts: youth. The goal of ARO is to unify, en¬ January, he organized a celebrity basket¬
From the day Tim Naehring was pro¬ courage and assist athletes with all com¬ ball event for breast cancer charities at
moted to Boston from Pawtucket in 1990, munity service activities in an effort to Brandeis' Gosman Center. The Red Sox
he has been a tireless participant in Red foster their personal and professional closer shows the same enthusiasm and
Sox community relations efforts and has growth. Already, Naehring's ARO pro¬ effort when he works with the American
made impressive contributions to the gram has had a positive impact on the Cancer Society to "save" the day for can¬
community. Tim's dedication on the field lives of hundreds of youngsters and has cer patients as he does to "save" games
is only surpassed by his dedication to help received support from both the sports for the Red Sox. "Slo" has become a fix¬
others. He is a past recipient of the BoSox world and corporate America. ture atthe Jimmy Fund Clinic atthe Dana
Club Man of the Year honors for his com¬ Tim is currently on the way to com¬ Farber Cancer Institute, as he frequently
munity endeavors and contributions to pleting "Little Fenway," a small scale ver¬ visits youngsters receiving treatment
the success of the team. Naehring, who sion of Fenway Park in his home state of there. He participates in various fund¬
is a sponsor of the Cystic Fibrosis and Ohio. "Little Fenway" is Naehring's raising events to assist the Jimmy Fund's
Multiple Sclerosis foundations, is a fre¬ brainchild. He believes that all of life's work, including the highly successful
quent visitor to the Dana-Farber Clinic greatest achievements begin with a vi¬ Scooper Bowl event, which takes place
and also a participant in the Red Sox sion, and Little Fenway is his. It is a gift each June at City Hall Plaza in Boston.
Adopt-A-School Program. Naehring is to Tim's hometown community in Cin¬ He also participates in events benefiting
well known for the unique brand of at¬ cinnati, where his dreams began, and a the ALS Foundation, which is dedicated
tention and instruction he displays dur¬ tribute to the great sport which helped to finding treatments and a cure for Lou
ing baseball clinics for youngsters. Tim make those dreams come true. From the Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral
is also a co-founder of the Athletes Reach towering Green Monster to Pesky's Pole sclerosis). Heathcliff is a spokesperson for
Out Program (ARO), which works to and even the Morse code names of former breast cancer research and contributes to
unify parents, teachers, and coaches in Boston Red Sox owners Tom and Jean the "Why Me Program." Why Me Incor-
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