March 1995
Sensuous Susan Sarandon, in one of the most memorable lines from the movie Bull Durham said, "I worship at the church of baseball." With a recent recipe that includes hefty slices of greedy players, some chunks of mercenary owners, and some spicy, self-righteous, nosy congressmen thrown in for good measure, the lost sport of baseball has left a sour taste in all fans, young and old alike. Few want to worship at the altar of major league baseball any longer. It has become a tarnished symbol of our once glorious past and dubious future.
There is, however, a slight buzz coming from the congregation, a hopeful murmuring among the believers that the innocence of baseball may be restored. The Sonoma County Crushers of Rohnert Park are the revival ministers that are coming to purify the name of baseball again, and hopefully draw fans back into the fold.
"The Crushers will play baseball the way it used to be in the 1930s and '40s," says Warren Hopkins, director of community relations for the Crushers. The premise behind having independent minor league teams is that the players are obligated to stick with their teams for the entire season. In this way, the fans can have certain players they root for and can be devoted to for the entire season, without worrying that they are going to be snatched up by another team or organization. They are under contract to play for the entire seasonÑno matter what offers may come in.
Hopkins, along with other members of the Crusher organization are excited about the coming season. There has been enormous positive publicity for them, and with the enthusiastic backing of the city and the merchants, every eye is turned to the Crushers to perform well. The excitement could crescendo to a fervent pitch once the news that Chapman University's former coach, Paul Deese, who riveted his team toward two NCAA championships, is named manager.
Sonoma County is now poised to be able to receive a team like the Crushers. With a population that has doubled in the last decade, many residents and merchants have been flocking steadily to the upwardly mobile area. With the serenely curvaceous hills as a backdrop for the Rohnert Park Stadium where the Crushers will play, fans will have a view nonpareil.
It has been almost 10 years since Sonoma County had a baseball team to call it's own. The Crushers will be part of the Western Baseball League, which is based out of Oregon, and consists of eight teams ranging from the Surrey Glaciers of British Colombia to the Long Beach Barracudas. The minor league independent teams have an advantage over other major league sanctioned ballclubs because they do not have to follow any major league mandates. The organization's breakdown is roughly this: there are 24 players on the team, with a minimum of at least six rookies each season. The qualifications to be a rookie require the player to have no more than 100 at bats, or 50 innings pitched in one season.
Kevin Wolski, director of sales and promotions, is really pushing for the team's image as a "grass-roots organization." He envisions families and friends coming out for an enjoyable ballgame, and with tickets as low as $2, a family of four could easily enjoy icy cold drinks, juicy hot dogs, a rousing ballgame, and a stunning view, all for under $20. Wolski enthusiastically points out that more than 300 season tickets have already been sold, even though the season doesn't actually begin until May 19.
Looking into the bleachers and eyeing the dugouts, it's easy to imagine the satisfying thwack of the bat, the shouts of the food vendors, and the intense competition between the teams. The reverie is suddenly broken as a tall, distinguished-looking man steps onto the field and surveys the stadium thoroughly. Bob Fletcher looks like he belongs in a corporate office, overlooking business plans, company financial reports, and stock market returns. Instead, he is inspecting the grass to see if it's been cut, looking over the pile of dirt that is to be home plate, and generally making a mess out of his expensive dress shoes. But he looks happy.
In fact, Bob Fletcher was a middle-management executive at IBM for more than 27 years. In essence, this is still a type of business proposition for him, with much of his money embroiled into the future of the Crushers. Why would a man, ostensibly in a comfortable position with one of the biggest global corporations, want to risk it all on a gamble like an independent baseball team?
"It's always been a dream of mine," Fletcher admits confidentially, "and I'm dying of curiosity to see how this will turn out." Owning a baseball team is a fantasy for many middle-aged American men who have grown up watching baseball in the legendary days of Joe Di Maggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra. Fletcher, unlike others, is actually getting the opportunity to live out his dream, because in his own words, "life's too short."
With a quaint, folkloric anecdote, Fletcher explains the reasoning behind naming their mascot the "Abominable Sonoman." As the legend goes, the grapes for wine were always crushed by foot, and one year, a creature came from the mountains to help stamp the grapes, thus the Abominable Sonoman. Fletcher hopes that the team will be able to crush the competition, as the monster crushed the grapes. However, his main goal is for people to come out, enjoy themselves, and get away from the hassle and expense that games at Candlestick and Oakland Stadium cause people.
Here's hoping that on May 19, when their season starts, the Sonoma County Crushers and the Abominable Sonoman will not only be able to crush their competition, but in the process, restore the fun and dignity that once belonged in the church of baseball. Amen!