ALASKA BASEBALL ALUMNI HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023
Day Two Inductee
ALASKA BASEBALL ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
2022 saw the first class of the AKGPA Hall of Fame inducted during the month of April. The inaugural group were drawn from players, executives, mascots, and personnel directly involved with baseball in Fairbanks, Alaska. Listed below is the first class in its entirety:
THE ’22 TWENTY: Dan Pastorini, Bill Lee, Dave Kingman, Morganna the Kissing Bandit, Tom Seaver, Dave Winfield, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Bowie Kuhn, Andy Messersmith, Alvin Davis, Bob Boone, Sean Timmons, Allan Simpson, Bruce Robinson, Rod Dedeaux, H.A. (Red) Boucher, Hap Dumont, and Don Dennis.
2023 will see the induction of a new member into our Ball Hall every day during the month of April until the class is complete on the 20th.
Join us during the month of April for our second countdown of the Alaska Goldpanners Alumni Association Hall of Fame – Class of 2023.
’23 TWENTY HALL OF FAME, DAY TWO INDUCTEE:
TERRY FRANCONA
Terrence Jon Francona (born April 22, 1959), nicknamed “Tito”, is an American baseball manager and former player who is the manager of the Cleveland Guardians in Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, he was the manager of the Boston Red Sox for eight seasons, whom he led to two World Series titles and ended the franchise’s 86-year championship drought.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
– Represented the United States at the 1979 Pan American Games
– Named MVP of the 1980 College World Series
– Won the 1980 Golden Spikes Award for best collegiate athlete
– 2× World Series champion (2004, 2007)
– 3× AL Manager of the Year (2013, 2016, 2022)
| PLAYING CAREER:
Montreal Expos (1981–1985) |
ASSISTANT COACHING CAREER:
Detroit Tigers (1996) |
MANAGERIAL CAREER:
Philadelphia Phillies (1997–2000) |
NEWS CLIPPINGS
– Wikipedia: Terry Francona (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Francona)
– Baseball Reference: Terry Francona (https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/francte01.shtml)
– Fansided: 1980 Golden Spikes Winner (https://awaybackgone.com/2022/02/25/look-back-terry-franconas-amazing-1980/)
TOUCHING THE GAME: ALASKA
Terry: “In Kenai, we used to stay in a gym. The whole team. We were sometimes bored, sometimes probably obnoxious. But 20-25 nineteen, twenty year olds stuck in a gymnasium… We found a closet that had a volleyball net so we went down to the water and caught some salmon.”
Tim Gloyd: “So Wallach, Leary and Francona all dive on these salmon and we catch a 55-pound salmon and it was dragging us down into the water. It was a blast. We were stupid and young but it was fun.”
- Amazon: Touching The Game: Alaska
Panners bounce back to win 5-2
By Staff Writer
FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER
July 18, 1978
KENAI – Run-scoring hits by Terry Francona and Rob Bonnette in the seventh inning carried Fairbanks’ Alaska Goldpanners to a 5-2 decision over Kenai here Monday night at Oiler Stadium. The win moved the Panners back into first place in the Alaska League as Anchorage fell 7-2 to Palmer.
Trailing 2-1, Francona lashed a one-out double into right field to score Neil Simons, who had reached base on a fielder’s choice, with the trying run. Then one out and an intentional walk to Doug Latrenta later, Bonnette slapped a single up the middle to score Francona and the Panners had their fifth win of the series with the Oilers against two losses.
The Goldpanners, quiet at the plate during Sunday’s double-header loss, unleashed a healthy 14-hit attack. Simons collected three of them and had two RBIs as the Panner left fielder continued to hit well in Kenai.
The clutch hitting gave Tom Lukush the triumph and the University of Houston sophomore is now the winningest pitcher in the Alaska League at 6-1. Lukish threw 7 2/3 innings before giving way to ex-Major Leaguer Dick Selma, who turned in another solid performance by retiring the only four men he faced. The loser was Oiler right-hander Gary Ross, 4-3.
Lukish and Ross matched each other by throwing four scoreless frames before giving up lone runs in the fifth.
Fairbanks scored first when Dan Hanggie singled, stole second and then scored on Simons’ single to right. The Oilers answered back to tie it at 1-1 in the bottom half when Howie Shapiro lined a lead-off triple off the wall in center field and then trotted home on a Brad Mills basehit.
In the sixth, Kenai went ahead as Pat Sheridan stroked a single, moved up on a ground out and a passed ball, and then scored on Shapiro’s infield hit.
After regaining the lead, the Goldpanners picked up two insurance run in the eighth as Joe Bruno tripled home Hanggie, who had doubled, and then came home on Simons’ sacrifice fly.
GRUBSTAKES – The Oilers, already hurting from several injuries to key people, lost possibly the most versatile player on the team in Dave Stieb. The pitcher-outfielder signed a pro contract Monday with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Another factor leading to the Goldpanners’ win yesterday was the errorless play on their part, one of the few times they’ve been able to enjoy such a ballgame this summer.
Tim Leary should be on the hill tonight when the Goldpanners close out the current eight-game set with Kenai at 6 p.m. The Panners have already wrapped up the series by winning five of the first seven games. Wednesday, the Panners open a four-game series with Palmer’s Valley Green Giants.
Check back tomorrow as we unveil the latest ’23 TWENTY inductee.