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Originally Posted by aabram23
It brought back good memories while reading your post so I thought I'd add my first hand experience to this thread. I played for the anchorage pilots back in the summer of 97. Don't look up my stats, nothing impressive but I will say it was probably they best summer of my life. I was the 4th outfielder so I DHed every game basically. I didn't feel so bad when all 3 guys in front of me made it to the show. Colin Porter, Jeremy Owens and my life long friend Ryan Ludwick. I attached some Picts of us then and now (spring training this year) Danny Wright was one of our pitchers. Ill never forget him getting clocked at 98 in the 8th after setting the record for the most wild pitches in a game. It was probably the best team I ever played on. There are more stories from that summer than I can even explain. Thanks for being an advocate and posting. Enjoy these pictures have fun up there. Watch out for the Bush Company.
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That is so awesome! I was watching all those college kids, thinking how amazing an experience a summer or two playing ball in Alaska would be... And now find out a boardmember played there! So cool! It was such a cool fan experience.. I walked into an empty ballpark during BP and sat in the first row. I shagged a few fouls balls, saw/talked to a couple players and was amazed they said "thanks" when I said I was gonna get a ticket for the game. During the game, I talked to fans who knew the players and I think in some cases were housing them.
I also noticed in my Pilots program yesterday that Ryan Ludwick holds the Pilots' single season HR record.. I think it was 19 in 1997 (guessing in like 50 or so games?). Pretty amazing. I flew to Kodiak today, but am back in Anchorage tonight and may try to catch another Bucs/Pilots game before heading down to Southeast.
Btw the Bucs took both ends of the doubleheader, but the games didn't count toward league standings. I'm guessing all teams are waiting for a few guys to get out of the Super Regionals/CWS. Bucs had some good pitchers, including a 6'7" starter from Fresno State that went 6 shutout, and only allowed a hit.. And skinny rubber armed little guy out of the bullpen that was throwing 92-93. A Pilot hit the only HR of the day.