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glenn · 08-15-2006, 09:07 PM

A spokesman for the American Baseball League announced today the results of the voting, along with general information regarding the teams in the Western League West Division

Los Angeles Titans

Owner: Jack Kent Cooke

Jack Kent Cooke adds another professional sports team based in Los Angeles to his resume. Cooke currently owns the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

General Manager: Phil Seghi

The Titans made Phil Seghi their General Manager. Seghi has experience as a Farm Director with the Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians, along with experience as the Assistant GM for the Reds. He also server the Oakland A’s for three years as Director of Player Development.

Manager: Tommy Lasorda

Los Angeles will turn to rookie skipper Tommy Lasorda to lead the team on the field. Lasorda was a former pitcher with the Dodgers, and spent his entire career working with the Dodgers in some capacity. “I’m excited to get this opportunity to lead a professional baseball team in Los Angeles. Los Angeles has been good to me, and I want to give them a winner to root for,” Lasorda said.

Stadium: Dodger Stadium

The Titans will play their home games in Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962.

Los Angeles Wildcats

Owner: Al Davis

Former NFL Coach and General Manager, and current owner of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis branches out into professional baseball. The one time commissioner of the American Football League, stepped down because he was against the merger with the National Football League. Davis felt betrayed by the American Football League owners, whom several have since joined the American Baseball League, and were against the idea of awarding a franchise to Al Davis. In fact Davis already caused a bit of controversy in the American Baseball League, openly complaining about the Houston Stars and Bud Adams stealing the team name from Davis. “There was an ABA franchise in LA named the Stars,” Davis explained, “and it was common knowledge that is what we intended to name our team. When we play Houston, we’ll show them who the true Stars are.”

General Manager: Jim Campbell

Davis, a self proclaimed “football man” felt it was important to bring someone with strong baseball experience to the team, “Jim Campbell has been an integral part of the Detroit Tigers for several years, and knows how to run a baseball team. Jim will be making most of the baseball decisions, and he will be expected to put a winning team on the field.”

Manager: Tony LaRussa

Ironically, the first baseball decision for the Wildcats was made by Davis himself, hiring rookie manager Tony LaRussa. “I wanted someone young and someone smart, and based on recommendations, we brought in Tony, and I was immediately impressed”, Davis said. LaRussa, a former major leaguer, left the game and was attending law school when he received the call from Davis, “It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I spent a lot of time on the bench in the major leagues, and have always enjoyed studying the game. I look forward to the chance I was given by Al Davis and the Wildcats”, LaRussa said.

Stadium: Dodger Stadium

The Wildcats will share Dodgers Stadium with the Titans.

San Francisco Sky Sox

Owner: Walter A. Haas, Jr.

Walter A. Haas, Jr. is president and CEO of the Levi Strauss & Co. The San Francisco Sky Sox are his first venture into professional sports.

General Manager: Tal Smith

The Sky Sox hired Tal Smith as General Manager. Smith previously acted as General Manager and Assistant General Manager for the Houston Astros.

Manager: Clyde King

The Sky Sox will look to former San Francisco Giants Manager Clyde King to lead the team on the field.

Stadium: Candlestick Park

The Sky Sox will call Candlestick Park home. Candlestick Park opened in 1960 and is home to the NFL’s San Francisco 49’ers.

San Diego Sea Wolves

Owner: Barron Hilton

Hilton is the president of the Hilton Hotel chain, and founder of the San Diego Chargers football team.

General Manager: Gabe Paul

The Sea Wolves will turn to former Cleveland Indians General Manager Gabe Paul to lead the team. Paul has over twenty years of GM experience with the Indians and Cincinnati Reds.

Manager: Don Zimmer

Don Zimmer, who briefly managed the San Diego Padres during 1972, will take over as skipper of the Sea Wolves.

Stadium: Jack Murphy Stadium

The Sea Wolves will play their home games at Jack Murphy Stadium, former home to the San Diego Padres.

San Jose Bees

Owner: Charles Finley

Charles Finley is the former owner of the Oakland A’s, and the only Major League Baseball owner at the time of the lockout, involved with the ABL. Finley was a vocal critic of Major League Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and one of the league’s most controversial owners.
Finley was an advocate of the designated hitter rule, which is said to be under consideration for the ABL, along with several others unusual ideas, including a designated runner, orange baseballs, three-ball walks, two strike strikeouts, and a mechanical rabbit that would deliver new balls to the umpire behind home plate.
Finley spoke about his expectations for the new league, “I feel honored to be a part of the American Baseball League, and to take part in a league that will change baseball history. Major League Baseball was afraid of change, and the failure to change the status quo was the reason for MLB’s downfall. I’m grateful to be given another opportunity in a league that is willing to stay on the cutting edge.”

General Manager: Al Campanis

Finley brought aboard Al Campanis to act as his GM. Campanis is the former Scouting Director and General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manager: Dick Williams

Finley also brought in a familiar name in Dick Williams. Williams served as the Oakland A’s manager under Finley during the 1971 and 1972 season.

Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Collisseum

In a surprising development, the San Jose Bees will play their home games in Oakland-Alameda County Collisseum, nearly 40 miles from San Jose. Finley was against using the city of Oakland in the team name, due to his feud with current Oakland mayor John Reading.

08-15-2006, 09:07 PM	#45 (permalink)
glenn Major Leagues Join Date: May 2006 Location: PA Posts: 407 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	October 29th, 1973 A spokesman for the American Baseball League announced today the results of the voting, along with general information regarding the teams in the Western League West Division Los Angeles Titans Owner: Jack Kent Cooke Jack Kent Cooke adds another professional sports team based in Los Angeles to his resume. Cooke currently owns the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. General Manager: Phil Seghi The Titans made Phil Seghi their General Manager. Seghi has experience as a Farm Director with the Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians, along with experience as the Assistant GM for the Reds. He also server the Oakland A’s for three years as Director of Player Development. Manager: Tommy Lasorda Los Angeles will turn to rookie skipper Tommy Lasorda to lead the team on the field. Lasorda was a former pitcher with the Dodgers, and spent his entire career working with the Dodgers in some capacity. “I’m excited to get this opportunity to lead a professional baseball team in Los Angeles. Los Angeles has been good to me, and I want to give them a winner to root for,” Lasorda said. Stadium: Dodger Stadium The Titans will play their home games in Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962. Los Angeles Wildcats Owner: Al Davis Former NFL Coach and General Manager, and current owner of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis branches out into professional baseball. The one time commissioner of the American Football League, stepped down because he was against the merger with the National Football League. Davis felt betrayed by the American Football League owners, whom several have since joined the American Baseball League, and were against the idea of awarding a franchise to Al Davis. In fact Davis already caused a bit of controversy in the American Baseball League, openly complaining about the Houston Stars and Bud Adams stealing the team name from Davis. “There was an ABA franchise in LA named the Stars,” Davis explained, “and it was common knowledge that is what we intended to name our team. When we play Houston, we’ll show them who the true Stars are.” General Manager: Jim Campbell Davis, a self proclaimed “football man” felt it was important to bring someone with strong baseball experience to the team, “Jim Campbell has been an integral part of the Detroit Tigers for several years, and knows how to run a baseball team. Jim will be making most of the baseball decisions, and he will be expected to put a winning team on the field.” Manager: Tony LaRussa Ironically, the first baseball decision for the Wildcats was made by Davis himself, hiring rookie manager Tony LaRussa. “I wanted someone young and someone smart, and based on recommendations, we brought in Tony, and I was immediately impressed”, Davis said. LaRussa, a former major leaguer, left the game and was attending law school when he received the call from Davis, “It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I spent a lot of time on the bench in the major leagues, and have always enjoyed studying the game. I look forward to the chance I was given by Al Davis and the Wildcats”, LaRussa said. Stadium: Dodger Stadium The Wildcats will share Dodgers Stadium with the Titans. San Francisco Sky Sox Owner: Walter A. Haas, Jr. Walter A. Haas, Jr. is president and CEO of the Levi Strauss & Co. The San Francisco Sky Sox are his first venture into professional sports. General Manager: Tal Smith The Sky Sox hired Tal Smith as General Manager. Smith previously acted as General Manager and Assistant General Manager for the Houston Astros. Manager: Clyde King The Sky Sox will look to former San Francisco Giants Manager Clyde King to lead the team on the field. Stadium: Candlestick Park The Sky Sox will call Candlestick Park home. Candlestick Park opened in 1960 and is home to the NFL’s San Francisco 49’ers. San Diego Sea Wolves Owner: Barron Hilton Hilton is the president of the Hilton Hotel chain, and founder of the San Diego Chargers football team. General Manager: Gabe Paul The Sea Wolves will turn to former Cleveland Indians General Manager Gabe Paul to lead the team. Paul has over twenty years of GM experience with the Indians and Cincinnati Reds. Manager: Don Zimmer Don Zimmer, who briefly managed the San Diego Padres during 1972, will take over as skipper of the Sea Wolves. Stadium: Jack Murphy Stadium The Sea Wolves will play their home games at Jack Murphy Stadium, former home to the San Diego Padres. San Jose Bees Owner: Charles Finley Charles Finley is the former owner of the Oakland A’s, and the only Major League Baseball owner at the time of the lockout, involved with the ABL. Finley was a vocal critic of Major League Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and one of the league’s most controversial owners. Finley was an advocate of the designated hitter rule, which is said to be under consideration for the ABL, along with several others unusual ideas, including a designated runner, orange baseballs, three-ball walks, two strike strikeouts, and a mechanical rabbit that would deliver new balls to the umpire behind home plate. Finley spoke about his expectations for the new league, “I feel honored to be a part of the American Baseball League, and to take part in a league that will change baseball history. Major League Baseball was afraid of change, and the failure to change the status quo was the reason for MLB’s downfall. I’m grateful to be given another opportunity in a league that is willing to stay on the cutting edge.” General Manager: Al Campanis Finley brought aboard Al Campanis to act as his GM. Campanis is the former Scouting Director and General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager: Dick Williams Finley also brought in a familiar name in Dick Williams. Williams served as the Oakland A’s manager under Finley during the 1971 and 1972 season. Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Collisseum In a surprising development, the San Jose Bees will play their home games in Oakland-Alameda County Collisseum, nearly 40 miles from San Jose. Finley was against using the city of Oakland in the team name, due to his feud with current Oakland mayor John Reading.