Powering through the 2000+ ProCard minor league set from 1989 I came across a Minor League team from nearby Salinas. The Spurs? They were part of the California League from 1982-1987 and from 1989-1992. They were a Cubs affiliate from 1982-1983, Seattle from 1984-1987. In 1998 they moved to Riverside, CA and became the Red Wave, however the Spurs came back in existence when the Fresno Suns moved there for the 1989 season.
OK, if that wasn't interesting enough for me-Wiki and the ProCard team set for the Spurs had an inordinate number of Japanese players. I found that to be fascinating so I came across this article
East meets West in Salinas. According to this article "Don Nomura is the Japanese owner. He also has Japan's Daiei Hawks and uses the Spurs to give young Japanese players experience they can't get at home. One Eppard scenario: He could play a season in Japan, then return when the major leagues expand in 1993."
Even more history was brought out in this article "Koga, 51, was the second Japanese player to play for an American baseball team when he left the Tokyo Giants to sign with the San Francisco Giants. Like many, he experienced unfulfilled dreams in the minor leagues. His first year, 1966, was spent with the Decatur (Ill.) Giants of the Midwest League. He had an 8-7 record as a pitcher and batted .320. But that November he broke his neck in an automobile accident. Koga failed in a brief comeback with the Lodi (Calif.) Chargers, then a Chicago Cubs' farm team.
This is his second year managing Salinas. "I'm really enjoying it," he said. "For myself, I'm having a great experience. The purpose of being on my team is to sign and get to go on to a new team. They try so hard." Two of the three coaches are Japanese, here to learn the game's fine points to take back home and teach."
Then I also came across several Japanese players with the Visalia Oaks. A quick Google search indicated the Oaks were around until end of June 1998 and were owned by Japanese Sports Systems (JASS).
Had no idea Koga was the 2nd Japanese player to play for an American team. Hideo Nomo would have been my guess. Sounds like the 90's Salinas Spurs were a version of the 80's San Jose Giants. They were loaded with Japanese baseball players too.
ReplyDeleteI really need to go to the SJ Giants more often-haven't been in years
DeleteIf you factor in time and money... I prefer to go to SJ Games over MLB games. Let me know if you're in SJ and wanna catch a game.
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