Managers announced for 2021 Mavericks Independent League

Salem-Keizer, Oregon - The managers have been named as the four founding members of the Mavericks Independent League begin to take shape in anticipation of the 2021 inaugural season. All four skippers come with a wealth of professional and major college experience and are already focused on building a strong roster for their respective teams this coming season.

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes will have a familiar face at their helm of the ballclub. Tony Torcato, a 1st round pick of the San Francisco Giants, becomes the 13th manager in Volcanoes history. Torcato appeared in 59 games for the 1998 edition of the ballclub, hitting .291 with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers and 43 rbis. After advancing through the Giants' system, Torcato made his major league debut with San Francisco in 2002, appearing in 5 games. The native of Woodland, California saw time with the Giants in 2003, 2004 and 2005, totalling 43 big league games with 3 rbis and a batting average of .298. Torcato is no stranger to independent ball, finishing his

Longtime big leaguer Alan Embree is the manager of the re-born Portland Mavericks. Embree, a native of The Dalles, Oregon, was a three-sport letterman at Prairie High School in Vancouver and was picked in the 5th round of the 1989 amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians. Over 16 years and 882 appearances, Embree pitched for Cleveland, Atlanta, Arizona, San Francisco, the White Sox, San Diego, Boston, the Yankees, San Diego, Oakland and Colorado. Embree was the second big leaguer to win a game without throwing a pitch and finished his big league career with a record of 39-45, with 25 saves and a 4.59 era.

A name familiar to local fans, has been picked as manager of the reborn Salem Senators. Dave Wong, a baseball and football player for Willamette University and a member of the school's Hall of Fame, will take charge of the Senators. After pitching for the Bearcats, Wong was picked by Kansas City in the 19th round of the 1980 draft, was 22-19 with 37 saves in 190 games over 5 seasons. Wong then joined the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant at both Willamette and University of Portland, before serving as head coach at Willamette from 1991 to 2003. Wong was the pitching coach at Oregon State from 2006 to 2008, helping the Beavers to their first two national championships in 2006 and 2007. Among Wong's pitchers were Kevin Gunderson, Jonah Nickerson and Jorge Reyes. His son Joey played for the Beavers and was a 46th round of the 2009 MLB draft.

Another former Beaver has been chosen to manage the Campesinos de Salem-Keizer. Daniel Robertson, who played for Oregon State in 2008, was a 33rd round draft pick by San Diego that same year. He made 148 big league appearances over 4 years with Texas, the Angels, Seattle and Cleveland, batting .262, with 1 home run and 36 rbis. Robertson then returned to Oregon State as a graduate assistant in 2019.

Tickets for the inaugural season of the Mavericks Independent League are available now, by calling the Volcanoes at 503-390-2225 or emailing mavericksleague2021@gmail.com. Those players wishing to be considered for a roster spot can send their information to mavericksleague2021@gmail.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities, contact Mickey Walker in the Volcanoes office, by calling 503-779-3389 or emailing m.walker@volcanoes.com.

 

Cain named Commissioner of new independent baseball league

Salem-Keizer, Oregon

Long-time baseball executive Jack Cain has been named as commissioner of the Mavericks Independent Baseball League.

Cain has spent over four decades in baseball serving as Team Owner, Senior Advisor, General Manager and League President. 1981 marked Cain’s entry in baseball as owner of the Central Oregon Phillies and, prior to the season, renamed the team the Bend Phillies. The team became the Bend Bucks in 1987 and eventually the Bend Rockies in 1992 a name they held until the franchise moved and became the Portland Rockies in 1995.

Cain had phenomenal success in Portland drawing nearly a quarter-million fans in each of his first two seasons in the Rose City and set an all-time attendance record for Class A short season baseball. Success was not limited to the gate as his teams won the Northwest League Championship in 1997 and Division Championship in 1999.

Jack’s success in Portland was the catapult for Triple-A baseball’s return to Portland that ultimately led to ending Cain’s ownership tenure. The Triple-A Portland Beavers were quick to add Cain as their Senior Advisor and Special Assistant and he twice served as the interim General Manager for the Beavers. For his efforts, Jack was named Northwest League Executive of the Year on three different occasions and was elected as Northwest League President, a position he held from 1985-1990.

In addition, Cain won the prestigious Baseball America’s Bob Freitas Award in 1999 for operational excellence and Sporting News’ Executive of the Year honors in 1995.

In 2002, Jack and his wife, Mary, were honored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Portland Rose Festival for their exemplary dedication and commitment to children, family and community. Jack has always been an active part of the community, having served on the boards of Portland Youth for Christ, Salvation Army, Portland Rotary and on the Executive Board of the Old Timers Baseball Association of Portland.

Many area sports fans know him best for his work on the local gridirons, where he was a high school football official for over 30 years.

“I’ve known Jack since my entry into baseball back in 1989 and a finer gentleman would be hard to find. He has earned the respect of many in the game and his vast network of relationships he has built over the years will help jump start the Mavericks League,” said long-time Salem-Keizer Volcanoes team owner Jerry Walker. “We couldn’t be happier to have Jack as the first Mavericks League Commissioner.”

For information about the Mavericks League: https://www.milb.com/salem-keizer/news/volcanoes-announce-creation-of-new-independent-baseball-league 

Mavericks Independent Baseball League set to debut this May

 

Salem-Keizer, Oregon - 

There will be baseball this year at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer after all, thanks to the formation of the brand-new Mavericks Independent Baseball League.

The league, comprised of four non-affiliated teams, will take the place of the short-season Northwest League, which moved up to the High-A West designation for 2021, following the expiration of the long-standing agreement between Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball, which expired following the conclusion of the 2020 baseball season.

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes will spearhead the new league, which will also include the rebirth of the iconic independent franchise known as the Portland Mavericks, along with the reborn Salem Senators and the Campesinos de Salem-Keizer.

The Volcanoes, members of the short-A Northwest League from 1997 to 2020 as affiliates of the San Francisco Giants, won 7 division titles and 5 league championships. Of the 112 players who passed through Salem-Keizer on their way to the major leagues, were such familiar names as Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Crawford, Joe Nathan, Joe Panik, Sergio Romo and Ryan Vogelsong. The Volcanoes, helmed by Jerry, Lisa and Mickey Walker, were named America's best short-season A club in 2001, 2007's National Team of The Year and saw 2017's "Eclipse Game" as that season's best promotion. The Volcanoes held first place for four straight seasons, 2006 to 2009 and set league winning percentage records in 2006, then besting that mark in 2007. The July 4th, 2006 Patriotic Tribute game attracted the largest crown in Salem-Keizer sporting history, at 5,627.

The iconic Portland Mavericks played in the Northwest League from 1973 to 1977, playing for the league title each year from 1975 to 1977. The team, featured in the highly successful documentary "The Battered Bastards of Baseball," were owned by longtime Hollywood character actor Bing Russell. Among the players who donned the red uniforms of the Mavs, were Bing's son and Hollywood mega-star Kurt Russell, Reggie Thomas, player-manager Frank "The Flake" Peters, Dick Rusteck, Rob Nelson and former Yankee Jim Bouton, who returned to the big leagues after his stint in Portland. And batboy Todd Field went on to become a three-time Academy Award nominated writer and director.

The Salem Senators first took the field in 1940, playing in Waters Field and attracted a crowd of 4,865 to their very first game. The Sens, later rebranded as the Dodgers and then again as the Angels, played in Class A, Class B, the Northwest League and Western International League. Making the way into Salem were such names as Bobby Cox, Mike Piazza, Kirk McCaskill, Dante Bichette, Jack Howell, Ray Chadwick and Joe Maddon. Salem professional baseball was also played at Holland Youth Park and Chemeketa Community College.

Also joining the new Mavericks Independent League this season, will be the Campesinos de Salem-Keizer. The Campesinos, featured during 2019's "Copa de la Diversion" or "Fun Cup" initiative in minor league baseball. The name Campesinos pays tribute to the efforts of farm workers that helped establish the state of Oregon as one of the leading agricultural regions in the United States.

The Volcanoes, along with the other three teams, will call Volcanoes Stadium home for 2021, with each team playing a 48 game schedule, for a league total of 96 games. Single games will be played on Thursday and Friday evenings at 6:35pm, with classic day/night doubleheaders making a return Saturdays and Sundays at 1:05pm and 6:35pm. Regular season play is set to begin on May 13th.

For ticket packages, call the Volcanoes at 503-390-2225 or email mavericksleague2021@gmail.com. Those seeking business opportunities, such as advertising, or sponsorship of a team or player, can contact Mickey Walker at 503-779-3389 or email m.walker@volcanoes.com. Players who wish to be considered for a spot in the league, may inquire at mavericksleague2021@gmail.com.