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Golden Baseball League Suspends Nigel Thatch

May 24, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL) News Release


(Pleasanton, CA. May 24, 2006) The Golden Baseball League announced today that RHP Nigel Thatch of the Fullerton Flyers has been placed on the Suspended List for failure to report to Spring Training. Thatch, better known as the actor who played "Leon" in Budweiser commercials, was traded to Fullerton from the Schaumburg Flyers of the Northern League last month for a pallet, or 60 cases, of Budweiser beer.

"We have had many conversations with Nigel and his agent and hope that they end this holdout soon," said Ed Hart, General Manager of the Fullerton Flyers. "The Leon Watch is now entering Day 3 and we only have another nine days until the season starts. He's really jeopardizing his chances of making this ball club."

There are currently 28 players in the Flyers Spring Training camp, of which 22 will make the Opening Day roster. Thatch was 0-3 with a 10.22 ERA in seven games last season with the Schaumburg Flyers, and retains his rookie status because of limited playing time. The Fullerton Flyers have offered him the standard rookie contract of $700 per month. The Flyers retain his playing rights through the 2006 season and his placement on the GBL Suspended List is notification to major league baseball and other minor league teams that he is not available to be signed unless a trade is agreed by Fullerton.

In addition, the league may seek to void the trade and request that Schaumburg return the beer.

"It is a shame that we've had to suspend Thatch," said GBL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt. "We feel the contract is a fair offer and we are treating him as we would any other player in this situation."

The Fullerton Flyers open their 2006 season the road in Chico, California as they take on the Outlaws on Friday June 2nd, where league co-owner Pat Sajak will be throwing out the first pitch.

About the Golden Baseball League

The Golden Baseball League, Presented by Safeway Inc./VONS, is a professional baseball league operating under a single-entity ownership model, with the League owning all the individual teams. Golden Baseball League teams include the Chico Outlaws in Chico; CA, the Fullerton Flyers in Fullerton; CA, the Long Beach Armada in Long Beach; CA, the San Diego Surf Dawgs in San Diego; CA, the Yuma Scorpions in Yuma; AZ, and the Reno Silver Sox in Reno; NV. The season consists of 80 games per team, begins the first of June and ends in early September. Each team will have a 23-player roster. Major League organizations have signed 28 players off the 2005 Golden Baseball League rosters.

For general information, please visit our League web site at www.goldenbaseball.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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