Rickwood Bios for Select Returning Players
June 6, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
RONDAL ROLLIN â In 1987, Barons Most Valuable Player Rondal Rollin said goodbye to Birmingham and his many fans, but before leaving, he firmly planted his mark on the Barons franchise forever.
Rondal was the spark that ignited the Barons to the Southern League Championship in 1987. While his leadership was significant his statistics were even more impressive. Only one other player in all the Minor Leagues his as many home runs (39) as Rondal in '87. On August 21, 1987, Rondal hit his 36th HR of the season breaking the All-Time Barons season HR record set by Norm Zauchin in 1950. Rondal, who spent parts of four seasons in Birmingham, also became the Barons career runs batted in leader with 283. During the 1987 Southern League Playoffs, Rondal drove in 14 runs to help lead the Barons to the Championship.
While many other people might remember the season of '87 as Rickwood Field's last hurrah, others remember it as the year they said goodbye to a Barons Legend named Rondal Rollin.
ROY MAJTYKA â Roy was Birmingham's first manager of the 1980's and probably the most popular with both his players and Barons fans. He managed Birmingham for three seasons including the championship team of 1983. Under his '83 leadership, the Barons established seven Southern League records. For his efforts, Roy was named the SL Manager of the Year. After the 1984 season, he joined the Atlanta Braves organization where he served as a third base coach for the Atlanta Braves. He managed the Barons in 433 games and posted a 228-205 record.
SCOTTIE EARL â Scotty was one-half of the double-play combination at second base with shortstop Doug Baker that gave opponents fits throughout the championship season of '83. While Scotty's defense was often most talked about, it was his bat that was equally important to the success of the team. In 142 games, he pounded out 138 hits including 23 doubles, 10 triples, and 10 home runs while knocking in 61 runs. He also led the team in sacrifices with 18. His fine play led to a selection on the Southern League All-Star team and a place on the Detroit Tigers 40 man roster heading into the 1984 season. In 1983 he batted .257, with 138 hits, 10 HR, 90 R, and 61 RBI.
ART CLARKSON â Art Clarkson is a Los Angeles native where he played football at Los Angeles City College and Cal State Northridge, lettering all four years. In 1976, he turned his attention to minor league baseball. By 1978 Art was named General Manager of the Memphis Chicks Baseball Club. Despite several record setting attendance seasons in Memphis, Clarkson decided to make another move. In 1981, he brought baseball back to Birmingham and revived baseball at Rickwood Field. Under Art's guidance the Barons began to enjoy the popularity they had enjoyed in the 1940s and 1950s. In his years with the Barons the team won three championships in 1983, 1987 and 1989. Clarkson has earned numerous honors throughout his career in professional sports. He was named the Southern League Executive of the Year an unprecedented four times in 1979, 1982, 1983 and again in 1988. The Sporting news named him the AA Executive of the Year in 1982 nationally. In 1988, Clarkson received the McPhail Promotional Trophy an award that is presented to the person voted the nation's best promoter and marketer of minor league baseball.
DOUG BAKER â Doug joined the Birmingham Barons in 1982 straight out of Arizona State University after being selected by the Detroit Tigers in the June draft. Always known more for his glove than his bat, Doug's defense at shortstop was one of the main ingredients that helped the Barons win the 1983 Southern League Title. He led all S.L. shortstops in total chances with 747 in 1983 and was named to the S.L. All Star team in only his second year as a professional. Doug played several seasons for the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1988. In 1989, Doug batted .295 in 78 at bats for the Twins.
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Southern League Stories from June 6, 2003
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