ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF THE GOLDPANNERS ALUMNI
On June 21, 2008, with the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks hosting the California Running Birds in the 103rd Midnight Sun Game, the new Alaska Goldpanners Alumni association (AKGPA) will officially launch operations. At midnight on the summer solstice, the AKGPA will be officially inaugurating their initial class of members, with Field Division member #1 Bill Lee (66-67) on hand for the festivities.
BILL LEE TO ANCHOR FESTIVITIES
And not only will Bill be receiving his Honorary Membership Certificate at the pitcher's mound at Midnight... he will also be starting the game! This marks the dramatic return for Bill, who last played for the 'Panners in 1967 -- when he started the 62nd Midnight Sun Game against Kumugai-Guma, then the reigning national champions of Japanese baseball. Seven unearned runs by the Goldpanners led to a defeat for Bill -- one he intends to avenge in 2008!
Bill Lee followed his initial stint as a member of the 66-67 Goldpanners with a very successful major league pitching career, during which he had a number of highlights. Among the distinguishing marks of his MLB career was his being voted to the 1973 All-Star team, and winning 17 games each year from 1973-1975. In addition, Bill was the starting pitcher in the second and seventh games of the 1975 World Series - considered by many to be the best title series ever.
Bill has never stopped pitching competatively since the end of his major league career. His stated goal has long been to overtake Satchel Paige on the all-time organized baseball pitching wins list, and he appears to be within one hundred wins of this achievement! On February 25, 2008 the Red Sox organization announced that Bill will be inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame on November 7, 2008.
For more information on Bill's life visit Wikipedia.org, and for his Goldpanners career visit Goldpanners.com.
OTHER AKGPA MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
Also in attendance for this year's Midnight Sun Game will be AKGPA Field Division members #4 Al Coutts (63), and #5 Don Sneddon (80). Al was an infielder on the NBC third place finishing 1963 club, and will be on hand to throw out the "Ceremonial Alumni Pitch at Midnight" -- which will mark the official inauguration of the AKGPA's charter membership class. Don was a coach with the NBC national champion 1980 club, and is the head coach of the visiting Running Birds.
ABOUT THE AKGPA
The AKGPA is an association - in conjunction with the "Sons & Daughters of the Midnight Sun" - consisting of Goldpanner players, coaches, personnel, and fans -- all of whom regard the experience of summer baseball in Fairbanks, Alaska as one of the highlights of their lives, and regard the Goldpanners as sitting atop a pinnacle of the sporting world. Recently, the Sporting News declared that, during the summer solstice, this event makes Fairbanks the baseball capitol of the world. Accordingly, it will be during the 2008 Midnight Sun Baseball Classic that the AKGPA will be officially launched, and its charter class inaugurated. Eventually invitations to join will be sent to all former players, coaches, trainers, staff, and known Goldpanners fans.
It is widely felt that the century-old experience and atmosphere of the game of baseball in the Tanana Valley forever changes all who truly experience it -- whether one is a player, coach, or one of the lucky witnesses to the spectacle. Accordingly, with each passing season, a greater fraternity builds, joined by all who are able to appreciate the special memories which come from Alaska Goldpanners baseball in Fairbanks.
This abiding "Spirit of the Interior" has perhaps been best manifested in Bob Boone's official request of Major League Baseball (in 1973) to allow all Goldpanners to wear a "star 49" pin on the sides of their major league caps. Though the cap request was ultimately turned down by the commissioner's office, this enduring fondness for Fairbanks and the Goldpanners experience still remained to be worn on the sleeves of Bob and countless other veterans.
BENEFITS - WHAT YOU GET FOR $250
- Membership Card with Lifetime Pass to the Midnight Sun Game - When you join as a life member of the Alumni Association, you will receive a free laminated membership card to the "Sons & Daughters of the Midnight Sun" with your unique membership number. Included on this card are the likenesses and signatures of both "Father of the Midnight Sun Game" Eddie Stroecker and his son William G. Stroecker, longtime and current President of the Goldpanners Board of Directors.
- Membership Certificate with Vintage Player/Season Pictures Suitable for Framing - If you would like to have a particular vintage or current photo of you in a Goldpanners uniform (or at work at the ballpark), please provide what picture(s) you would like for use.
- One Silver Anniversary Coin - A one troy ounce pure silver commemorative coin, minted in 2006 in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Midnight Sun Baseball Game. Once these supplies are depleted, a new special alumni one ounce troy silver coin will be minted.
- One Official Team "Star 49" New Era Hat (FIELD) - New Era has been the Goldpanners' hat supplier since our very first season in 1960. The "Star 49" design has been the team's signature since the very beginning, and every one of the 1,165 Goldpanner players and coaches have worn it. In recent years, Ebbet's Flannels has offered a replica of the hat, but at a lower quality sewn version, instead of the official embroidered master. Also, the Goldpanners Souvenir Booth started stocking ProLine caps instead of the official New Era versions worn by the team, so these top quality hats are not available for sale publicly anywhere. In addition to receiving a complimentary Official New Era "Star 49" hat with membership, members will be able to purchase additional hats for $25.00 + shipping. Proline caps (FAN).
- One Goldpanner Yearbook and Statistical Record - The 2008 season yearbook is set to be the finest offering since the Allan Simpson (Baseball America founder and editor) edition of 1974. Lifting the page output from 32 to 49 pages, room is being made to rank the all-time top 49 Goldpanners, as well as the top performers at every position during the team's 49 year history. In addition, a 12-card bonus baseball card set is being printed for inclusion in the book. This is a "must own" yearbook for all Goldpanners alumni and fans.
- One FIELD DIVISION member selected each year for free trip to Midnight Sun Game for "Ceremonial Pitch at Midnight" - One of the highlights of each year's solstice event is the appearance of Goldpanners from previous seasons. At the 2007 midnight game alone, alums Sean Timmons (94-98-99-00-01-02-03-04-05-06-07) and Jerry McClain (67-68) were on hand for the festivities, as were 2008 rostered alums Tim Gloyd (78-07) and Matt Vogel (05-07). (Full directory of returness available at PannerAlumni.com) One of the key responsibilities for the AKGPA management will be the invitation to participate in current season festivities. A database of alum returnees is under construction for the Premium section.
- Invitation to Special Events and Annual Winter Panner Party - Each year, the AKGPA plans to host two to three "core events," such as a the Midnight Sun Game pre-game party on June 20 or 21st, the "Stroecker Day" double-header "'Tween Party" and Golden Days Parade, as well as a mid-winter dinner and tournament in "the lower 48." In 2009, San Diego will be the host site for this event.
- Email notification of special events - As special and regional events are added to the schedule, they will be added to PannerAlumni.com, and will be mailed to members at their shared email address.
- Unique Password to PannerAlumni.com Secure Sections - The official AKGPA website is PannerAlumni.com. Premium content is in development on the alumni website. This includes a member directory with current contact information, which is protected from public display. Also, message boards and picture galleries are in the works with both public and premium (private) content.
- Free @panneralumni.com or @goldpanners.com email account - If so desired, email accounts with these endings are available. They would be set up as "forwarders," so that all mail sent to this address would be automatically routed to your current email address.
There are two divisions - the FIELD and the FAN - in the AKGPA. At this time, the AKGPA charter class consists of the following FIELD DIVISION members :
- Bill "Spaceman" Lee (66-67) - MLB All-Star Pitcher ; Member, Red Sox Hall of Fame ; 1988 Presidential Candidate, Rhinoceros Party ticket.
- Bruce Robinson (72-73-74-75) - First Round Draft Pick, 1975 ; MLB catcher with Oakland and New York (AL) ; Inventor of Catchers' Gear Mods.
- Jerry McClain (67-68) - Head Coach at Santa Clara University ; Manager of the Valley Green Giants, North Pole Nicks and Anchorage Bucs.
- Al Coutts (63) - First Team NCAA All-American ; Played in LA Angels System ; Member of Orange County Sheriff's Department for 32 years.
- Don Sneddon (80) - All-Southern California Player at Cerritos ; All American at CS-Fullerton ; All-time Winningest Coach in California CC History
- George Horton (81-83) - Head Coach at CS-Fullerton, 2004 College World Series Championship ; Now Rebuilding University of Oregon's Baseball Program After 26 Year Span as a Club Sport.
In addition to these, there are a number of members of the FAN DIVISION who are likewise set to be entered into the rolls at the 2008 inauguration. In order to join this charter class of members, you must join prior to June 21st. After the elevation of the 2008 class, the AKGPA will begin organizing the 2009 membership class.
Please make plans to join us for this event, as it is sure to be one never to be forgotten. Each year hereafter, the AKGPA will fly a member to Fairbanks to provide the "Ceremonial Alumni Pitch at Midight" for this special event.
For more information on the goals, programs, and benefits of membership, please browse around these pages:
A complete list of all members, along with contact information, is available at PannerAlumni.com.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your webmaster, AKGPA Director Todd Dennis (81-present) at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
"Once a Panner, ALWAYS a Panner!"
April 11, 2008
