Fred Becker Sr. (Fan) 

    Hands-down, the most loyal and consistent fan of the late 80’s and 90’s, “Mr. Becker” was always at the fields cheering on his beloved Wolverines. He could be heard at all ends of the park yelling, “Ok Wolverines, three-up…..” and the team would yell “three-down” to start each inning. He was a positive influence on the league and generally made his appearance riding his Harley. He often brought additional family
members to the games to cheer on his son, Fred Jr., and his teammates. Mr. Becker is an icon for the adult league and will be remembered fondly.


Jim Brown – L&M Motors

     “Big” Jim Brown was a force as a dominant 1^st baseman for L&M Motors, standing well over 6’5” and the size of a small mountain. Ironically, his demeanor on and off the field was exceptional, being one of the nicest and well-composed players and representatives for the league. It should be documented that Jim was a player, coach, league official and one of the leaders for the Anchorage Adult Baseball League. He was the prefect example of an ambassador, connecting with players, sponsors and league all over the state. He was always being recruited by traveling teams from Anchorage and Fairbanks. His smooth defense and 450 foot shot homeruns mark an excellent career. His L&M Motors teams won a few championships and were always competitive, especially with Jim batting in the 4^th spot.

 
Bill Carson (#86) – Alaska Wolverines
    
    Bill was an elite and complete 5-tool athlete. His career in Alaska included memorable game-winning pitching and hitting performances. Bill played 10 years with the Wolverines (1987-1996) before moving to the Middle East as a sports consultant.

 Bill’s unique hitting style may have distinguished him from others, in that, he separated his hands on the bat by 8-10 inches and had a wide-open stance.  Although this was unusual but successful, his 90+ mph fastball was quite impressive and at times un-hittable. He was also the knuckleball artist of the league.

 Bill was a dominant player in the league from 1990-1995, leading the league in many categories including homeruns and league batting average. His No-Hitter, 5-0 win in 1994 to launch the Wolverines into the championship game was noteworthy. He was also one of the more popular players in the history of the league, a gentleman on and off the field of play.

 Noteworthy performance: 6-6, 2 homeruns, 11 rbi in 15-9 win, 1994.

 
Willie Edwards (#18) - Video City Studs
 
    Arguably the best all-around player to ever play in the Adult Baseball League. His talents were impressive as a hitter, pitcher and leader in the league. Willie was a dominant hitter in Alaska, which was anticipated after being drafted in the early 90’s out of high school. He was an electrifying player, often the one with game-winning hits, closing out games on the mound and spectacular defense in the outfield. Willie also won over fans, teammates and opposing teams with his brilliant personality, fierce on the field, but a true gentleman outside the diamond. Willie was involved with several State, City and League Championships, in particular with the Video City Stud dynasty and on to the Phillies and Wolfpack. Memorable game-winning hit: Game winning, walk-off homerun in Mulcahy to secure the City Championship over the Wolverines. Willie was also selected for many teams which competed in national tournaments.

 
Bryan Keese (#2) - Alaska Wolverines

    Bryan was the Alaska Wolverines founder, outfielder and manager for over a decade. Known for his stellar defense in the outfield, he was also an exceptional league and team leader. Bryan was responsible for bringing a fun-loving, hard–playing attitude to the Anchorage adult league. Bryan also earned a reputation for being an awesome field groomer, arriving hours before the game to prep the fields for no other reason then he enjoyed the process. Bryan also had his teams take batting practice before games which translated to success on the field. Bran led his Wolverine’s to several league and state championships. Although the Wolverine’s are now dissolved, the boys still have a common link which always leads back to #2.

 
Wayne Lindsley (Umpire)

     Wayne was the most level-headed, well-composed umpires in Alaska baseball history. The adults had the benefit of having him full-time and completely committed to the season. Wayne was a seasoned umpire, with over 30 years of experience. He rarely ejected players, instead simplifying the situation and allowing the player to work out issues maturely. He was also known as a “work-horse” basically working every evening of the season with very few nights off throughout the summers. Wayne recently retired in Texas, but naturally, he took his umpiring equipment and experience with him. He officiated more games than any other in Adult baseball history.

Pete Mandell

      Pete was a very feisty player, mostly at the “Hot Corner” playing error-free defense and frustrating pitchers with his excellent hitting. Mandell was a classic doubles hitter, finding gaps in the outfield routinely. Although not fast on the base-paths, his base-running skills were superior. Pete was known for being extremely fundamental and had great game-savvy. The skills Pete demonstrated could easily be developed into a manual for young players to learn from. With teammate Jim Brown batting behind him, the two of them dominated games with the 3-4 punch. Pete was also a vocal leader, helping to develop the rules and regulations for the new 1995 league as a Board of Director member. He was always involved with a controlled and patient presence. His contribution to adult baseball in Anchorage will always be appreciated.

 
John McCleary (General Manager)

     John was very involved with the league from the inception in the late 70’s through the early 90’s. He was not only instrumental with league development at the early stages but also used his position at the Municipality to have Mulcahy Stadium and the Kosinski Park completed and maintained. After the MOA lost the contract for the adult league in the early 90’s, he still was very involved with permitting, always connected because of his passion for the game. John continues to be a loyal fan and positive enthusiast. Historically, John is considered a founding father for the adult league.

 
Rob Morris - Alaska Cubs

    Rob Morris was a huge leader with the league for years, creating the very competitive Diamondbacks and volunteering as a league official for over a decade. He was also known for his pitching; in the top five all-time in innings pitched and wins. He was also instrumental while developing the AABL and launching the league it’s new era. Rob participated with the league for nearly 20 years.



Mark Schmeling (Player)

    One of the fastest players to play in the league, Mark was notorious for getting on base, stealing bases and scoring runs. His Crossroads Brew Crew teams won several City Championships throughout his career and their signature trademark revolved around excellent pitching and Mark leading off every game! He also was a well-respected gentleman on and off the field, succeeding in befriending everyone including the umpires. Mark was a switch-hitter for much of his career, later exclusively hitting left-handed. It should be noted that he was a stellar defensive outfielder, robbing many a hitter of that extra base hit or making the spectacular play! Awesome player to watch!

 
Dave Strike (Umpire)

    Dave was a seasoned veteran umpire, known for his well-groomed uniform, professionalism and year of devotion to the game. He was a highly skilled umpire, dedicating his career to training and learning the mastery of officiating baseball. He umpired at every level, all the way to the professional caliber. Dave also managed teams throughout the 80’s, winning several championships. He has continually supported the adult baseball programs and should be placed on a pedestal for his loyalty and positive impact. Dave was also very involved with local training and discipline, having great knowledge of the game and for the rules. The Major League rules adoption for adult league was mainly due to Dave’s earnest desire to take the Anchorage game to a new level.

Dick Taylor (Umpire)

     Dick, although smaller than most in stature, was a dominant and well-respected umpire for 2 decades in the adult league. Taylor had great control of baseball games, highlighted with his enormous “punch-out” call after strike three. He was a character as well, enjoying the ball players immensely and he love calling a game. He also traveled many miles from the valley to call games, but never complained. Dick passed away a few years ago, but his memory lives on with the Hall of Fame and in his honor, the pre-season tournament is respectfully named, The Dick Taylor Pre-Season Kick-Off. 

  

Trent Taylor - Video City Studs

Trent, the heart and soul or the Video City Studs dynasty in the mid 90’s, was also a spectacular player. Trent was a solid coach, fantastic manager and coordinator, a feisty catcher and a way-above average hitter. His greatest asset was building relationships with great players and he had vision beyond the basic baseball team. Many times his Studs traveled south to play against the big boys. His teams also won a handful of championships, City, League and State. Trent embraced the winning attitude of a champion and his teams represented this well. As a player, he calmly would get 4 hits, knock in a couple runs and throw out a few runners, quietly and with relative ease. He also handled his very strong pitching staff with veteran flash, always with great control. His desire to place a great team on the field has led to several additional teams raising the bar since; taking notes form Mr. Taylor’s style.

  
Mike Webster - Alaska 49ers 

Mike Webster was a tremendous player, manager, sponsor and league representative for 25+ years in Anchorage. Mike player for the 49ers club during the late 80’s, an elite squad which routinely beat semi-pro teams. He created a competitive team the 90’s, often changing sponsor names, but continuing with a great core of players. He wasknownas a winning pitcher with a diverse array of pitches, arm-angles and speeds. Hiscompetitive nature was obvious as a player and manager, a strategist and hard-nosed athlete. His involvement with the league was unparalleled, always willing to help. It should be noted that Mike was also a scrappy hitter, often working the count and getting on base with a solid base hit. Mike has also contributed as an umpire in recent years.



Michel Woods (#44) - Alaska Wolverines, Statewide Cyclones, Wolfpack, Team Fuze

    Michel Woods was a stand-out catcher for 15+ years in the league. He also hit 107 careers homeruns and was especially proud of his RBI totals and consistent batting average (career .425). However, Michel’s greatest accomplishment was to reconstruct the Adult League in 1995 as the new General Manager, leading the league to new heights and celebrations, instituting statistics and leading the charge with technology and innovations. Michel is still the Executive Director for the AABL.

    #44’s baseball career started very early at age 7 in Arizona. He played through high school in Palmer then an enjoyable career with Eastern Oregon University. Favorite college highlight was a game-ending grand slam against Utah State. He also played for the Mat-Su Miners in 1986 & 1987. After college, moving to Anchorage, he met Bryan Keese and joined the Wolverines. In his first year, the Wolverines won the league title, placing 2^nd in the City Championship. Michel also created the Cyclones on 1999, was part of 6 state championships, 8 league titles and 3 City Championships over-all.

    Favorite AABL Moment: 3-4, 2 run homerun, 3 rbi in a 3-1 State Championship victory over the Video City Studs in Mulcahy Stadium in 1996. Also a fond memory was hitting a homerun onto the road behind K1, over the parking lot, about 490 feet away in 2004.

    Woods also played for the Elmendorf Eagles at a national tournament in 2002. The team placed 2^nd in the nation.