Manager Memories

WHITECAPS MANAGERS LOOK BACK ON THEIR TIME IN WEST MICHIGAN

While West Michigan is commonly

manager - Phil Regan, Colborn had

memories already have been packed

used as a springboard up baseball’s

never been to the Grand Rapids area

into 25 seasons of West Michigan

ranks, even for managers, all five were

prior to being hired. Once the blisters

Whitecaps baseball.

all more than happy to take a look back

healed and he arrived in Grand Rapids,

at their time spent at Fifth Third Ballpark.

he was more than impressed with the

A seemingly infinite number of

Games

played,

player

names,

championships won. It has produced an

JIM COLBORN (1994-95)

passion instantly generated by the fans and the vision and generosity of the

endless array of stories and recollections,

The Whitecaps’ first-ever manager

especially from the managers tasked

figures the Oakland Athletics picked

with molding young men into major

the perfect person to lead the nascent

league prospects.

franchise in their inaugural season. Either

exceptionally well-organized, had a great

that or they just got lucky.

management team and did things you

Whether they were taking a break

front office.

“From the beginning they were

normally wouldn’t see,” Colborn said.

from roaming the fields down in Florida

“I think they decided to send me off

for spring training or simply moving

into the place they knew the least about,

from tee to tee on a golf course, we

which was the new franchise in West

managed to catch up with five men who

Michigan,” he said with a chuckle. “I

with the results of its new affiliate.

helped shaped the Whitecaps over the

don’t know, maybe I was the lamb being

During Colborn’s first-ever managerial

years - Jim Colborn, Bruce Fields, Matt

sent off to slaughter.”

experience, the Whitecaps qualified for

Walbeck, Tom Brookens and Andrew

“They really took care of our players.”

Oakland must have been pleased

the playoffs and set a Class A attendance

Graham - to see what they remembered

Despite marching in wooden shoes

record in their debut season. They would

from their time in West Michigan.

during a Tulip Time parade in Holland

repeat those two feats in his second, and

with his friend - and future Whitecaps

ultimately final year at the helm.

Jim Colborn

“From my point of view, it was a

Colborn said. “They were always trying

outfield, hold his own offensively and

marriage from the get-go,” Colborn

to make a great experience for these

knew how to play baseball. He was off

said. “The stuff they wanted to do and

young professional baseball players.”

and running with a utility man career. ”

same. It was wonderful right from the

BRUCE FIELDS (1997-2000)

beginning.

advance in their careers, including 1998

American League Rookie of the Year

in 1997, Bruce Fields was a little more

Ben Grieve. But it was a lesser known

familiar

player who may have inspired some of

Colborn. Fields had a friend who lived

Colborn’s best work.

in the area and was familiar with Grand

the stuff I wanted to do was exactly the

“I

made

some

missteps,

but

hopefully nobody knew about it.”

He also helped several players

Following the 1995 season, Oakland

When he was hired as manager with

West

Michigan

Rapids from his playing days in Detroit.

promoted Colborn to its High A team

in Modesto in the California League,

Whitecaps

where he managed for one season

available infielders when he noticed

after

before spending several years as a scout

a pickup truck in the parking lot with

as

and coach for the Seattle Mariners, Los

a California license plate that read

Jamestown Jammers of

Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates.

LUVS2TRN2. The vehicle belonged to

the New York-Penn

These days, he is enjoying his retirement

David Newhan, who had been converted

League. He also

by traveling, playing golf and “practicing

from an infielder to an outfielder while at

immediately

being good at doing nothing.”

Pepperdine University.

enjoyed

Still, he has fond memories of his

During

the were

1995

season,

running

short

the on

Colborn immediately started giving

time spent with the Whitecaps, whether

Newhan regular infield work, and he

it was hosting the 1995 Midwest League

eventually parlayed that into an eight-

All-Star Game or enjoying a ferry ride

year career in the majors with five teams.

across Lake Michigan for a road trip in Wisconsin.

“Absolutely not a prospect in any

way, shape or form,” Colborn said.

“That was

something

that

was

than

“But there was absolutely a role for

exemplary of the how the Whitecaps

him as a player who could

worked in connection with the team,”

play infield and

Bruce Fields

Fields

joined

spending the

the two

manager

of

Whitecaps seasons the

success as the Whitecaps went 92-

helping players realize their full potential.

39 and finished with the best winning

percentage in all of baseball before

losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Ross, who spent the 2000 season in West

Michigan on his way to a 12-year major

however, was the stipulation that it had

“By the time he comes around third,

coupons as a consolation prize.

he’s got that money spent,” Fields said.

One notable example was Cody

The celebration didn’t last much longer.

Unbeknownst to the Whitecaps, “It was horrible,” Fields said, still

They rebounded nicely in 1998,

league career that included a World

to be a player from the home team.

laughing at the memory. “You should

beating Rockford in four games to claim

Series ring with the 2010 San Francisco

So as Dubose was celebrating with his

have seen the look on Brian’s face. It was

the Midwest League championship.

Giants.

teammates in the visitor’s locker room, a

like someone had stolen his dog.”

member of the organization’s front office

“He surprised me with the career

approached Dubose, apologized and

was a team that wasn’t quite as good or

“That was huge,” Fields said. “That

he had,” Fields said. “I mean, he was a

handed him a giant stack of Wendy’s

well-rounded as the first team, but we

good player, don’t get me wrong, but

ended up getting the hits at the right

obviously he got better and better and

time, the pitching was a little better and

went on to have a good career. He was a

everything just came together.”

good kid, too.”

Following

another

postseason

Then there was Brian Dubose. The

appearance in 2000, Fields was named

first baseman may not have made it to

manager of Detroit’s AAA affiliate in

the majors, but he did provide Fields

Toledo, where he spent two seasons

with one of his favorite stories from his

before joining the Tigers as hitting

first season.

coach. He also spent several years as a hitting coach in the Cleveland Indians

The Whitecaps were playing in Kane

organization before returning to Detroit,

County, which was running a promotion

where he now holds the title of minor

tied to a giant baseball glove located

league hitting coordinator.

beyond the wall in right-center field. Any player who hit the bullseye in the center

Fields still fondly recalls his time in

of the glove would win $100,000. Or so

Grand Rapids, whether it was enjoying

the thinking went. As luck would have it,

meals at Vitale’s in Comstock Park or

Dubose crushed a ball that was right on target.

Bruce Fields

MATT WALBECK (2004-06)

As it turned out, the Whitecaps

of Rancho Cordova, Calif., where he

The trajectory of Matt Walbeck’s

were fortunate to have him too. In his

enjoys spending time with his family and

managerial career began on the last day

first year at the helm, the Whitecaps

helping young players develop a passion

of the 2003 major league season. That

finished in fifth place in the first-half

for the game.

was the year the Detroit Tigers went 43-

standings, only to close the year on a

119 and came within one loss of tying

24-6 run and win the Midwest League

the 1962 New York Mets for the most in

title. Walbeck and West Michigan won

it,” Walbeck said. “I have a lot of friends

modern baseball history. Walbeck had

another championship in 2006 led by

who are still in the game, but I’m not

appeared in 59 games that season when

future major leaguers Cameron Maybin,

bitter or anything. I just love baseball

he was called to meet with manager

Matt Joyce and Will Rhymes.

and I’ve been lucky to be able to say I’ve

Alan Trammell and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

“I don’t miss the professional side of

done what I love since I was a little kid.”

“We had so many good players

come through the system. The Tigers’

“They were telling me how much

farm system at that time was just loaded

they appreciated what I brought to the

with talent,” Walbeck said. “They gave

Tigers as a player, but there wasn’t going

me so much freedom. It was just a real

to be a spot for me on their team next

good, wholesome feeling, one that I

year,” Walbeck recalled. “But they did

never really experienced again as a

say they would love to have me stay in

coach in the minor leagues.”

the organization and manage.”

Walbeck was promoted to the Tigers’

“I told my wife, ‘I think I’m going to

AA affiliate in Erie in 2007 and promptly

take it because if I can’t play for one of

won the Eastern League Manager of the

the worst teams in the history of major

Year Award. He then spent a year as the

league baseball, it’s probably time to

third base coach for the Texas Rangers

make a change and move on to the

before returning to the Eastern League

next part of my career in baseball.’ I

as the manager of the Altoona Curve.

was fortunate to get the job with West Michigan.”

These days, he runs the Walbeck

Baseball Academy in his hometown

Matt Walbeck

TOM BROOKENS (2007)

mark. Highlighted by eight Midwest

2013. Now, he spends his days golfing,

ANDREW GRAHAM (2014-16)

League All-Stars, the Whitecaps beat

fishing and playing with his grandson in

Beloit in five games to claim back-to-

his native Pennsylvania.

familiar with West Michigan when he

Prior to being named the seventh

manager

in

franchise

history,

Tom

Brookens actually spent a month during

back league titles.

Andrew Graham was already quite

was named manager of the Whitecaps.

“It keeps me busy. I never seem to

In 2004, he had won a championship

West Michigan (and not just at one of

“We had a great team that year, there

be at a loss to find something to do,”

playing for Walbeck as a young catching

their favorite mutual places, Boulder

was no doubt about it,” Brookens said.

he said. “I look back on it and think

prospect.

Creek Golf Club).

“I even think the Tigers organization

what a great ride. In all my baseball

could have taken guys from us during

experiences, that year I spent in Grand

the summer and moved them up, but

Rapids ranks right there as one of my

season in West Michigan before moving

they didn’t because we were winning.”

most fun summers in all of baseball.”

the 2006 season helping Walbeck in

Brookens

had

returned

to

professional baseball in 2005 and spent

He also spent part of the 2005

two seasons managing the Oneonta Tigers in the New York-Penn League

before replacing Walbeck.

leaguers

That team included future major Brennan

Boesch,

Gorkys

Hernandez and Scott Sizemore, but “I jumped at that chance because

Brookens said the Whitecaps couldn’t

it was a reason to get out of extended

have won it all without key contributions

spring training and be around the

from lesser-known prospects such as

team and have some fun,” Brookens

Diek Scram.

said. “The Whitecaps have always had a great reputation. Even speaking

with the young ballplayers at the time,

wouldn’t get projected to get to the big

“He was a player that maybe

everybody wants to move up the ladder,

leagues, but this kid came and played

but whenever they found out that they

every day and became such a big part of

were moving to Grand Rapids most of

our success,” Brookens said.

them were pretty happy.”

Brookens ultimately only spent one

Following that season, Brookens was

promoted to Erie, where he spent two

season in West Michigan, but that was

seasons before serving as the Tigers’

more than enough time to make his

first base coach until retiring in Pitching coach Ray Burris, Manager Tom Brookens, Hitting Coach Benny Distefano

his way up through the minors. While

day and actually get away from the field

rehabbing from Tommy John surgery

was great,” Graham said.

day we traded him (to Tampa Bay), he

special in their own right,” Fields said. “It

came into the office and broke down in

was a good time and I got treated well

in 2008, though, he spent some time The

Whitecaps

were

able

“He always called me his dad. The

“All four years I was there were

working with other catchers in Lakeland

to

tears because he was excited but also

by the West Michigan folks. Everybody

and it left an impression with the Tigers’

generate results on the field as well,

scared that he was leaving the only little

treated me well.”

brass. After playing for Australia in the

and in Graham’s second season they

family he knew in America,” Graham

2009 World Baseball Classic, Graham

defeated Cedar Rapids in five games to

said. “But he’s going to turn out to be an

arrived at spring training to learn that his

claim their sixth championship in 2015.

amazing big league player.”

said. “I was glad I was there.”

now was going to be honed as the minor

FOND RECOLLECTIONS

league catching coordinator.

wanted to win,” Graham said. “I actually

The future is largely unwritten for

made the comment to somebody,

Lance Parrish as the 13th manager in

talent for working with younger players

“You could just tell that these guys

“They saw there wasn’t room for me

‘We’re going to win this thing.’ The team

franchise history, but it’s a safe bet that

at the higher levels, but they asked me if

came together so well. Obviously, we

his tenure will include two milestones:

I wanted to become a player-coach,” he

had some pieces from the draft, but the

some measure of on-field success and

said. “Then next year they told me I was

guys wanted it and every day I saw them

a lasting admiration for the Whitecaps

going to be a manager. … I’ve basically

want it.”

organization and greater West Michigan

done it all expect pitching coach.”

community.

He

joined

a

three-year

the

Whitecaps

After three seasons, Graham was

after

promoted to Lakeland for the 2017

with

season and will serve as the manager for

to find a former manager who would say

Erie in 2018.

otherwise.

an opportunity to explore the West

Michigan area a little more thoroughly

manager – he turned 36 on April 22 –

you wanted to go to West Michigan,”

than he did as a player, including trips

Graham already is enjoying positive

Graham said. “It’s great to play at a nice

to the lakeshore for wine tasting with his

feedback from players he helped along

ballpark and in a great city where the

wife.

the way, including former Whitecaps

support is amazing. They made you feel

shortstop Willy Adames, who had a little

at home.”

managerial

stint

“They were special days,” Colborn

Connecticut. Not only did the promotion

After all, you would be hard-pressed

advance his career, but it also gave him

“Having places within an hour drive

where you can enjoy yourself on an off

Despite still being a relatively young

trouble initially adjusting to life away from his native Dominican Republic.

“As a player you always heard

Andrew Graham