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Jim Ridley Teacher tutors future Jays in summer If any young Canadians crack the Toronto Blue Jays lineup in the next few they 11 have a local school teacher to thank for some of their earliest lessons In pro ball school physical education lencher since and Erin resident Jim Ridley spent a hectic summer tutoring some of the Blue Jay stars of the future including some hot Canadian prospects at Medlunc Hat In the Pioneer League I just loved it It was good to put on a uniform again and give a young kid a sign to steal or argue with an urn pire the former minor pro player said In a recent inter One might think from his initial comments and the broad smile ht wears recall his recent stay on tht Prairies that life in the oldest minor pro ball league is just one bij bowl full of cherries Nothing could be further from the truth The young players and their two men tors faced contests in just days There many double headers cither except when two games in a day were forced by rainouts And most of the old base ball legends about low wages old hotels long bus rides on buses held together by band aids greasy spoon and pitiful playing fields in the lowest of the low circuits are at least partially rue even today There sure is a lot of travel Thirty five days on the road Thirty at home The longest bus ride lasted 13 hours because he bus broke down remem Pay Well it really much better than when was playing minor pro back in the 60s They gel between ind month or a day for The earn pays for he hotels Overall the pay is about the same as I got when I started in pro ball but he dollar doesn go as far today But then a lot of these players got good signing bonuses Ridley said Money is a bit of a problem for a lot of the players KpccLi the youngsters from Latin America and the Carribcan At the end of the reason I up going to the bank with couple of the kids One had saved The other barely a dime You just knew most of his had already been sent home remembered He explained hev are suddenly exposed to the considerably higher dian and American standards of living at a very young age He says he knows there are leagues where the travelling is worse but t know a rookie league which is filled with players who are just teenagers where it more brutal It s tough riding on a bus all the time and playing so much too The park in Medicine Hat is one of the finest minor league facilities Ridley ever been in but the one in Quite Montana another slop in the eight city loop is another story It pathetic The countryside is lovely but the park is terrible There s a crown in the outfield You run up and down hill after flys all day Ridley said in a tone that sounded like he still doesn quite believe it Most of the hotels are fine but the one in a lot like the own ball diamond You re always worrying whether the beams will collapse The find just living from day to day on their paltry wages is tough Jim there t a lot spare time either so stops In fast food outlets and greasy spoons are frequent I saw a lot of McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken this summer I haven been to either since I got back he laughed An outfield and hitting specialist Ridley coached from both first and third base as well as just shouting instructions to his and manager John McLaren young charges The pair didn get too lonely though since Blue Joy brass was around frequently eyeing the talent and helping out with instructions Even Jay hitting teacher Bobby dropped around Ridley said he met scouts from all of baseball major league earns during he past summer He ex plained he scouts are s looking at the young players in the event hey II be offered in future They also keep a close watch on how the big draft picks are doing Ridley started with Jays a couple seasons back working as a Canadian scout before becoming a minor league coach His baseball background dates back to the 60s when he signed with Milwaukee Braves and played several seasons in their chain before being hurt in 1965 Later after the injury healed Braves who are now based in Atlanta tried to convert Ridley from a hitting out fielder into a pitcher Ridley eventually wound up in the old outlaw Quebec baseball loop which turned out to be where the best base ball he was ever exposed to as a pro was played The league would have been rated Triple A if baseball establish ment had recognized the loop Altogether Ridley played over eight seasons of minor pro ball When he started seven learns tried to sign him and the final bidding came down to tow and Detroit Tigers While Detroit scout Bobby Prenlice lost out in Ihc bidding that lime he didn t forget the young prospect and in finally signed Ridley his time as a Canadian scout for he Tigers When Prentice moved to the Jays in so did Ridley Ridley reports the Hat boasted some ex talent including few fine homebrews One is a Toronto Bobby who started off rocky but finished super posting a 1 record Ridlev said Another who pressed him is Paul Hodgson from New Brunswick lies the brightest light tunalely Hodgson didn get a really good assessment since he was hurt much of the summer Mike Lcssird of Windsor is another Canadian of the future All he did w is per form brilliantly in lie field all summer and hit over for the month of July Ridley reported added he Canadian just kept even after being hurt prospect Gary Frank who had problems with his curve and control but is big and has a real live arm could be gunning for a major league job in a couple of years Ridley predicts Another good Canadian is first sacker Petra chuck who got 50 hits and drove In runs during the summer Bey the good dians Ridley also saw some fine talent on he Medicine Hit Jays among the Amen cans and Latin players In Ridley s estimation he biggest weakness his players had was their youth Its difficult for the players especially when they are that to play every day They gel tired tor many of them it their first lime away from home They have trouble getting used to baseball life Ridley ex pi lined He here arc nine or 10 hopes for the future on the team but for now he rest to be minor league lifers Ik McLaren wrote extensive reports on not just heir but every saw in he rookie league for Jus and these reports will effect future and placement of m Medicine Hal players next scar I recom or f i f our players for Double next and several more for I don expect any will make it to Triple next but some might make it there soon I saw a few who will make the Toronto team someday Ridley got work with two highly touted Jay draft choices both from the Stales Lloyd and Brian Milncr and feels their future credentials are genuine Milner is one of the finest young men I ve ever met He Just a dream to teach Ridley said of he youngster who stayed with ihe major league team for a few weeks and was an ins ant success collecting several key hits Another pair he expects big things of ore Hick Morgan and former Young winner Mike Cuellars son Mike Cuellar Jr Young deaf and dumb Allan Montgomery is also in Ridley thoughts A lot of these kids have he lools but they lack body strength But they are just 18 so Ihey 11 get the he predicted Medicine Hat like the rest of he western is a greal baseball town with knowledgeable fans Ridley team which wai the youngest in he loop finished lied for sixth place out of eight en tries and also have learns There are four other outfits based in Montana and one in The Joys had wins and A losses The fans would have liked more wins but we ire in the business of develop ment Winning is secondary owners though were fantastic They never com plained about our record noted adding the best earn in the circuit belonged lo Cincinnati Reds and was lull of college player Our record was good considering the of the players their size par the Our shortstop was 10 and 113 pounds If I turned sideways you see We were always trying get the kid lo drink milk ikes so Iheyd put on we he chuckling It was frustrating losing so many games and on he road so much wnsn t easy but Ridley loved it Baseball is heaven One thing which surprised him the cood feeling he cot from the lines He recalled people around here kepi ellmi him it would be desolate and lonely out west but he didn I md that way enjoyed the weather Hot very hot but not humid like it is in Ontario interesting point he found was he losl weight tin sime as lit did back when he pi baiters in he majors who still don remember stay compact and drive into the pitch every lirriL Would he coach in a rookie league again In a minute I know baseball I understand baseball I love baseball he con The Acton Free Press Wednesday Nov 8 B5 Denture Therapy Clinic 8781100 Street CALL YOUR MATTHIESSEN Drive Oakuille Mort Sat till WIN150 HURRY CONTEST CLOSES NOV 17th HOW TO ENTER GRAND JACKPOT BINGO must go EARLY BIRD GAMES WO GAMES SPECIAL I 1N0 SPECIAL FREEZE OUT This Format Will NOT Be Changed Every Tuesday Monday Nights at pm DoorOpen6pm Barty Bird 340 Road at the Hanlon Expressway For Free Bus Tranqnt Co Acton 8633887 Orangovllle Sponsored by Monday Buy Club is a lot of money today or save it at the of Montreal where it cm double to TEN WINNERS You could he one of ten kicky customers who will cash Take the money now orleiveittodouble to ONE riLUNDRED UKK SAVINGS WINNERS One hundred lucky customers will win 1 000 in cash A nice savings starter that can grow to double the money You know how time flies when you re having fun saving to pi I lv is 1 I CI PI 111 WINNERS IN ALL Si tin The First Canadian Bank Bank of Montreal You re telling renli iti in a nil kit I en in vill kids II IK time on little skills puked up i kul in the me to le turn mill lit In the in ijors tin i ire Hut iluj lire I hen- REMEMBER THE SECOND NAME ON THE BALLOT FOR REGIONAL COUNCILLOR GOODWIN- X more than years Roy has been working lo help make a better place live as a member of Acton Public School Board Acton Town Council Acton Chamber of Commerce Acton Tanners Hockey Ass Acton Minor 0 M H A 1 Hockey Ass Acton Minor Baseball Ass ADAPT program for Halton Region and for any other worthy cause in which he believed Now he asks for your support and vote to allow h m the opportunity work full time on your behalf as your Regional Council FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PHONE DAYS 853 1630 EVENINGS The Burlington Look SAVE on every Burlington Look Quality Carpet Burlington Carpets has reduced our prices on the best selling carpets In their line And we re passing the savings on to you This week The Burlington Look Factory Authorized Sale Dont miss it LOOK THESE SAVINGS OVER HEATHER TOUCH Nylon Splush colours CENTRE STAGE HiLo Shaded 11 colours NOW Burlington CARPETS STAY NEWER LOOKING LONGER WITH PONT TEFLON CARPET sq yd STAR OF INDIA 95 Heavy Trevira Star sq yd 20 colours yd RAVE REVUE Splush 15 colours sq yd 95 RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONAL 128 Guelph St Plaza Georgetown Serving you for years 8777797