The first team I can remember is the 1968 Tourists. They were a Cincinnati Reds AA affiliate who played in the Southern League and had a white-haired manager named George Lee Anderson also known as “Captain Hook” and better known simply as “Sparky”. It was evident that Sparky Anderson was going places, but we were fortunate enough that Asheville was a stop along the way. That team in 1968 was led by future Major Leaguers Bernie Carbo (who had the distinction of being selected as the Reds number one draft pick in 1965, ahead of Johnny Bench) and Darrel Chaney, the Southern League Home Run Leader that season with 23 homers. The team itself was overachievers (much due to Sparky’s leadership) and won 86 games that year to win the Southern League title. The next year Sparky was gone, soon to be making a name for himself in the Big Leagues, but a whole new crew of exciting players had come in. Long-time Big League journeyman infielder Kurt Bevacquai, a hothead kid from California (who evidently didn’t like to make outs or errors) was there. On such occasions he would let fly words that probably weren’t conducive for a 7 year old to hear but you could tell early on that he was a very determined player. Another player who came in that year was a tall, skinny kid from Venezuela who could not speak one word of English but quickly became a crowd favorite in Asheville due to his super smooth fielding and infectious smile. Davey Concepcion was a joy to watch. You could just tell by the way he played how much the game of baseball meant to him. He was my favorite.
The 1970s team was not very good but did have some really good players including future Big Leaguers Gene Locklear, a full-blooded Lumbee from Lumberton, North Carolina and Dave Tomlin, long-time reliever and Minor League manager from Kentucky. It didn’t matter that the Tourists didn’t do that well that year because the Big Red Machine was rolling in Cincinnati, winning the National League West by 14 ½ games over the Dodgers and sweeping the Pirates to win the National League pennant. (This was Sparky’s first year as Manager for the Reds).
The ’71 Tourists was managed by then recently retired Major League pitcher Larry Sherry and won 90 games that season but finished second in the Dixie League to Twins affiliate Charlotte Hornets. That Tourists team featured current Stanford head coach Mark Marquess, and Vic Correll, a long-time backup catcher in the Majors for the Reds and Braves.
How great it is for me, a 50 year old man, to be able to sit back and reminisce about a childhood filled with dreams about someday playing pro ball myself. Thought that never transpired the memories of that 7 year old boy live on. Every time I get to see the Reds play I am reminded of those days back in the late 60’s where that young kid would get to go to the ballpark with his dad and grandfather in hopes of catching a foul ball or getting an autograph from one of the players. What great memories of the teams of my childhood and the Big Red Machine. Long live the Big Red Machine! ! I will always and forever be a Reds fan. Thank you Cincinnati! Thank you Reds! Thank you Asheville for being such a great place to grow up.. And most of all, thanks and much love to my Dad who took me to the games and instilled his love of baseball and all sports into me at a very young age. I love you, Papa!
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