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