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If you grew up in the metroplex, who were some names or players that you looked up to or liked to watch as a kid?
Are the little guys (elem. age kids) watching the HS players of today?

Guys like Jimmy Jones, Kyle Money, Darren Loy, Jimbo Chadwick, Carvarubos (sp?.) Pleasant Grove field used to be packed.
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I played against Jimmy Jones as well in high school. He was a couple of years behind me, but he was the best HS pitcher I saw back in those days.

I played against David Nix and Kevin Smith at DeSoto. They were a nemesis of mine my Soph. and Jr. years. They put us out of the playoffs both years. They finally graduated and we beat them my senior year in the playoffs! They were great players for sure.

I remember a pitcher from the metroplex named John Machin. He had the best left-handed move to first base I ever saw! Amazing.

Those were the days!
Jimmy Jones recently took a minor league job with the San Diego Padres as pitching coach at the rookie ball level. Best of luck to him! He is a good guy and the kids around here who worked with him loved having him for a pitching coach. I'm sure the minor league guys will enjoy working with him just as much.
Last edited by HRKB
i played at first baptist in high school but did play against jimmy jones and kyle money in bbi. i took one from jimmy square in the thigh one night and i thought i would never walk again. i also remember donnie millinder from skyline and a kid from the duncanville area that was a threat to throw a no-no every time out. i think his name was ralston. never heard of him once high school started.
quote:
Originally posted by go pirates:
i played at first baptist in high school but did play against jimmy jones and kyle money in bbi. i took one from jimmy square in the thigh one night and i thought i would never walk again. i also remember donnie millinder from skyline and a kid from the duncanville area that was a threat to throw a no-no every time out. i think his name was ralston. never heard of him once high school started.


You thinking of Steve Ralston and he lived in DeSoto but moved to Arlington and went to Sam Houston. He was dominant during his younger years but never really developed into that great pitcher. Ended up at A&M with Phillip Taylor and Kevin Smith.
quote:
Originally posted by 24'sdad:
I grew up in Duncanville and played from 76 - 79.

I also remember Mark Lawrence and Joey Pangburn from DeSoto.
Lawrence going on to DBU and Rangers organization.
Pangburn, I am not sure but he was at Texas.

We had a ton of talent in Duncanville also.


DeSoto and Duncanville both went to Austin in 77. We lost to Pecos and D'Ville lost to Houston Sharpstown... It would have been fun for us to have played D'Ville that year.

Pangburn walked on at UT but didn't make it.
quote:
Originally posted by go pirates:
thats the one maverick. i lived in the white rock lake area so i was in the north division and never had to face him but saw him pitch several times when he was younger. i think he played for the scorpions.


yes he did... his dad pitched at TCU and for Pittsburg. His dad coached that team too... Nix played on that team also.

Ralston is now living in Florida.
quote:
Originally posted by lookfastball:
Lelands brother Keith Creel was the real stud. Keith pitched for the KC Royals and still holds alot of pitching records at Dunc. Both guys were dang good.

Another name from the past Tony Arnold from Irving H.S.


Tony and I were both drafted in 81 and played together in Rookie ball with the O's. He was an All-American at UT as well. He now is a pitching coach in the Indians organization and lives in McKinney in the off-season. He had a son who played at McKinney High School the last couple of years against my son.
quote:
Originally posted by Old Pitcher:
quote:
Originally posted by lookfastball:
Lelands brother Keith Creel was the real stud. Keith pitched for the KC Royals and still holds alot of pitching records at Dunc. Both guys were dang good.

Another name from the past Tony Arnold from Irving H.S.


Tony and I were both drafted in 81 and played together in Rookie ball with the O's. He was an All-American at UT as well. He now is a pitching coach in the Indians organization and lives in McKinney in the off-season. He had a son who played at McKinney High School the last couple of years against my son.


I remember Tony and Keith going head to head one night. Don't recall the outcome but both struck out over 17 batters each.
Here's my list of guys I played against...

Trent Turner-Arlington-Texas
Bob Deller-Arlington-Tech
Tommy Bates-Arlingon-Tech
Tim Mauser-Arl. Heights-TCU
Tom Hardgrove-Arl. Heights-Ok. State/TCU
Russell Stockton-FW Southwest-Houston
William Rose-DeSoto-UTA
Turk MacDonald-DeSoto-Texas Football
David Neid-Duncanville-Atlanta Braves
Chris Hill-Duncanville-NY Mets
Boone Powell-Duncanville-Texas Football
Mike Martin-Duncanville-Louisiana Tech
Jason Satre-Abilene Cooper-Cincinnati Reds
Scotty Pugh-Abilene Cooper-Texas
Scott Malone-Abilene Cooper-TCU
Jon Fletcher-Richland-Baylor
Joe Guidry-Richland-Baylor
Tommy Moore-Richland-Texas Wesleyan
Larry Hess-Richland-UTA
Kevin Kirk-Lewisville-Tech
Tim Tadlock-Denton-Tech
Joe Racina-Denton-Rice
JT Blair-Denton-not sure
Curt Sanders-SGP-not sure
Gibby Cantu-SGP-not sure
Kevin Weik-Trinity-Texas Rangers
Tommy Maddox-Bell-UCLA Football
Lawerence Hanlon-Grapevine-UTA
Chuck Knoblauch-Hou. Bellaire-Texas A&M
Fred Hinijosa-Hou. Bellaire-Houston
Wade Inman-Round Rock-OU
Mike Gundy-Midwest City, OK-Ok. State Football
Morris Moss-Thomas Jefferson-not sure
Lee Jones-W.T. White-Louisiana Tech
Calvin Murray-W.T. White-Texas
Clint Davis-MacArthur-Dallas Baptist



Some of those guys went on and played professionally. This is about 85-88 or so.
mykidsdad posted:
Mav, wasn't there a stud back around that time from Dunc named Tank? I think Tank Davis?

I have a great story I have told each of my kids regarding Tank Davis.  I played for Thomas Jefferson back in 77-79.  In 77 Duncanvile swept us in two games on there way to a State Championship.  We met them again in 78 but this time actually won the 2nd game when Tank was pitching.  However, Tank would get his revenge in the 3rd and deciding game.  Our dugout and fans just knew we could topple the mighty Panthers of Duncanville.  We were playing at Loos Field before they brought the fences in to HS dimensions.  (They were 385 to the power allies and 420+ to centerfield.)  Tank game to the plate with his Ruthian physique with 2 men on I believe.  Our fans starting chanting "we want Tank, we want Tank, we want Tank" over and over.  Well, we got all of Tank we wanted.  I have never seen a quicker pair of hands than Tank Davis.  Tank proceeded to CRUSH the ball over the left center fence!  I had never seen a home run in that park before or since.  Our fans stopped chanting and the Duncanville faithful began their own chant.  "You got Tank, you got Tank".  I believe Duncanville repeated as state champs and I was left with a defeated yet cherished memory of Tank Davis that I have shared for over 37 years.  

Wherever you are Tank, I wish the best for you.

PS. Tank was just one of the great players from that great team; the Creel brothers, Pete Collins, Milo Choate, Jeff Morgan and Kyle Poteet

 

paul,

we played against each other, i went to Sunset HS (77-79)...as you know we played ya''ll 2 yrs in a row..78 and 79...yall won in 78 then us in 79...when we won we faced D'ville and Tank...they were stacked from 1-9..and blew us away...Tank beaned me when i was like 12 yrs old...BBI summer league...thought i was going to die...then in 79 when we played them...he hit a bomd that landed on top of their gym....he was truly a man amongst boys....but, Jimmy Jones was the best I ever faced in high school and he was a freshman then....i became friends with a few of your teammates after high school...Henry Estrada sold me a car....played with Leonard Barry summer ball, i played with Mark Ray at DBU, and bought a car from the Baum brothers...

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