Turlock teacher Chandler enters Frontier League Hall of Fame
After finishing his baseball career at Cal State Stanislaus, Turlock’s Bobby Chandler just wanted a chance to keep on playing.
He was able to do that in the Frontier League, from 1998-2002, playing for a trio of teams. By the time he was ready to quit playing the game, he held the league’s career record for saves and had done enough to earn himself a place in the league’s Hall of Fame.
Chandler, a math, science and physical education teacher at Dutcher Middle School, was inducted last month during a ceremony in Chicago. He played for three teams – the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints, the Richmond (Ind.) Roosters and the Johnstown (Penn.) Johnnies – between 1998 and 2002 and compiled 162 strikeouts, 56 saves and a 2.86 earned run average. The 56 saves were the league record until 2013, when Eric Massingham of the Evansville (Ind.) Otters eclipsed the mark.
“To this day, I still don’t know how I did what I did,” said Chandler, a 1993 graduate of North Salinas High. “To be remembered is what every ballplayer wants, and to be forever a part of that league is a real honor.”
After finishing college, Chandler sent emails to independent teams around the country. He was asked to try out for the Bend (Ore.) Bandits, then managed by former New York Mets star Wally Backman.
“I was on a bus for 14 hours and then I threw a bullpen,” Chandler said. “I remember that it was snowing. They had a bunch of guys throwing, but they signed me on the spot.”
With a glut of pitchers, though, the Bandits arranged for Chandler to play in Chillicothe, where they made him a reliever.
“The independent leagues are cutthroat,” said Chandler, a right-hander. “If you have two bad outings, you’re outta there. If you have 20 bad at-bats, you’ll see another kid trying out for your position.”
Chandler never got close to the big leagues, but he was invited to spring training in 2001 by the San Diego Padres.
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy was the Padres’ skipper then, and Chandler worked out in a group that featured future MLB Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.
“I just remember Bochy, (Padres reliever) Trevor Hoffman and (first baseman) Ryan Klesko were in the office watching ‘Braveheart,’” Chandler said. “And that was the year that Ichiro broke into the majors. The Padres and Mariners shared facilities in Peoria, and it was crazy how many Japanese media there were, following him around.”
Eventually, Chandler realized he needed to “make money and get busy with real life.”
He retired after the 2002 season and headed back to Turlock. And if he could somehow do it again?
“Absolutely, in a heartbeat,” Chandler said. “It was fun, I made some money, got some exposure and, the biggest thing, I got to keep playing baseball.
“That’s what kept me going, more than making the big leagues. I just wanted to keep playing.”
Roadrunners Powers, Bryant capture state championships
Eleven track and field track athletes from the Central Valley Roadrunners competed in the California State Games last weekend in San Diego. The club was led by Ayden Powers (9-10 boys), who won gold medals in the 400-meter run with a personal best of 1:03.68; he also won the high jump at 4 feet, 1 inch, and placed third in the shot put. Mikayia Bryant (13-14 girls) won the 3,000-meter race-walk in a personal best of 21:46. Madyson Hoffman (8-under girls) placed third in the long jump with a personal best of 11-6.
Powers and Bryant, along with teammates Dexter Williams (13-14 boys); Naomi Chappell and Alexus Surnip (13-14 girls); and McKinley King and Meikayla Surnip (11-12 girls), have qualified for the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Jacksonville, Fla., July 27-Aug. 2, where about 8,000 athletes will participate.
Modesto’s Coleman selected to second U.S. National team for 2015
Competing against the best youth women from across the country, Beyer High senior Rachel Coleman, 17, concluded a strong domestic season last month at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., by taking the silver medal at the 2015 Pentathlon Youth National Championships and securing a spot on Team USA for the World Youth (19-under) Championships to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this September.
Earlier in June at the same Olympic Training Center, Coleman won the Pentathlon National Junior Championships for women 21 and under. That victory qualified her for the U.S. Team headed to the World Junior Championships in Mexico City next month.
“There was a lot of pressure going into this championship as I knew this pentathlon would determine Team USA for Worlds in Argentina, Coleman said. “I am looking forward to Buenos Aires and Mexico City and am proud to be representing the USA at both Worlds.”
Gustine’s Correia wins national powerlifting competition
Gustine resident and gym owner Jennifer Correia took first place in the 123-pound class at the USPA National Powerlifting Championship at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas on July 10. Correia was successful on seven of nine attempts, producing a 264-pound squat, 154-pound bench press and 341-pound deadlift for a total of 760 pounds. The win qualifies Correia to compete at the IPL World Powerlifting Championships. Correia is the owner of CrossFit Valleyview in Los Banos and Stamped CrossFit in Patterson.
This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Turlock teacher Chandler enters Frontier League Hall of Fame."