FIELD STAFF

Thunder outfielder Cesar Cedeno

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Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Thunder are won their first ever SPB-1 pennant in 1971, winning a league best 108 games.  Rookie Phenom Vida Blue  led the team with an incredible record of 27-5 with a 1.60 era and 280 strikeouts! Young slugger Reggie Jackson led the way at the plate, slugging 29 HR and 111 RBI's to lead the team.  The team won a dramatic five game LCS over the Ashville Tourists on a 2-0 shutout by Blue (with Reggie providing 2 solo Home Runs for the only scoring of the game) to put the Thunder in their first World Series, but the team lost to the Flushing Rats in 5 games in the 1971 World Series.  With just about all of their nucleus set to return, look for the Thunder to be right back in the contenders slot for the 1972 season.

Cooperstown, NY - A trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the 1971 Draft was just the ticket for the Thunder, as the team made a blockbuster deal their, sending their 1st RDP Greg Luzinski, long time 2B Horace Clarke, and SP Jim Rooker, to the Spirit Mountain Volcanoes for Hall of Fame 2B Rod Carew and reliever Jerry Johnson.  "We just acquired the best hitter in the league," said GM Michael See.  The most difficult part of this deal for the Thunder was trading 2B Clarke, who is a fan favorite and the only player left from the original Thunder roster of 1967, "We will miss Horace immensely and wish him nothing but the best," added See, "But when you have an opportunity to get a potential Hall of Fame player like Rod Carew, you have to make that deal."

Cooperstown, NY - The Las Vegas Thunder pulled of a huge Draft Day deal in Cooperstown today.  Las Vegas sent their 1st RDP in 1972, a 2nd RDP, 3B Doug Rader, and pitcher Jim Colborn packing in exchange for 3B Graig Nettles, SP Jerry Koosman OF Billy North, and RP Fred Scherman.  "We gave up some very good players potentially with that 1st RDP and Rader, but with George Scott entrenched at 1B, we felt like we could afford to strengthen ourselves at other positions, mainly 3B, SP and OF," said GM Michael See, "Nettles and Koosman will help push the Thunder to pennants for years to come." 

Las Vegas, NV - At the end of the 1970 season, the Las Vegas Thunder had the 4th most wins in the league at 51, but unfortunately, the Thunder play in the same division as the SPB Champion Hollywood Stars, which means they finished 10 games behind the eventual World Champs.  The team was on top of its game though, with rookie Cesar Cedeno batting a robust .358 third baseman Doug Rader (pictured left) finishing second on the team with 25 Home Runs (Reggie Jackson had 29).  On the mound, Jim Merritt continues to amaze, finishing 21-6 and becoming just the second Thunder pitcher to win 20 games.  Though they were bridesmaids again this season, Thunder management feels like they are just about ready to catch the aging Stars next season, so look out Hollywood, Vegas is coming!

Las Vegas, NV - People were feeling blue in Las Vegas on Wednesday, but not because someone lost their shirt.  The Thunder acquired the top pitching prospect in all of baseball in one Vida Blue.  The Thunder landed Blue, along with OF Gene Clines, OF Walt Williams, and C/IF Bill Sudakis for longtime CF Mickey Stanley, C Jerry Grote and RP Larry Gura.  "Losing Mick is the toughest part of this deal," said GM Mike See, "He was the face of this franchise in our earlier years, and is still an outstanding player.  We will miss him."  With the arrival of Cesar Cedeno and Thurman Munson, Stanley and Grote were deemed expendable, and although See said they would not be cheap, and he landed the ultimate prize in Blue.  "Vida will spend at least part of 1970 at AAA," See added, "but we are expecting great things from him very soon." 

Chicago, Illinois - The Las Vegas Thunder made their annual trek to Chicago for the Rookie Draft and scored big, landing heralded outfielder Cesar Cedeno baseball's top young shortstop prospect Dave Concepcion.  "We were shocked to land both!", said GM Mike See, "We thought about Dave with our first pick (3), but never imagined we'd get him at (10)!"  Cedeno was considered to be the top CF in the draft, and some scouts have compared him to a young Willie Mays.  Concepcion is considered to be one of the finest SS Prospects to come along in years, and many think he is the heir apparent to Mark Belanger.  Both could see significant action this season, with Concepcion also backing up at second base.  The Thunder also added some other useful players in the draft, including IF Ed Crosby, OF Joe Keough and RP Rick Austin in the Phase II.

November 1, 1969 - Thunder GM Mike See had not intended on making many trades this season, but he knew the team needed to continue to infuse top notch pitchers on to a young and improving team. On Saturday, See did just that, by landing young starters Jim Rooker, Jim Colborn, a 1970 1st RDP (3) and a 1971 3rd RDP for pitchers Fred Norman, Jerry Johnson, Skip Pitlock, OF Jay Johnstone, SS Terry Harmon, and the Thunder 1st RDP (15).  "Jay and Norman are both fine players," said See, "But to land the 3rd overall pick in the draft which will hopefully give us an All-Star quality player, that was just too much to pass up. Combine that with the 10th pick we already have and we should be set up very nicely for the decade of the 1970's."

September 30, 1969 - They did not win their division but the Las Vegas Thunder had much to be proud of for their performance during the 1969 season.  The Thunder finished with a franchise record 95 wins, besting there total from last year by 20 games, and finished in 2nd place in probably the toughest division in SPB. Starting pitcher Don Wilson, making a bid for the Cy Young award, won 21 games and lost just 8, and lead the league in strikeouts with 264.  Jim Merritt also won 19 games, while close Ken Tatum was unhittable, with a sparkling 1.24 era and 23 saves.  At the plate, Reggie Jackson did it all, making his case for MVP batting .319 with 43 doubles and 39 homeruns.  Horace Clarke lead the team in hits with 187 and Mark Belanger had a solid year, batting .307.  With two number one picks in their pocket in 1970, the Thunder should now be perennial contenders for the division title for years to come.  

Las Vegas, Nevada - The Las Vegas Thunder made great improvements in 1968 but look to have turned the corner in 1969.  The Thunder a currently at 62-41, just 4 games out of first place in the tough National League West.  Reggie Jackson has single handedly carried the offense, batting .329 with 27 HR and 92 RBI's through mid July.  The team has also been helped by great pitching, like Don Wilson with 14 wins and 179 strikeouts.  Jim Merritt with 12 wins, and closer Ken Tatum, who sports a 3-1 records, 13 saves and a microscopic 0.48 era.  It might be tough for the Thunder to maintain this pace, but they are looking very good so far.

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