A Thank You From Ethan Blackaby

Correspondence date: Oct. 2011

With his response to my letter, Ethan Blackaby gave me some good insight into his time as a pro ballplayer and executive, which I was extremely appreciative of. He had the opportunity to experience the game from both sides of the diamond. Having a lengthy career in pro baseball might cause some people to burn out after a while, but Mr. Blackaby is clearly a man who treated the game with unbridled passion instead of seeing it as a mere job.

Mr. Blackaby kindly closed his response with the following note:

“Juan,

You sound like a very smart young man and it was my pleasure to respond to you. Sorry I was slow in answering but was gone to Ill. until Mon. Best of luck & God bless you & your family.

Ethan Blackaby #45

Braves”

Mr. Blackaby, who went on to become associated with his hometown Arizona Diamondbacks during the past decade, is an amazing ambassador to the game of baseball, and I feel lucky for being able to receive such a great response. Thanks, Mr. Blackaby!

On deck: Former pitcher Ed Mayer tells me what “being a Cub” means to him.

Ethan Blackaby Talks About Running a Minor League Team

Correspondence date: Oct. 2011

Upon the conclusion of his playing days, former Major Leaguer Ethan Blackaby embarked on a new career path: minor league executive. In 1974, the 33-year-old Mr. Blackaby assumed both the Business Manager and General Manager duties for Triple-A Phoenix Giants, replacing his long-tenured predecessor Rosy Ryan.

Mr. Blackaby would remain the Phoenix GM until the end of the 1985 season, during which time he would be replaced by Jack Singer (who would also assume the Team President responsibilities). In the process, Mr. Blackaby would remain with the team as a minority owner. During his time as Phoenix GM, Mr. Blackaby would see his team finish first in the Pacific Coast League standings on one occasion and second several other times.

Of course, playing for a team as an athlete and running a team as an executive are two very different things. As a result, I wanted to get inside Mr. Blackaby’s mind and find out what his favorite and least favorite aspects of running a pro baseball team were.

“It was wonderful to be able to stay in pro baseball for another 30 years after retiring as a player. Did you know I was a part owner – Pres. of the San Antonio club in 80’s & in the front office of the (Diamond)backs for six years. My least favorite aspect was when the season was over.”

Mr. Blackaby brought up San Antonio because it is my current place of residence. In 1986, San Antonio Dodgers owner Tom Turner sold the team to an investment group headed by Mr. Blackaby, who would run the team before reselling it two years later.

Mr. Blackaby has led quite a fulfilling life as both an athlete AND a high-level team executive/owner. Considering how rare this is, he is definitely in select company!

On deck: Mr. Blackaby thanks me for writing.

Ethan Blackaby Reflects on Being an El Paso Sun King

Correspondence date: Oct. 2011

Ethan Blackaby enjoyed a professional baseball career that lasted for 9 seasons. Originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Milwaukee Braves out of the University of Illinois, Mr. Blackaby would make his Major League debut in 1962- his second year in pro ball. Called up to the Braves’ main roster in September, he would play in 6 games and collect 3 hits in 13 at-bats. Mr. Blackaby would spend 1963 with Triple-A Denver before having another shot in the Majors in 1964, during which he would appear in 9 games.

Although another stint in the Big Leagues would not be in the cards for Mr. Blackaby, he would continue to play in the minors until the end of the decade. One of the teams he would play for would be the El Paso Sun Kings, the Double-A affiliate of the California Angels. I’ve mentioned numerous times that I am a native El Pasoan and that I have always been a big fan of the city’s rich baseball history. Needless to say, when I realized that Mr. Blackaby played pro ball in the Sun City, I had to ask him for his recollections of this experience, which was no doubt highlighted by two significant things: the dilapidated yet charming Dudley Field, the Sun Kings’ home park located adjacent to the city’s zoo; and the fans’ tradition of stuffing dollar bills into the batting helmets of batters who hit homers, a tradition that still exists today.

“Yes, I played in the Dudley Dome. I loved that old park. Hit a H.R. and get those dollar bills. How about the lion’s roar in R.F. from the zoo at night.”

Getting back to the dollar bills: for those who have never been to a ballgame in El Paso, a player who homers will remove his batting helmet after crossing home plate, go near the home dugout and stand there with his helmet in his hand, as fans proceed to drop dollar bills into his helmet. This is a tradition that began at Dudley Field in the early 20th century and continued as the team moved into its new digs at crosstown Cohen Stadium.  

From his response, which alluded to the quirkiness of the El Paso baseball atmosphere, it seems as though Mr. Blackaby definitely enjoyed his time as a Sun King!

On deck: Mr. Blackaby tells me about being a minor league executive.