1983: Fourteen Panners Will Ascend to MLB Goldpanners Comprise 6% of all Major Leaguers in Late 1980s The 1983 season saw what was possibly the most talented Goldpanners squad of them all, as attested by the record 14 players that later went on to play in Major League Baseball. One of them is a future Hall of Famer. The Goldpanners’ “Pipeline to the Big Time” was strong <strong>throughout</strong> the late 1960s. But by the time the decade of the 1970s was over, the Goldpanners’ output had blanketed the professional game. There were at least ten future major leagues on six of the 1970s club rosters. In the mid 1980s, however, the floodgates opened, resulting in a strong Goldpanners influence <strong>throughout</strong> all levels of play. The largest single group of budding major leaguers played together on the 1983 team. An astounding 14 total players from the club eventually made Major League Baseball! No other amateur team in history has come close to either this single season total, or the overall aggregate. Among all the recognizable names on the list, of major leaguers from the 1983 club, the one that stands out the most is that of Barry Bonds. Barry set the all-time season and career home run records, among many other achievements. What is amazing about Barry’s time with the Goldpanners is that, being unable to crack the superbly talented outfield, he was forced to handle fielding duties at FIRST BASE. That season, the Goldpanners were sporting what NCAA Hall of Fame coach Dave Snow called “the most talented outfield I have ever coached”. The trio of fielders -- all future major leaguers -- were dubbed the “Million Dollar Outfield”. They were Mark Davis in left, Oddibe McDowell in center, and Shane Mack in right. The combination was lethal to opponents, helping lead the Panners to the title game in the 1983 NBC World Series. Following is an article on the 1983 Goldpanners outfield, written by Bob Lutz for the Wichita Eagle: Outfielders Oddibe McDowell, Shane Mack and Mark Davis are all speedsters who help make the Fairbanks Goldpanners’ offense potentially lethal. The players are sharing a room in Wichita during the National Baseball Congress tournament. “We just call it the ‘Gold Room”, said Goldpanners Manager Dave Snow. (Barry Bonds later commented to Don Dennis, “‘The Gold Room? Have you been in there? It’s more like the ‘Mold Room’). Snow hasn’t posted armed guards at the ‘Gold Room’ door to protect his outfielders. But it might not be a bad idea. “All three of these kids are outstanding prospects,” Snow said. “It’s the best collection of outfield talent I’ve ever coached.” McDowell, Mack and Davis all come from the baseball-rich Pacific 10 Conference. McDowell patrols center field for Arizona State. Mack is the right fielder for UCLA and Davis plays center for Stanford. McDowell and Mack were two-thirds of the All-Pac 10 outfield and both were All-Americans. Davis was an honorable mention All-Pac 10 choice. Stanford co-sports information director Bob Vazquez is astounded that all three are together with Fairbanks, which has a 4-1 tourney record. Hutchinson defeated the Goldpanners, 5-4, Friday night. ‘Ten years down the road,” Vazquez said, “that’s an all-star outfield.” San Diego native is batting .322 with 35 RBI and 47 runs scored and has stolen 26 bases in 29 attempts. Davis, who plays left field for Fairbanks, admits he needs to work on his strength. “My arm is not really strong yet,” Davis said. “I’ve learned a lot this summer, though. My biggest goal was to learn how to bunt. With my speed that has to become a part of my game.” Davis has had a pair of bunt singles in the tournament and has stolen two bases. “I’m not your typical leadoff hitter,” Davis said. “I don’t like to take strikes and I don’t like to look for walks.” But Davis has drawn 29 walks to lead the Goldpanners - even if he doesn’t like it. Says Snow: “Mark’s a guy who continually works to improve his skills and to become a complete players. He’s got a lot of confidence in his game and I think he can be a prospect as a center fielder after he improves his throwing. McDowell hit .352 and stole 36 bases for Arizona State this season, then was the top pick in the secondary phase of the draft - for players who previously have been chosen. But he remains unsigned because the Twins aren’t offering enough money, he says. “I’m not looking for six figures,” McDowell said. “They just haven’t come up with the five figures I want.” The book on McDowell is that he can do everything - run, hit, throw - though he hasn’t gotten untracked in the NBC. “I haven’t done a whole lot in this tournament,” McDowell said. “Hopefully, things will start going right for me sooner or later.” The Hollywood, Fla., native has been a valuable commodity to major league scouts since his high school days - McDowell has been drafted five times. Hutchinson manager Dan Radison was coaching at Fort Lauderdale, Fla Junior College when McDowell was still in high school. “I knew he was going to be a great one all along,” Radison said. “He hasn’t shown what kind of hitter he really is in this tournament. He really doesn’t even belong in this tournament. If he’d sign he probably be playing Double A ball.” As Fairbanks General Manager Don Dennis says, however, it’s difficult to tell how far a player can go at such a young age. Davis is only 18 while Mack and Mc- Dowell are 20. “There are just too many variables,” Dennis said. “But I’d have to say that these three are ticketed for getting a shot to play in the big leagues.” 20 So far in the NBC tournament, Mack has be the best long-term prospect. Davis’ stats with the Goldpanners are Barry Bonds better than McDowell’s or Mack’s. The Mark Davis Oddibe McDowell Shane Mack
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