MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

I was thumbing through some old USAC racing results from the 1997 season and it reminded of back then when I remember two cars with sponsorship/ownership from a couple of Major League Baseball players.

In particular, Baltimore Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles and the #23 driven by Gus Wasson. And also 5-time All-Star pitcher Doug Jones with the #27 sprint and Silver Crown car piloted by Aaron Mosley, Bill Rose, Kevin Thomas.

Can anyone shed some light on the the circumstances on how these two got involved with USAC racing. Hoiles is from Ohio and Jones is from Indiana, so they were in the midst of the racing scene. Did anyone ever see these guys at the racetrack? Were they merely just putting their names on the car with sponsorship money or were they the actual owners of the cars?

I've always wondered about their connection, so any information would be appreciated. :)

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

I have one of those Gus Wasson picture cards and it has Chris Hoiles on it to. I will dig it up and see if any info is on the back.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

It wasn't a USAC involvement but I remember watching Milwaukee Brewers hall of famer Robin Yount in an SCOA winged sprint car. This was on a Tuesday practice night at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix.
Not sure if he actually took part in races but he definately did laps at Manzy. Maybe someone else remembers more details.
David.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

If I remember correctly ex-Major League slugger Rob Deer ran some winged races in Arizona about 10 years ago. That may explain Yount being there (Deer's longest stint with any team was with the Milwaukee Brewers and Yount).

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Back in the 80s there was a NBA player who would show up at Placerville Ca. He would pay different drive to mud pack thier car . He played for the Kings , he committed killed himself . Cant rememeber his name .

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Ricky Berry?

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

i worked on the car that was owned by chris hoiles and chris grew up in the same town i did.The involement with gus and chris was that chris and gus went to school at the same high school witch was the same hs i went to and chris wanted to help out a local and a friend so chris paid the bills for a few years in usac and then they went down to nascar land and tried that deal but the money ran out with the help of some shady people so i hope that helps you

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Was it Bill Robinzine? I remember him playing for the Kings and later committing suicide. Not sure.

Brett

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

YES Thank you Richie .

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Doug Jones was from Lebanon In. He got involved in racing from his father, who was a old time racer that ran Jungle Park for many years. His name is Rex Jones. Doug bought a silver crown car in the mid 90s. I was the chief wrench on the car for the three years that they owned it. Kyle Clearwaters

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Your question about the NBA player's involvement led me to the following. Its Winter and I guess I have nothing else to do :)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
William Clintard Robinzine Shooting guard / Small forward
Born January 20, 1953(1953-01-20)
Chicago, Illinois
Died September 16, 1982 (aged 29)
Kansas City, Missouri
Nationality USA
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 235 lb (107 kg)
College Depaul
Draft 10th overall, 1st Round, 1975
Kansas City Kings
Pro career 1975–1982
Former teams Kansas City Kings(1974–1980)
Dallas Mavericks (1980–1981)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1981)

Utah Jazz (1981–1982)

William Clintard "Bill" Robinzine (January 20, 1953 – September 16, 1982) was an American professional basketball player.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Robinzine grew to be a 6' 7" forward from DePaul University. He played seven seasons (1975–1982) in the NBA, competing for the Kansas City Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz. In the highlight footage of Darryl Dawkins shattering a backboard dunking at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium, Robinzine can be seen running away with his face in his hands during the play. When Dawkins gave a name to the dunk, part of the name was "Robinzine Cryin'"

While not much of a scorer, Robinzine was known as a tough rebounder and one of the better defensive players in the league at the power forward position. He played for the Kings for five seasons, and then was released to make room for Reggie King.

In September 1982, Robinzine committed suicide in his car by carbon monoxide poisoning at a storage place in Kansas City, Missouri [1]. He was not on any NBA team's roster at that time. Survivors: sister, Kerentz Whorley, Brother, Kurt Robinzine, and Mother Betty Robinzine

---------- Post added at 07:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:27 PM ----------

And this from the NY Times:

Robinzine Found Dead

Published: September 17, 1982
The police reported today that Bill Robinzine, a forward for the Utah Jazz last season, was found dead in his parked car, an apparent suicide.

Robinzine's wife had filed a missing-persons report with the police Wednesday morning after she returned home and found a note indicating that he might attempt suicide, the police said.

They were called to a building on the city's southeast side at 12:10 P.M. today, where they found Robinzine's body in the back seat of his car.

''Preliminary investigation indicates the death was a suicide and the cause of death points to carbon monoxide poisoning,'' the police said.

Robinzine, 29 years old, had played in the National Basketball Association for seven seasons after being drafted from De Paul University by Kansas City in 1975. He also played for Cleveland and Dallas and joined Utah in August 1981. His contract with the Jazz expired at the end of last season, making him a free agent. Laura Herlovich, the team's publicist, said that there had been no negotiations about a new contract and that he was considering going to Italy to play.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Any info on Ricky Berry, Tripcrwn?

Ricky Berry was a Sacramento King; Bill Robinzine was a Kansas City King, which would make it more likely that Berry would be at Placerville.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Let's go old school. I read a biography on Ty Cobb back when I was in high school (40 years ago). He rode as a riding mechanic for some races in the Atlanta area until the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball found out. This was in the 1910s. Soon had a clause in his next contract against such activity.
Jim Morrison

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

I don't know if Berry ever made it to Placerville, might not have been to his liking (just a guess). Berry played for a number of years with the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors. So he may have visited the race track in Placerville, but I doubt it (what do I know). A couple of years ago Berry had a radio show on KNBR San Francisco and broadcast from his home somewhere in the Rockies. He no longer broadcasts as far as I know. He was one of the best in the NBA. A real hot dog!

Not the NBA or MLB, but most should remember the Bear's great running back Walter Payton and his involvement with Dale Coyne's Champcar/Indy race team.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

As well as the Joe Montana/Chip Ganassi effort.

---------- Post added at 06:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:33 AM ----------


Thanks Scott, I had forgotten about Rob Deer, now it's all coming back. :6:
David.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

back in the late 90's I went to a TBARA sprint race at Charlotte Co. FL in early March. Jack Clark and Mike Greenwell sat next to me and my daughter that evening after a spring training game. Nice Guys and real race fans. I think Greenwell did some racing after he retired and I know Clark became involved in top fuel NHRA as an owner and even drove some.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

I recall that Rich Leavell played pro baseball before turning to sprint cars back in the day. I don't know if he was in the majors or not, but it was one of those tidbits that the announcers used as a guy would come out to qualify. I remember that red and white 61 Leffler chassis that he drove.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Gregg,
That was one of my all time favorite cars. My Dad was friends with the owner Virgil Welch. So I got to sit in the car as a small kid quite often.
Good times! :6::6:
David.

ps....I think Leavell was Welch's son-in-law? Memory sucks, maybe Duke remembers.

another photo here:
http://ovalmeister.webs.com/apps/pho...otoid=26594913


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...ellSalemIN.jpg

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

I remember it. Walter is my all-time stick and ball sports hero. I got to meet him in the garage area at Michigan International Speedway at a CART race back in 1996. I talked to him a little bit and got to shake his hand...which just about broke mine with his grip.

I wanted him to sign something, but the only thing close was an Andre Ribeiro (pretty good Indy driver back in those days) hero card. He said, I guess I can sign that. So he turned it over. The card had more information on the back as well as a picture of Steve Horne who was the President of Tasman motosports. He said, well I can sign this even though it's not us, but I will have to do some drawing on it. So he put a French bare, a monocle, moustache, and beard on Steve with the Sharpie. He then signed his name next to it. He told me that he felt better about signing it and he thought Steve looked better. I'll never forget that and I still have the card with all of my other racing stuff.

It was pretty cool that Coyne's team got a win this year at Watkins Glen after all of those years of trying. I thought of Walter and I'm sure they did too.

It was Scooter Berry. Hot lapped Kaeding's car in the early 90s a couple times. Played for Golden State if I recall.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Yes, Rich did marry Welch's daughter. I think her name was Queenie.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

That's the car I am remembering David. I didn't recall the owner. Nice car. Thanks for that pic.:9:

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

While I don't think he ever made it to the big show, Scooter Ellis played minor league ball for a number of years.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Didn't Rex go to the races with the car quite frequently? I remember meeting him at Lincoln Park when we pitted next to you guys.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

No Tripcrwn, we're talking about Ricky Berry, the California native Kings player who commited suicide in 1989. Not the hall of famer Rick Barry with an "a".

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zG91a9x-BJ...RickyBerry.jpg

---------- Post added at 11:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------

Not this guy...

http://bill.goldschein.name/images/Rick%20Barry.jpg

---------- Post added at 11:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------

Rick Barry is still alive as far as I know, but Ricky Berry is dead alluding to mowerman's post #5.

---------- Post added at 11:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------

Ricky Alan Berry (October 6, 1964 – August 14, 1989) was an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings.

Born in Lansing, Michigan, the 6'8" small forward out of San Jose State and Oregon State University was selected 18th overall in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Kings and had a solid rookie season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists while shooting 40.6% from three-point range.

In the 1989 offseason, and just weeks before his 25th birthday, Berry was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Fair Oaks, California on August 14, 1989, following an argument with his wife. He had displayed no signs of depression and had left a suicide note.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

your right! Also he married girlfriend!! Vukovich was a dodger and so was oskie!:22:

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Rich was Virgil's son-in-law. Wonder whatever happened to the V-8 powered midget that Jim Hines used to run for Virgil in CORA?

The 61 car still exists. A guy in northern Indiana who is related to Tom York has it as of a year ago.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

I remember reading about him in a racing mag. (probably Open Wheel) He said he loved to mud pack the cars but he hated how he did not fit into the car because he was so big. If I remember correctly, the article talked about him possible helping a team or getting his own car sometime in the future. He wanted to get a car that he could actually fit into.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Pitstooge, yes I'm sure you did. Rex was a supporter of Kevin Thomas,Bill Rose, Aaron Mosely he had Chet Filip drive for us at IRP. His son Doug lives in Tuscon AZ. he played pro baseball for about 18 years, he pitched for many teams.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Someone (Richie) mentioned Rick Berry in response to the above post. Thus my response.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

My memory lacks, as it was a long time ago, maybe 1999-2000 as I was just graduating high school or just out but...

Rik Smits (Former Indiana Pacer) used to hang around my uncle's engine shop at the time. It was a 3rd party who brought Rik there (cant remember who) but he loved it. I showed up one day and asked whats up and they were like, "Not much, Rik is in the back tearing tearing down engines and cleaning them for fun." LOL

There was a pavement Silver Crown car, not sure who owned it that was driven by Mark Boice (maybe some others) that I remember Rik doing a lot of work on.

He may have been an ASE certified mechanic or was wanting to be. Total gearhead.

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

:22:it was a alum. Buick and paul leffler had a alum. Olds v8 in a midget! I remder several 265 ci. Chevys in midgets and the demler v8

---------- Post added at 04:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:01 PM ----------

:22:also gene rogers drove virgil's buick v8 first it had a ford 60s in it back in the 40s and 50s!:22:

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Remember that Dale Blaney played pro basketball in the minor leagues

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Bob, Marv, Dave and shortbus may recall that Pepper Martin drove a midget car in the 30s while playing 3rd base for the infamous St. Louis Cardinals "Gas House Gang."

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Took me a while, but I was able to dig up and scan some of the USAC teams owned by the MLB players.
Chris Hoiles used checkered flags and two Baseball Bats in his logo, and his car number was 23, which I assume might have been his MLB uniform number.
Doug Jones incorporated a Baseball in his Motorsports logo.

Here is Gus Wasson in the Hoiles #23 at Paragon's USAC Sprintweek race.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...0050419PM2.jpg

Here is Wasson in the Hoiles #23 pavemant car at Winchester.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...0045238PM2.jpg

The Chris Hoiles hauler and logo at Paragon,
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...10045624PM.jpg

The Doug Jones Motorsports #27 and Aaron Mosley at the Paragon USAC Sprintweek race.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...0050232PM2.jpg

Close up of the Doug Jones Motorsports logo on the side of the hood.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...0045802PM2.jpg


And speaking of Walter Payton, he actually did a little driving also, seen here at the SCCA/Oldsmobile Pro Series race at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in 1991 as part of the CART race. He is in the white #34, which was sponsored by Chalkline | Nikko Toy Company USA | NFL Properties | Proset Trading Cards.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...0055027PM2.jpg

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

.and got as far as a Laker tryout, but blew out his knee!

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Also, Atlanta Braves Manager Bobby Cox used to own a few sprint cars that Calvin Landis among others raced during the 1993 Sprint Car World Series that was televised on TNN way back when.

BB

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

Thank you Keith! That's neat to see those cars again; it's been awhile since I've seen them. :6:

---------- Post added at 01:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 AM ----------

Also, here's a picture of Chris Hoiles:

http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images...play_image.jpg

and here's one of Doug Jones:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/...ab99973f_m.jpg

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

[QUOTE=richie;151803]Thank you Keith! That's neat to see those cars again; it's been awhile since I've seen them. :6:[COLOR="Black"]

Yeah, Richie. You were, what, 10?:6:

Re: MLB Players Involvement with USAC teams
 

wow danny, you really putting marv in his place asking him about a guy who ran in the 30's.:3: