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Portland Rockets Alumni
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52 Years of Baseball History
Taking a look at the players who created and passed
down the gift of baseball to a small community.
If you would like to learn more about the Rockets please visit these pages: A Diamond in the Rough,
Portland Rockets 2011 Profiles, Portland Rockets Official Website.
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| From Jay County: |
From Adams County: |
From Delaware County: |
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| Steve Takats |
Kyle Alberson |
Rob Robbins |
| John Engle |
Mike Dull |
Leroy Robbins |
| Sam Shoemaker |
Ron Dull |
Rob Gamble |
| Larry Chittum |
Mark Flueckiger |
Matt Luce |
| Ron Stith |
Scott Dubach |
Loe Luce |
| Harry Weesner |
Kent Maggard |
Kris Luce |
| Woody Cook |
Brad Buckingham |
Toby Ricard |
| Terry McDaniel |
Dave Neuenshwander |
Doug Bolton |
| Tom McDaniel |
Steve Dillinger |
Eric Van Matre |
| Sonny O'Bryant |
Corey Neuenshwander |
Brandon Van Matre |
| Fred Selvey |
Greg Keller |
Jason Brust |
| Bill Blowers |
Jim Hartman |
Eric Hurst |
| Mark Hearn |
Chad Gradua |
Jeremy Luna |
| Greg Williams |
Nate Habegger |
Scott Christopher |
| Frank Inman |
Ben Habegger |
Russ Isaacs |
| Larry Poole |
Matt Ousley |
Dan Lehrman |
| Ron Selvey |
Jordan Steiner |
Dan Nowinski |
| Steve Jackson |
Dan Bollenbacker |
Aaron Zenal |
| Bill Money |
Terry Bultemeier |
Brad Metzgar |
| Tom Koegel |
Carey Waters |
Doug Boone |
| Jerry Shauver |
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Jack Urban |
| Tom Berry |
From
Huntington: |
Brad Houdeshoul |
| Joe Blankenbaker |
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Steve Rinker |
| Bud Finch |
Todd Sherman |
Bud Brown |
| Jim Sanders |
Ty Sherman |
Justin Love |
| Larry Mann |
John Holloway |
Jason Murray |
| Ron Bisel |
Chris Werling |
Keith Nunley |
| Bill Ledbetter |
Justin Brannock |
Matt Deckman |
| Rick Rees |
Tyler Mills |
Kevin Maxwell |
| Steve Ronald |
Tyler Palmer |
Mike McCormick |
| Gerald Kunce |
Nate Felver |
Brad Rausch |
| Larry Myron |
Andrew Drummond |
Jason York |
| Jerry Mock |
Kyle Daugherty |
Denny York |
| Jerry Abbott |
Blake Turner |
Brad Waldrath |
| Steve Glasgow |
Jim Stoffel |
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| Larry Van Skyock |
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From Other Places: |
| Don Willsey |
From
Ohio: |
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| Larry Petro |
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Todd Morgan |
| Ron Compton |
Woody Walters |
Mike Murray |
| Bob Murah |
Mike Koesters |
Randy Hisner |
| Robert Runkle |
Jeff Koesters |
Scott Hall |
| Butch Gray |
Lenny Koesters |
Andrew Welch |
| Bruce Hosier |
Nick Lobeonko |
Ryan Harper |
| Mike Hosier |
Mike Moorman |
Mike McCormick |
| Mel Smitley |
Eric Stachler |
Titus Story |
| Dan Iliff |
Mike Bruns |
Seth Zartman |
| Chris Hearn |
Drew Braun |
Jim Costa |
| Alan Morrical |
Greg McClure |
Tim Pearce |
| Rick Matchett |
Mike Meinerding |
Rick Dessing |
| Jim Raszkowski |
Dean Mueller |
Garret Weijak |
| Pat Medler |
Doug Miller |
Bryce Shaefer |
| Dave Rowland |
Knuckles Knapke |
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| Rob Smith |
Steve Reinhard |
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| Bruce Hedges |
Jerry Vogel |
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| Mike Ashley |
Kerry Heitkamp |
**List provided to WPGW by Rockets Manager Randy Miller.** |
| Corey Heniser |
Doug Collins |
| Tyler Fullenkamp |
Riley Mullenkamp |
| Jack Wood |
Jim Geeslin |
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| Shannon Stigleman |
Riley Mullenkamp |
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| Shannon Blount |
Bill Geeslin |
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| Josh Judy |
Kyle Heyne |
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| Heath Williams |
Matt Paulus |
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| Josh Atkinson |
Kurt Rammel |
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| Josh McAbee |
Ryan Rammel |
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| Andy Hughes |
Chad Geier |
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| Tony McCowan |
Tony Oswalt |
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| Ted Hostetler |
Bob Kneitkamp |
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| Thomas McCowan |
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| Gary Sautbine |
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| Duane Sautbine |
Rockets Players that made the Pros: |
| Mike Snyder |
Merv Rettemund (Drafted byBaltimore Orioles
1966) |
| Laramie Van Skyock |
Mill Dull (Drafted by the Expos 1986) |
| Chad Poole |
Jerry Shauver (Drafted by the Phillies
1963) |
| Josh Jellison |
Kent Maggard (Indians 1987, Cardinals
1988) |
| John Bailey |
Doug Boone (Drafted by the Yankees
2001) |
| Dan Ferrell |
Jack Urban (Drafted by the Giants in
2000) |
| Jim Ferrell |
Harley Wolfe (Drafted by the Pirates in
1972) |
| Lea Selvey |
Keith Shepheard (Drafted by the Rockies in
1990) |
| Joe Jobe |
Bob Kneitkamp (Drafted by the Yankees in
1974) |
| Richard Runkle |
Lorenzo Scott (Drafted by the Orioles in
2003) |
An In-Depth Look at Selected Rockets’ Who Made
the Pros:
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Keith Sheperd:
From Wabash, Indiana, Right Handed Pitcher Keith Shepherd was drafted by
the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th
Round of the 86’ amateur draft.Debut into the Majors was September 6, 1992 while playing for the
Phillies.Starting in the Pirates organization, he was
drafted by Kansas City in 88’ from Pittsburgh only to be released the next
year.Signed as a free agent in 1990 to Cleveland, 1991 to
the Chicago White Sox and was then traded to the Phillies for Dale Sveum in
92’.Later that same year the Colorado Rockies drafted him as
a 50th pick
in the 1992 expansion draft.He later would go to Boston,
Florida, Baltimore, and finally come around full circle as he signed as a free agent with the
Pirates in 96’ to finish his major league career. |
Doug
Boone:
Drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 15th round of the 2001 MLB June Amateur Draft and in the
New York Yankees 36th round
draft pick in the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft, Doug Boone spent his professional career in the Yankees minor league
system. He spent the 02’ season with the GCL Yankees (Rookie League) and also
the Tampa Yankees (A+). He spent the 03’ season with the Trenton Thunder (AA)
and back down to the GCL Yankees that same year.
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Lorenzo Scott:
Probably the latest Rockets’ Alum to make it big.
Scott was playing for Ball State University when he was drafted
by the Baltimore Orioles in the 17th
round of the 2003 MLB June Amateur Draft. Starting in the Rookie League with the GCL Orioles, Scott bounced around
the lower levels of the minors until he was selected by the Florida Marlins in the Minor
League phase of the 2006 Rule 5 Draft. Scott would bounce around the 2008-2010 seasons
between Florida’s AA and AAA teams before being released as a free agent. Scott went to play independent ball with the Gary Southshore RailCats
earlier this season before being picked up by the New York Mets AA Affiliate the Binghamton
Mets in April of 2011. But injury plagued Scott this
season and in late May was released by the Mets organizations. Scott is currently on the Disabled List for the Gary Southshore RailCats as
of July 13, 2011.
Scott has played 717 lifetime games in the pros
as an outfielder. But is also well known for his stint
on the Ball State University Football Team were he was quite successful. He was a First Team All-Mid American Conference Linebacker as a senior in
2003. While with the Jupiter Hammerheads he was a 2007
FSL Player of the Week, and in 2009 while playing with the Jacksonville Suns he was a SOU
Mid-Season All-Star.
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Kent Maggard:
Maggard was drafted by Cleveland in the 86’ draft. Maggard who attended Purdue University played one season in the minors with the Batavia Trojans
the lower single A affiliate of the Indians.
Jerry
Shauver:
Shauver was drafted in 1961 by the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent one season in the minors with the Phillies’ Developmental league the Dothan
Phillies.
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Merv Rettenmund:
Probably the most notable Rockets’ Alum who made it
big.Outfielder and Pinch Hitter Merv Rettenmund was a player for
Ball State when he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent in 1964 where he played
for them till 1973. His debut for the Orioles was April 14th, 1968 as his team lost to the
Angels6-2.While with the
Orioles he helped win AL Pennants in 69’ and 71’, a World Series title in 70’, and in 73’ an AL Eastern
Division title.In 73’ he was traded with Bill Wood and Junior
Kennedy to the Reds for Wally Williams and Ross Grimlsey.Rettenmund played for the Reds through the 74-75 seasons at the peak of the Reds’
“Big Red Machine” era were Ruttenmund was a part of the 75’ World Series win for the
Reds.In 76’ he was traded to the San Diego Padres for Rudy Meoli,
was granted free agency in 77’, and signed with the California Angels in 78’ allowing him the
opportunity to win one more AL Western Division in 79’ to finish his career as a player as the Angels
released him in 1980. Rettenmund played his last game as a player on June 22, 1980 as his Angels fell
to the Red Sox 35-30, Rettenmund only came to the plate once as he was pinch hitting this game against
the Sox.
Rettenmund would later serve as hitting coach for the Texas Rangers
(1983-1985), the Oakland Athletics (1989-1990) during their 89’ World Series Run, as well as the A’s
1990 pennant-winners and the 98 National League Champion Padres (1991-1999). Also the Atlanta Braves
(2000-2001) and the Detroit Tigers (2002).Rettenmund took a three
year hiatus from the Majors and returned as a hitting coach for the Padres once again in 2006 replacing
Dave Magadan, but would be replaced himself the next season by Wally Joyner. |
**Stats, bio, and transaction history and additional links on players found through
www.baseball-reference.com.**
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