I guess we shouldn’t be surprised – he’s always been the invisible man. For chrisssakes, the guy started two games of the 1987 World Series (the watershed event of Minnesota baseball history) but where does he rank in your memories of Twins pitchers? Or even of 1987 pitchers? Let’s see – Viola, Blyleven, Reardon, El Gasolino, Emery Board Guy, The Fat Tub of Goo whose name I can never remember, Steve Carleton – how far down the list do you go until you get to him? Too far, probably.
That’s our fault, not his. He was taken out of Game 3 with the lead. He started the elimination Game 6. In his rookie year, no less. And it’s not like he hadn’t carried his share before that, either. He started 26 games in ‘87, threw a complete game and compiled a 4.37 ERA.
No, he wasn’t that good. And yes, his peripheral numbers were a little gruesome. But wasn’t that what the ’87 Twins were all about – a bunch of guys who were too young and too average riding their naivette (and more than a little luck) to a championship? Isn’t that what we loved about that team? So can you find a better embodiment of the ’87 Twins than Les Straker?
Well, maybe, but that’s only because we can’t actually find Straker. Nobody can. The Twins have apparently tried – Dave St. Peter was SURE he left him on his dresser, right next to his wallet, and why the hell does this always happen at the worst possible time, just as he’s trying to leave the house?
It is the worst possible time to misplace Les. This August the Twins will celebrate the 20th anniversary of that scrappy band of men, and according to the Pioneer Press, Straker is the only one they can’t find. A crisis room of sorts has been set up by some fans over at www.FindLesStraker.com to assist in reuniting Les with Twins Territory. You can stop by there with tips or just to reflect on your memories of Straker, of which I have none. Because of that invisibility thing, you know?
But that’s where the batlings can help, I’m sure. Because invisibility doesn’t bother batlings because they have that radar thing. Or it is sonar? Whatever. The point is we can sense things and people that others can’t, and right about now that’s exactly what we need to find Les, and guide him home. (Probably in a fairly erratic flying pattern. Because we’re not the most graceful bunch. But neither was Les.)
So let us comb the ends of the earth! Leave no stone or pillow-cushion unturned! Les is out there somewhere and only the batlings have the numbers, the passion, and that radary-sonary thing to find him. Fly, my fellow batlings! Fly!
Posted by Twins Geek at February 10, 2007 09:53 AMIt appears he's the pitching coach for the Phillies' Venezuelan summer rookie league team..
http://www.venezuelansummerleague.com/2005/teams/rosters/phillies.htm
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/teams/phillies.html (bottom right of the '2006 Farm System' chart..
Posted by: TD at February 10, 2007 11:12 AMGood work TD! St. Peter must not have Googled him. He returns 68,700 results.
Posted by: Erin at February 10, 2007 02:35 PMThanks. I presume that's him - there can't be a whole lot of Venezuelans named Lester Straker. I had to search in a few places with his full name find anything - 'Les' gets you nowhere.
The best part is that he's seemingly employed by an MLB team, so he should be pretty easy to contact internally even if he's in deepest darkest Venezuela.
Or we can just send El Presidente down the road for some detente`. Whichever works.
Quick comment: unlike the institution of higher learning, Steve Carlton's last name has no "e."
Posted by: Jeremy at February 10, 2007 11:01 PMTwins Geek,
When I think about that magical year (87) I never really associate Les with that team. When I read your entry the memories did come back, and it was the fear and dread I remember. To say he was young and sloopy is being nice. He just wasn't that good. I can not remember specific things, I am sure if someone would check they would find that he was great blowing leads. Well I hope he is found so they get the team back together for the reunion. I am looking forward to it and being able to relive the thrill and happiness of a World Series win.
Perhaps it was only because i was four when we won the 87 world series but i don't remember much of it...I just remember my mom screaming when we won it all..So there's no way possible i could remember Les Straker. But now i am intrigued by him and i want to find him. Where did you go Mister.. I would like to know. Hopefully nothing bad happened to him
Posted by: bojesha at February 11, 2007 08:02 AMand now looking up on wikipedia.... here's some of my findings
Lester Paul Straker Bolnalda (born October 10, 1959 in Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar State, Venezuela), best known as Les Straker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins.
A 10-year minor leaguer, Straker went all the way to the 1987 World Series in his long-awaited rookie year. As a young prospect, Straker was let go by the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland Athletics. Finally, he made his majors debut with the Twins as their number-three starter behind Frank Viola and Bert Blyleven.
Straker became the first Venezuelan ever to pitch in the World Series when he started games three and six. He began 1988 on disabled list and never recovered at all, being released when the season was over.
In his two-seasons 47-game career, Straker had a record of 10-15, with 99 strikeouts, one shutout, one save, and a 4.22 of earned run average
For those that do not or can not remember the 87 series and Les Straker I highly recommend
Vintage World Series Films -- Minnesota Twins 1987 & 1991 on DVD.
I bought it for SOJie for Christmas and then got a copy for myself. I got it through the MLB.com store but it is also available at Amazon...just type in Minnesota Twins.
Lots and lots of goood stuff.
Posted by: jamar1700 at February 11, 2007 09:20 AM*laugh* Jamar, I love it that we even have YOU calling your poor son, SOJie.But I agree that it's a great recommendation there.
It's nice to know that we saw something worthwhile in starting something with young Venezuelan pitchers and letting them do things others from their country hadn't done yet. Whether Les proved to be "that good" later on or not, I really do hope that we can get him up here with the rest of the team. He WAS part of something that took an entire team to accomplish - that's what's so great about baseball. And that was for the whole season, not just the Series itself. Thanks for the reminder Twayn.
Posted by: CapitalBabs at February 11, 2007 10:44 AM*BREAKING NEWS!*
The Chairman was just signed for a 4 year contract, per Sid's radio show with Terry Ryan on! Yippie!! Now we've just gotta get Cuddy!
Posted by: Newton at February 11, 2007 11:11 AMYou beat me to it Newton! It's nice to know the homegrown chairman will be in Twins unifrom when the new stadium opens.
Posted by: Bob at February 11, 2007 12:04 PMThanks for the nice write-up Twins Geek! Did you see the subsequent airing of this search on Kare 11 news?
http://blog.findlesstraker.com/2007/02/11/findlesstrakercom-makes-the-news.aspx
Posted by: Nick S at February 11, 2007 11:37 PMAnd a this from here http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/columnists/charley_walters/16684918.htm
The Twins have located Les Straker — he's a pitching coach for the Philadelphia Phllies' Venezuelan Academy — and are waiting to hear whether he'll be able to attend Minnesota's 1987 World Series championship 20th anniversary in August at the Metrodome.
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