Bill Haselman arrived in Oklahoma City when he was 24 years old.
It was early spring of 1991. The season before, the catcher made his major league debut in a Texas Rangers jersey. Before he was called to the majors, Haselman played two seasons for the Tulsa Drillers.
He spent the 91 season as a Triple A player for the 89ers, performing in front of OKC crowds in All Sports Stadium at the Oklahoma fairgrounds.
Haselman hit nine home runs and 60 RBI. He returned the following season, appearing in 17 games before moving to a Pacific coast Triple A team and finishing out the season as a Seattle Mariner.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Haselman had an impressive career, playing primarily for the Rangers, but also landing on the rosters of the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers.
Haselman returns to OKC in a different light April 15, because thats how baseball works. For someone like him, baseball is in the blood and runs red like the seams of the ball.
For the past five seasons, Haselmans role in baseball has been outside the diamond. Now, he manages teams, and hes as effective as he was during his playing career.
His success led him back to OKC, but it has been a quarter century since he wore an Oklahoma City jersey.
New look
Oklahoma City baseball is no longer played in a fairgrounds ballpark. Instead, crowds pack Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, located in one of the citys most vibrant districts. Fans wear blue and white and ball caps with a diagonal white OKC stitched atop a Dodgers blue base.
Gone are the days of fans sporting RedHawks or 89ers gear.
Haselman said he admires the changes, but he hopes much is still the same, especially the eager young players looking to sharpen their skills and progress into the games upper ranks.
He remembered OKC fans and referred to them as knowledgeable. He said they came to games even when the team played lousy.
I am very excited about being back in Oklahoma, said Haselman, who resides in Newcastle, Washington, with his family. I played here a while ago. Nothing from what I played here looks the same. The city has really grown, and it looks beautiful.
Days before the start of 2016, Oklahoma City Dodgers officials named Haselman manager. He replaced Damon Berryhill, who was not retained after the 2015 season. Eight days before reporting for spring training, Haselman stopped in OKC for a brief visit with media and Dodgers officials at the ballpark.
It looks like it was built yesterday, he said about the facilities, an original MAPS project. The people keep it in great shape, and it is really great to see that. I am excited to be out in it with a team. It has a festive feel. Thats what you want as a manager, to come in and have a good feel of the place. I certainly feel that.
Haselman inherited a team with a winning record and postseason play in its inaugural season. Additionally, Oklahoma City sold out 23 of last seasons 68 home games. He also brought his own winning experience to OKC. Last season, he managed the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, another Dodgers affiliate, to a California League championship.
This is his third season with the Dodgers organization.
Its anybodys guess how Oklahoma City might play this year. The Dodgers open its season Thursday in Nashville, kicking off eight road games.
The home opener is a Friday night bout with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. The April 15 game concludes with fireworks. Fans can catch the Dodgers through the summer months at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The last regularly scheduled game is Sept. 1 against the Memphis Redbirds.
At Dodgers games, look for Haselman on the field and near the Dodgers box. Twenty-five years ago, the young catcher was known for his ability to block home plate for Oklahoma City.
Now, he prepares the next round of baseball players for the big leagues and ensures those players perform to their full potential, which translates to good baseball watching for OKC fans.
I think being affiliated with the Dodgers is a great thing for Oklahoma City, he said. I think you are always going to have big-time talent at the Triple A level. They need to have guys ready to go to the big leagues and step in there right away.
Print headline: Play ball, OKC Dodgers begin the new season with a former player as the teams manager