Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘York Revolution’

At 3-foot-2, it may seem unlikely that Fort Wayne native, Dave Flood would try out for an independant baseball team. But the York (PA) Revolution’s “experiment” is more than a novelty a la Bill Veeck’s infamous plating of 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel in 1951.

The York Revolution roster also includes former Fort Wayne Wizard, Kennard Jones. Flood also has had careers as a radio personality and a stand up comic.

Growing up in Fort Wayne, Ind., Flood had to adjust to life as the only little person in his family. His brother stands 6-foot-1, he said. His father encouraged him to do things himself. So if he wanted a drink, he had to learn how to step on the refrigerator’s crisper drawer to reach the drinks on the top shelf.

“Just call me Dave,” he said. “I’m not little, I’m short. There’s a difference.”

Good luck Dave!

Former Fort Wayne Wizard outfielder, Kennard Jones has agreed to rejoin the York Revolution of the independant Atlantic League for the 2009 baseball season.

Jones joined the Revolution in June last season, and quickly became the sparkplug in the leadoff spot that helped lead one of the league’s most explosive offenses during the second half run. “K.J.” finished the season tied for fourth in the league with a .333 batting average, best in Revolution history, including a .408 clip during his final 25 games, leading the Revs’ playoff push. He also authored the greatest offensive performance in team history on June 30, going 6-for-6 with a three-run walk-off homerun, the Revs’ first-ever, in a ten-inning win over the Newark Bears. Jones led the club with 17 stolen bases last season.

Jones also played his college ball at Indiana University. He was drafted in the thrid round (number 85 overall) of the 2002 amateur draft. He palyed a total of 101 games in Fort Wayne during parts of the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Of those, 81 came during 2003 when he hit .307 with a .401 OBP, 61 runs 30 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases.