Anchorage Glacier Pilots 'Hall of Fame'
2005 Inductees 2006 Inductees 2007 Inductees 2008 Inductees 2009 Inductees 2010 Inductees
Jack O'Toole
Lefty VanBrunt
Bernie Kosinski
1969 Glacier Pilot's Team
Sharon Woods
Dick Lobdell
Bob Reeve - the original 'Glacier Pilot', the man for whom the Anchorage Glacier Pilot's baseball organization is named. A pioneer in the aviation world and the original Chairman of the Glacier Pilots Board, he and wife 'Tilly' kept the Glacier Pilots baseball organization going strong through the early years and without the help from both of them there would be no Glacier Pilots baseball team today. Beloved by all Alaskans, we will remember them fondly forever!
1971 Glacier Pilots National Championship Team
Home Brew Alley - Originally dubbed "Murderer's Row" by the late Steve Agbaba, Johnny Czeck (1st horn) and company did all they could to live up to their nickname. With blasts of air horns and showers of acerbic barbs, these loyal Glacier Pilot fans have been a thorn in the side of umpires and opposing teams since 1969. It was only a matter of time, however, before long-time Pilots radio announcer Dick Lobdell came up with the more-fitting nickname, "Home Brew Alley." Though the ballpark has changed some, this tight-knit group has always managed to occupy a cozy corner to the right of the Glacier Pilots' first base dugout. This affords them not only the opportunity to get to know the Glacier Pilots "up close and personal", but also puts them within striking distance of first base umpires, as well as opposing coaches and players. There have been occasions for them to help manage the team when umpires shortened the Glacier Pilots' bench. Every June, these hardy fans come out of hiding to cheer and heckle and have an all-around good time at the ball park. New members are always welcome. Membership requirements include a case of Pilots' Fever an a willingness to share it and a passion for an ice cold beer!
Augie Garrido - In 1973, Glacier Pilot's coach Paul Deese recruited an assistant coach by the name of Augie Garrido. Little did Glacier Pilots fans know at the time that they were witnessing a coaching legend, in the making. Garrido assisted again in 1974, and then became the Field Manager for the ’75 and ’76 seasons. In his four years with the Pilots, these teams place third at the National Tournament in 1973-75, and runner up in 1976. Garrido played college ball for the Fresno State U Bulldogs, and is only one of ten men ever to sign and coach in the college World Series. He then went on to sign a professional contract with the Cleveland Indians and played six years in their Minor League system before retiring to begin his coaching career. Augie has coached for the past 39 years in the college ranks. Those teams include San Francisco State, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Illinois and he finished his eleventh year at the U of Texas, were he has lead the Longhorns to the college World Series five times in the last eight years, capturing the National Title in 2002 and 2005. Garrido is the first coach to lead teams from two different schools to National crowns and became the all-time Winningest coach in NCAA Division I baseball history, on June 9, 2003, when Texas beat then No.1 ranked Florida State in the NCAA Super-Regional. Coach Garrido lead teams to 5 National Titles, 15 Super-Regional titles, 12 Regional Titles, and 21 Conference titles. He was named National Coach-of-the-Year six times, and coached 75 players who played in the Major Leagues - 13 of whom were first-round draft picks. He is the Glacier Pilots all-time Winningest coach with a winning percentage of .702
Dan Boone - In 1974, Glacier Pilots’ fans were introduced to a sparky 5’7” 135 left-hander named Dan Boone. Dan’s record at Cerritos Junior College was 24-2 when Augie Garrido recruited him. Dan went on to play for Garrido at Cal State Fullerton where he became an all-American. He played 4 seasons - 1974, 1975, 196, and 1985 - for the Pilots, and holds more pitching records than any other Pilots pitcher. Some of those records include - most career games (54), most games started, season and career, most complete games (13), most career saves, most innings pitchers, season (84) career (269), most career wins, and most career strikeouts (214). Dan went on to pitch for “another team” in the Alaska League, for which Pilots fans have since forgiven him. Dan also went on to the Big Leagues, playing for then Coach Dick Williams. His pro-career includes stints with the Angels, Padres, Astros and Orioles. Dan has fond memories of his baseball experience with the Glacier Pilots, including his house parents, Wanda and Jerry Beltz Of course, his fondest memory is meeting a local Anchorage girl by the name of Marge Moss, whom he later married. Dan and Marge have three daughters, Bethany, Amanda and Brittany.
Janice Morisette arrived by steamship in Valdez, Alaska, in 1934 at the age of 23, seeking adventure. In 1936, she married the already legendary Bush Pilot Robert “Bob” Reeve. Bob nicknamed Janice “Tilly”, thus the woman known to Alaskans as Tilly Reeve became synonymous with enthusiasm and hard work. Active in her community, Tilly was Republican National Committee Woman in the 1950’s, life-long member of the Pioneers of Alaska, and served as Secretary and Treasurer of the family business, Reeve Aleutian Airways, and became Chairman of the Board upon Bob’s death in 1980. She was also the chairperson of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots baseball club for many years, and was one of the solid figures on whom Pilots’ Board Members could count, not only for her sound advice, but for her charity as well. Before Bob Reeve died, he asked Tilly to do two things 1) Keep the airline running and 2) make sure that the Glacier Pilots continue to operate. Tilly did just that. Bob and Tilly had five three sons and two daughters. Tilly will always be remembered as one of the matriarchs of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. We know she is sitting in her heavenly box seat, enjoying watching down on each Glacier Pilots game.
William 'Wild Bill' Simpson first became acquainted with Pilots’ baseball in 1972 when he began taping the games while working as a camera man for KIMO, Channel 13, which he continued to do until 1975. He left Anchorage in 1975 to work on the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline, and then on to work in Dutch Harbor until 1984. He became reacquainted with the Glacier Pilots in 1989, when he bought box seat season tickets on the third base side!! He switched to his current seats above the Pilots’ dugout in 1990, and first became a Summer Parent in 1992 because of Tony and Connie Webb. They sat behind him in 1990 and ‘91 and were always talking to Colin Porter like they knew him. He asked them about that in the summer of ‘91 and they told him they “knew” Colin because they were his Summer Parents. He attended the summer parent meeting the next April and became hooked! Bill has served as a Summer Parent for 16 years, now, only to be rivaled by his fellow Hall of Famer, Sharon Woods. He has also served the Glacier Pilots in many other capacities: as a Director on the Glacier Pilots Board, coached at first base, and represented the Pilots at the annual Baseball Coaches’ Conference meetings this past January in Orlando, Florida. “Wild Bill” will always be known for his wonderful baseball quips that come through that legendary megaphone for all to hear, as well as those extraordinary cooked meals that many Pilots’ players have earned through his creative reward system.
Pat Doyle - Coach Doyle was born in Santa Monica, California, and played youth baseball from age seven through High School, at University HS in West Los Angeles. He went on the play ball on the community college level at L.A. Valley, and then as a scholarship player at Fresno State from 1964 to 1966. He still holds the record for the second lowest season ERA at 1.31, with a 7-0 record at Fresno State in his Junior year. Pat made his first trip to Alaska in 1966, playing for a team out of Nevada, and played professionally for the Boston Red Sox in 1967-68. Pat received his B.A. in Social Science from Fresno State, and his M.A. in Health and Safety Studies from CSU Sacramento. He started his coaching career at Fresno State as a Grad Assistant, and in 1969 began coaching at Lodi High School in Northern California, then became Varsity Baseball coach at Tokay High, where he won 2 championships in 3 years. Pat continued to coach at San Joaquin Delta College in 1976, and became head coach in 1977. He also taught Health Education, Sports Psychology and fitness courses. During 1976-1999 at Delta, he compiled a 568-274 win-loss record. Eddie Guardado (former Glacier Pilot), John Foster (LHP with the Braves, Brewers, Cubs and Royals), Ken Hucaby (Catcher with the Dodgers, Diamond Backs, Blue Jays and Red Sox ) and Jason Bartlett (current SS for Tampa Rays) all played for him at Delta. Pat was an Asst. Coach for the USA National team 1993-1994, with future MLB players, Geoff Jenkins, Matt Morris, Jose Cruz, Jr. and Doug Menkiewicz on that team. He has been the Global Coordinator for the Envoy Coach Program and game development for Major League Baseball from 1997 to the present. He has also served as President of the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association, 1999-2006; trainer of Positive Coaching Alliance 2002 to the present; Anchorage Glacier Pilots Manager, 1990-1991, guiding the Pilots to the 1991 National Championship. Pat was elected to the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000, and to the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. Pat has been married to wife, Harriet for 35 years. He has two daughters. Amy Gad, is married to Zaki and they have Pat's grandson, Kevin. Daughter Kerry is a 5th grade teacher. He also has a son, Tim who is a Freshman at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Mac Shelton - Mac’s first introduction to the Glacier Pilots was in the very early years when her dad, Jim Cody was an umpire for the Pilots’ games. In fact, her dad injured his shoulder on a Tom Seaver pitch. Jim has since passed away, but her mother, Jeanne still enjoys a lively game up at Mat-Su. After a departure from Anchorage for a few years, Mac became a part of the Pilots’ organization in 1989 and went on to become a summer parent in 1991 for 15 years, serving as Summer Parent coordinator and sometimes keeping up to 9 players in her home. At times, it must have looked like a Pilots’ intrasquad game around the refrigerator!! She has cooked countless meals, cleaned untotaled amounts of laundry on all the road trips, and has gone to Wichita each time the Pilots have gone to the NBC World Series. Mac is a self-professed “people person” and thoroughly enjoys baseball, the players, and the life-long relationships that are formed between summer parents, players and their families.
The 1991 Glacier Pilot's Championship Team - 1991 was a record breaking year for the Glacier Pilots. They started the season hot and continued to an 18 game winning streak. They took the annual Mayor’s Cup from the Anchorage Bucs, for the second consecutive season. Field Manager Pat Doyle, and coaches Kevin Smallcomb, Jack O’Toole, Lefty Van Brunt, and David Chadd led the team to another Central Baseball championship title and on to Wichita to compete in the 57th annual National Baseball Congress World Series. For the first time since 1971, the Pilots entered the championship game, this time against the Kenai Peninsula Oilers. Thunder in the Wichita area delayed many of the games, but in the final game, thunder was on the field. The Glacier Pilots beat the Oilers for the title, in some of the best play ever seen in summer baseball. Some of the records from that team still stand: Most consecutive wins, season (18); Fewest runs allowed, season (147); Most stolen bases, inning (4); Most stolen bases, game (4) by Eddie Christian. Records from the 1991 World Series: Most runs scored (13) Robbie Bark; Most hits (18) Frank Herman; Most doubles (5) Frank Herman; Most wins (3) B.J. Wallace.
Paul William Deese was born in Los Angeles, California and played HS baseball at Whittier in Whittier, CA. He was an all Pacific League pitcher 3 years and signed a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 17. He played four years in the minor leagues, reaching AAA in the Pacific Coast League. Deese graduated from Whittier College in 1961 with a Bachelors degree in PE; he attended the U of Illinois in 1962 where he completed a Masters of Science degree. His first coaching job was at Chapman U in 1964. He coached the Panthers for seven years from 1964-1970 where his teams went to the NCAA seven consecutive years, winning the National Championship two times in 1966 and 1968. He returned to Chapman in 1982 for a second stint. He was selected NCAA Coach of the Year three times. He was inducted into the Chapman Hall of Fame in 1981 and again in 2008 with his entire 1968 National Championship team. Deese was called to Alaska in 1969 to form the first Glacier Pilot team. They finished their first year with a 37-13 record and the Alaska State Championship as well as the NBC 'National Championship' in their first year. Deese was named NBC National Manager of the year three times, winning the National Championship again in 1971. They finished runner up in 1970 and 1972. He recorded the most wins - 210 - of any manager in Glacier Pilot history in five years at the helm. Deese also served as the Pilot's general manager 1971 and 1972. He left Alaska in 1974 to become the President of the NBC in Wichita. In 1976 through 1979, he served as President and General Manager of the California Surf Professional Soccer team at Anaheim Stadium. In 1995 and 1996, he was manager of the Sonoma Crushers in the independent Western Baseball League. At retirement in Palm Springs, California, he entered the Real Estate market forming his own company in 2005. He came out of retirement in 2009 to coach the Chaparral High School team in Temecula, California, to a second place finish in the tough Southwestern League. Paul Deese has been married to wife Shirley for fifty-one years. They have two children - Dawn and Brett. Dawn lives in Huntersville, NC with her husband Gregg and three girls. Brett lives in Dallas with his wife Melanie and three children (2 girls and 1 boy). It is remarkable that Deese was inducted into both the Chapman and Glacier Pilot Hall of Fame forty years after they both won their first national championships.
Mike Pereira, a Business Administration graduate of Santa Clara U is no stranger to the many aspects of Pilots baseball. Not only did he play for the ballclub for four consecutive years, but he holds several all-time Pilot's records including most games played, career (161); most at bats, career (543); most runs scored, career (129); most hits, career (171); most bases on balls, career (89); most stolen bases, career (41). After receiving his degree, Pereira moved up to the front office where he took over the responsibility of Director of Sales and Promotions for two years. Additionally, he went on to serve two years as the 'Official Voice of the Pilots', broadcasting the games live on KYAK radio. Pereira has been the National Football League's Vice President of Officiating - formerly Senior Director of Officiating - since 2001, succeeding Jerry Seeman. He was also a game official in the NFL for two seasons (1996-1997) as a side judge on the officiating crew headed by referee Mike Carey. Pereira appears on the NFL Network show, NFL Total Access, during the "Official Review" segment, to discuss key calls made during the previous week's games with host Rich Eisen every Wednesday during the season. In January 2009, Pereira confirmed that he would be retiring from the position of Vice President of Officiating after the 2009 NFL Season.
Steven William McFarland --- born in 1950 in Stockton, California, Steve was drafted in the 20th round out of Sammamish High School (Bellevue, WA) by the Pittsburg Pirates. He went on to play infield for the Pirates’ organization, from 1968-1977, reaching as high as the AA Eastern League in his last season. Steve became the assistant coach at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and took over as head coach from 1984-1993. Steve caught the Pilots organization’s attention when in 1982, he led the Santa Maria Indians over the Glacier Pilots to capture the NBC World Series Championship. This was the first time a California summer league team won the National Championship. Steve joined forces with the Pilots in 1984 and coached for 4 straight seasons, through 1987, leading the 1986 team to the Pilots’ 3rd National Championship. He returned as the head skipper for 2 more seasons in 1993 and 1994. During his time coaching Pilots’ teams, McFarland has recorded more wins than any other Glacier Pilots’ coach, with 199 wins. In 1990, he coached at Hyannis in the Cape Cod League. Beginning in 1993, Steve scouted for 3 years in the Florida Marlins organization. In 1999-2005, Coach McFarland became a Minor League coach, with the Utica Blue Sox, Lansing Lugnuts, Boise Hawks, and the Daytona Cubs. In 2005, Steve went back to scouting and currently scouts on the Major League level for the Chicago Cubs. Steve and his wife Kelly have been married 30 years and have three children, Dustin, Dasey, and Jamie. The Anchorage Glacier Pilots are honoured to accept Mr. Steven William McFarland into our 2010 Hall of Fame.
© 1999 - 2005 Anchorage Glacier Pilots. All rights reserved. Revised: 07/21/10 23:02:10 -0800.