Arkansas Travelers Greats Reunite in North Little Rock Saturday

Sixty-five former Arkansas Travelers reunite for weekend

NORTH LITTLE ROCK  – Saturday, Jan. 25,  baseball fans will have the opportunity to meet 65 former Arkansas Travelers minor league baseball players in town for the 20th Century Travelers Family Reunion at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock.

The weekend, which will celebrate the careers of those who played for the Travelers between 1963 and 2000, will be highlighted by an open-to-the-public awards dinner on Saturday, January 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Silver City Ballroom of the Wyndham Hotel. Al Hrabosky, former Traveler and the 1975 National League saves leader, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Other attendees include:

• Fergie Jenkins, Baseball Hall of Famer (1963-65)
• Terry Pendleton, Former National League Most Valuable Player
• Leon Durham, Former National League All-Star (1978)
• Terry Kennedy (1978)
• Jerry Mumphrey
• Tom Pagnozzi
• Ryan Kurosaki
• Kenny Reitz (1971)
• Garry Templeton (1975)
• Three former Traveler managers who managed in the majors: Nick Leyva (Philadelphia Phillies), Frank Lucchesi (Phillies, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs) and Jim Riggleman (San Diego Padres, Cubs, Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals)

“Everyone shared the same positive experience of having Little Rock serve as a home-away-from home to many of us being away from home for the first time,” said John Young, former Major Leaguer and Travelers first baseman, about the enthusiasm from former Travelers for a reunion.

The Travelers alumni group will give a Lifetime Achievement Award to the legendary Arkansas Gazette andArkansas Democrat-Gazette sportswriter Jim Bailey. The 1964 Pacific Coast League Eastern Division Champions, who won 95 games and set a minor league team home run record, will be recognized as well.

Call Sandy Kurosaki at (501) 840-1473 to purchase tickets for the awards dinner ($75 each) or to sponsor a table of ten. The reunion is sponsored by the North Little Rock Visitors Bureau, the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and Marlar Engineering.