Alumni
Interviews

A-L

M-Z

Hector Ambriz - 2003 Team

Hector Ambriz recalls his fulfilled days pitching days for the 2003 Anchorage Glacier Pilots! Ambriz discusses the incredible John Wooden's Pyramid of Success and it's ongoing powerful impact on his life and UCLA. Fishing with bears, dodging moose, playing with teammates Adam Simon, Mike Pelfrey and Jacoby Ellsbury and more!

Héctor Ambriz was born May 24, 1984 in Orange, California and graduated from Valencia High School in Placentia, California. He played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.  is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.

Jesse Chavez - 2002 Team

Jesse Chavez recalls his pitching days for the 2002 Anchorage Glacier Pilots team going to the National Baseball Congress Tournament, his pitching hero, the wonders of playing baseball in Alaska and staying at the Bingo Hilton in Kenai.

Chavez was born in Victorville, California. A graduate of Fontana A.B. Miller High School in Fontana, California, Chavez was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Riverside Community College. In 2006, Chavez was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma where he pitched one game before being traded. Chavez joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008, then moved onto the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and is currently with Oakland Athletics since 2012.

select photos from shutterstock.com

Dane De La Rosa - 2002 Team

Dane De La Rosa discusses the midnight sun, fishing trips and his experiences playing in Alaska and how it helped prepare him for pro baseball!

He played on the 2002 Anchorage Glacier Pilots team.

Darren Dreifort -
1992 & 1993 Teams 

Darren Dreifort discusses playing baseball in Alaska with his brother and in Wichita. 

Dreifort played baseball in High School at Wichita Heights High School and was drafted out of High School by the New York Mets in 1990. He chose instead to attend college at Wichita State University. As a college ballplayer, Dreifort was a two-time consensus All-American and the 1993 NCAA Player of the Year. He was 26-5 with a 2.24 ERA in his career at WSU on the mound and was also a great power hitter at the plate. Darren was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame for his performance there. 

He was subsequently drafted in the 1st round (2nd overall behind Alex Rodriguez) in the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dreifort became one of only a select few players to make his professional debut in the Majors, without first appearing in a minor league game. He made his debut on April 7, 1994 against the Florida Marlins, working one scoreless inning as a relief pitcher. He appeared in a total of 27 games for the Dodgers that season, finishing 0-5 with a 6.21 ERA.

After missing the 1995 season due to injuries, Dreifort returned to the Dodgers bullpen for the 1996 and 1997 seasons, pitching effectively as a late inning setup man. He recorded his first career win on August 30, 1996 in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1997 he was very good out of the pen, finishing 5-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 48 appearances and notched 4 saves.

He transitioned to the starting rotation for the 1998 season, making his first start on April 11 against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium, working five innings and taking the loss. He finished the season 8-12 with an ERA of 4.00. He continued to pitch effectively in 1999 (13-13) and in 2000 turned in his best season with a 12-9 record, 4.16 ERA in 32 starts and 164 strikeouts.

A free agent after the 2000 season, Dreifort re-signed with the team, and received a five-year, $55 million contract in 2001, a large contract in spite of the fact that he had had a career record of 39-45, and a history of arm trouble. But, in 2001, with a limited free-agent pitching market, Dreifort's agent Scott Boras sold the Dodgers on the right-hander's future potential, hinting he might sign with their National League West rival, the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers responded with the big contract.

Dreifort's health shut him down during the very first season of the deal; he was finished in early July when he was forced to undergo elbow reconstruction surgery that kept him out until the end of 2002. With continuing arm and shoulder trouble, plus additional knee and hip trouble, Dreifort actually pitched in only three of the five years on the deal, also missing the entire 2005 season and parts of two other seasons during the life of the deal.
In 2004, after team medical personnel advised the Dodgers Dreifort could not pitch as a starter due to his injuries, Dreifort became the Dodgers' seventh inning reliever in front of setup man Guillermo Mota and closer Éric Gagné. Dreifort pitched inconsistently due to knee and hip troubles in addition to older arm and shoulder issues.

Dreifort's issues may be traceable to a degenerative condition that weakened his connective tissues, as well as a deformed femur that may have been the root of his hip problems, affecting in turn his ability to rotate his body properly, which could have affected his knees and his elbows as well. He is reported to have had 22 surgeries total, 20 of them since leaving college to play professional baseball.

Dreifort retired at age 32.  He remains involved with baseball, working as a Dodgers minor league spring training instructor.

Dreifort was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Greg Dobbs - 2000 Team

Greg Dobbs - all around infielder talks about his experiences playing for the 2000 Anchorage Glacier Pilots and Alaska Goldpanners baseball teams.

Gregory Stuart Dobbs (born July 2, 1978, in Los Angeles, California) is a MLB infielder for the Miami Marlins. Dobbs is primarily a third baseman, but can also field the corner outfield positions and first base. Dobbs graduated from Canyon Springs High School (CA) in June 1996. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 52nd round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, but opted to attend Riverside (CA) Community College instead. While at the Long Beach State University in 1999, he was drafted in the 10th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros, but opted to stay in school. Dobbs led the Sooners as a senior in 2001 with a .438 average, 104 hits, 25 doubles, 62 RBIs,  12 steals.  He graduated with a degree in Sociology. He was on the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies Team.

Jacoby Ellsbury - 2003 Team

Jacoby Ellsbury's fun-filled summer days fielding for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots! Fresh from his first year at Oregon State, all-around multi-sport athlete, Ells bury, joined the Pilots in the summer of 2003.  He worked on honing his sensational baseball skills and made time to explore the wilds of Alaska. 

In 2010, Ellsbury released a Zinfandel wine called ZinfandEllsbury through Charity Wines.  100% of the proceeds are donated among three charities: The Navajo Relief Fund, Project Bread: The Walk for Hunger, and Ellsbury Read Project.

For more information on how you can help go to: www.NativePartnership.org

Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury (born September 11, 1983) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox from 2007 through 2013, and joined the Yankees before the 2014 season.

Ellsbury was first drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 23rd round of the 2002 MLB Draft, but did not sign. He then was drafted 23rd overall by the Red Sox in the 2005, after playing college baseball for three years at Oregon State University. Ellsbury is the only Red Sox player in history to be a member of the 30–30 club. In 2011, Ellsbury also won the Gold Glove Award, the Silver Slugger Award, and was the American League MVP runner-up to Justin Verlander.

Ellsbury is officially a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes; Ellsbury's mother, Margie, is full-blooded Native-American (Navajo)  and his father is of English and German descent.  He is the first Native American of Navajo descent to reach the major leagues. As of 2008, he was one of only three active non-Hispanic Native American players in Major League Baseball, along with Kyle Lohse and Joba Chamberlain.

select photos from shutterstock.com and courtesy of UCLA, Oregon State Athletics, Long Beach State Athletics, www.goldpanners.com and www.NativePartnership.org!

Casey Fien - 2005 Team

Casey Fien recalls his pitching days for the 2005 Anchorage Glacier Pilots team and driving old cars in Alaska.

Casey Michael Fien a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, CA. Attended William Penn University in Oskaloosa, IA where he went 6-3, 2.48 ERA in 2003; Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA where he went 3-2, 2.93 ERA in 2004; and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2005-06.)

Jeff Francis - 
2001 Team NBC & ABL Championship Pilots

Master ace MLB pitcher talks about playing baseball in Alaska for the Anchorage Bucs and for the National Baseball Congress Champions in Witchita, Kansas: the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in 2001.

Jeffrey William "Jeff" Francis (born January 8, 1981) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies in Major League Baseball. Francis attended Burnsview Junior Secondary School and North Delta Senior Secondary School in North Delta, British Columbia. After playing for the North Delta Blue Jays of the B.C. Premier Baseball League, the highest calibre junior league in British Columbia, Francis went on to pursue a major in physics at the University of British Columbia while playing for the UBC Thunderbirds. He was selected in the 1st round (9th pick overall) by the Colorado Rockies in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft along with Adam Loewen, who was selected 4th overall in the same draft.  They received much publicity as they were drafted higher than any other Canadian baseball players up to that time. Francis was signed by Greg Hopkins.

Mark Gardner- Anchorage Glacier Pilots Alumni- 1984 Team

 Mark Gardner recalls his wacky fun filled days pitching for the 1984 Glacier Pilots team and the great life long friendships he made on that team.

Mark Gardner pitched in the Major Leagues from 1989 to 2001 for the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Florida Marlins, and the Giants. In his career, Gardner pitched in 345 games, posting a record of 99–93 and a 4.56 ERA. He appeared in 275 of his 345 career games as a starter. Gardner was also used as a long reliever and spot starter during the final years of his career. On July 26, 1991, Gardner no hit the Dodgers for nine innings but gave up a hit in the top of the 10th.

Gardner played the last six seasons of his career with the Giants. He shared the 2001 Willie Mac Award with Benito Santiago, which recognized each of their spirit and leadership.

One season after retiring, Mark Gardner became the Giants' bullpen coach in 2003 to present day.

Mark Gardner attended Clovis High School in Clovis, California and California State University, Fresno, where he met his wife, Lori Gardner, an All-American softball pitcher. He and Lori have 2 sons. Lori Gardner struggled with liver cancer for several years during her husband's tenure with the Giants before dying from the disease in 2003. The Gardner family remains active in the Donate Life America organization.
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Mickey Hatcher - 1976 Team

Mickey hatcher discusses playing baseball in Alaska, chasing bears, moose chasing him and hiding out from Barry Switzer with the Pilots! He played on the 1976 Anchorage Glacier Pilots team. 

Mickey Hatcher (born March 15, 1955) is a former Major League Baseball player and coach. Most notably, he was Kirk Gibson's replacement for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 World Series, batting .368 (7/19) with two home runs and five RBI.

After playing high school baseball for Mesa High School, Hatcher attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played both football and baseball. He was drafted twice (in 1974 in the 12th round by the Houston Astros and in 1976 in the 2nd round by the New York Mets) before signing with the Dodgers in 1977 (after being selected in the 5th round of the June draft). After signing, Hatcher was assigned as an outfielder to the Clinton Dodgers in the Class A Midwest League. The following season, Hatcher spent time playing for both San Antonio in the Class AA Texas League and AAA Albuquerque. Both stops would see him split time between the outfield and thirdbase - pre-saging his major league career in which he would see time not only at all three outfield positions, but also first and thirdbase. After hitting .371 with 10 homeruns, 93 RBI, and 88 runs for Albuquerque, Hatcher made his major league debut on August 3, 1979 subbing in for Ron Cey at 3B. Hatcher was credited with an RBI after taking a bases-loaded walk in the 7th inning. Hatcher would hit .269 in 33 games for the Dodgers in 1979. Hatcher would start the 1980 season knocking around AAA pitching (hitting .359 in 43 games) before again being called up to the parent club. Hatcher would only hit .226 for the Dodgers and despite averaging well over .350 in the minors, his major league stats to date were 2 HR, 10 RBI, 13 runs, and a .249 batting average in 179 plate appearances. On March 30, 1981, the Dodgers traded Hatcher and two minor leaguers to the Minnesota Twins for veteran outfielder Ken Landreaux.

He played with the Twins from 1981 to 1986, hitting .284 in 672 games and then returned to the Dodgers as a free agent on April 10, 1987.
He is admired for his fun-loving approach to playing baseball, particularly on the World Champion 1988 Dodger team, and was featured in various presentations to the tune of the "Mickey Mouse Club" song. He would sprint to first base after drawing walks, like Pete Rose, and garnered a lot of media attention in the 1988 World Series by hitting a first-inning home run in Game 1 and sprinting full-speed around the bases instead of jogging. This prompted NBC broadcaster Joe Garagiola to say "He's the cover of The Saturday Evening Post!" and "He's running like he's afraid they're going to take it off the board!" Hatcher had only hit one home run in that 1988 season, but hit two in the World Series.

Hatcher was famously portrayed on 1986 Fleer and 1991 Upper Deck baseball cards with his "giant glove" which he often used for pranks or when participating in regular season games.

He remained with the Dodgers through 1991, spending his last season back in AAA, before retiring.

Following his playing days, Hatcher was a coach for the Texas Rangers in 1993 and 1994, the manager of the Rookie League Great Falls Dodgers in 1996 and 1997 and began 1998 as the manager of the Single-A San Bernardino Stampede before becoming the hitting coach for the Dodgers in mid-season. In 2000, he became the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels, under manager Mike Scioscia, Hatcher's teammate from the 1988 World Championship team. He was fired by the Angels on May 15, 2012, after the team started the season 16-21, but was hired in June by the Dodgers as a special assistant to the General Manager. Hatcher's position was not renewed in 2013.

Eric Hinske - 2002 Team

Eric Hinske discusses playing baseball in Alaska, moose at stoplights and most of all what a prospective ballplayer needs to bring with him to Alaska. He played on the 1996 Anchorage Glacier Pilots team.

Dave Hudgens - 1976 Team

Dave Hudgens bats away his funfilled days flying in Bush planes without doors, working at a Post Office, battling Kenai mosquitos and doing yard work for the 1976 Anchorage Glacier Pilots! We think he played baseball too. It's a great ride with tales of Augie Garrido, USC star: Bill Bordley, Kenai Oilers Hall of famers and fellow ASU stars: Chris Nyman and Mike Hildebrandt. There's also something about Mickey Hatcher and Chris Bando chasing a bear.

David Mark Hudgens (born December 5, 1956) is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman and is the hitting coach for the Houston Astros. He played for the Oakland Athletics during the 1983 season. Hudgens was drafted by the Mets in the first round of the January 1975 Draft and by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the June 1977 Draft. He did not sign either time, and instead chose to attend Arizona State University. He appeared in two College World Series during his four years with the Sun Devils. In his career, he had a batting average of .313 with 16 home runs and 135 runs batted in. After graduating, Hudgens played in six minor league seasons with the Athletics and Indians and appeared in six games with Oakland in 1983. After retiring from playing baseball, Hudgens managed four years in Oakland's minor league system from 1985-1988 for the Medford A's and Pocatello A's. He also managed in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for Leones del Caracas with a record of 35-28 during the winter of 2009 and 2014. He also served as hitting coach for the New York Mets from 2011 to 2014. On October 17, 2014 Hudgens was hired by the Houston Astros to be their hitting coach under new manager A.J. Hinch

select photos from shutterstock.com and courtesy of www.usctrojans.com, OU Athletics Communications, Arizona State University and Patrick O'Toole!