Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412210111
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This year's class includes former major-leaguers Art Howe and Charlie Manuel, recreation coach Junior Epperly, volunteer John Muse and semipro player and manager Toler Ransone.
Howe and Manuel spent time in the major leagues, while Epperly, Muse, and Ransome are legendary in their home areas. Epperly is from Salem, Muse is from Franklin County and Ransone is a resident of Buchanan.
Currently managing in the Dominican Republic, Howe played third base for the Salem Pirates in 1971 and hit .348 to win the Carolina League batting title. He also hit 12 home runs, drove in 79 runs and stole 11 bases in his first year of pro ball after being signed off the sandlots of Wyoming.
Howe played in the majors for 12 years and hit .260 with 43 homers. He managed the Houston Astros in the big leagues, and is now a hitting coach with the Colorado Rockies, the big league affiliate of the Carolina League's Salem Avalanche.
Manuel is a resident of Roanoke County and the hitting coach of the Cleveland Indians. A graduate of Parry McCluer High School in Buena Vista, he played in the majors with Los Angeles and Minnesota before making it big in Japan, where he was MVP and a Triple Crown winner.
Manuel managed Cleveland Class AAA teams to league titles in 1992 and '93 before being elevated to the big-league team last season.
The late Epperly was a legendary manager in Salem on the sandlot fields. He managed future big-leaguer Billy Sample, as well as Sandy Hill and other outstanding players during his many years of volunteer service.
Ransone, 89, is a household name among baseball enthusiasts in Botetourt County. He played professional ball until his 60th birthday, and was a player and manager for more than 40 years.
Muse, from Franklin County, built a field on his farm so youngsters could play. He was a second baseman in his younger days, playing against the legends of his time in the local community league. Muse is in his 80s.
The Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame recognizes people who have excelled in or contributed to baseball in any of seven Virginia counties, or independent cities located within the boundaries of those counties, including Roanoke, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, and Montgomery. The Hall of Fame was founded in 1991.
The five new inductees will join the 15 current members at the annual induction banquet at the Salem Civic Center. The speaker will be former big league reliever and present broadcaster Al Hrabosky.
Tickets for the banquet, featuring former big league reliever and present broadcaster Al Hrabosky as speaker, are on sale at the Salem Civic Center.
by CNB