Ex-Big Leaguers To Coach Indians

Rick Mahler and Steve ‘Bye-Bye’ Balboni, with 24 years of major league playing experience between them, have been named Spokane Indians coaches for the 1998 Northwest League baseball season.

Mahler pitched in the National League for 13 years, all but two with the Atlanta Braves. He had a career record of 96-111, including a 17-win season in 1985, and he led the N.L. in games started in 1985 and ‘86.

Mahler has managed the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Balboni played 11 years in the American League as a first baseman and designated hitter, hitting .229 with 181 home runs. Like Mahler, his top year was 1985, when he hit 36 homers and helped the Kansas City Royals win the World Series.

Spokane’s manager again will be Jeff Garber, who led the ‘97 Indians to a 45-31 record and second place in the North Division.

The Indians also announced that general manager Marc ‘Ripper’ Hatch has accepted a similar position with the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Canaries of the independent Northern League.

, DataTimes