We all miss Farrell Owens who passed away November 20, 2020. He was one of the best baseball people in Nashville and loved sharing images and stories with his teammates and others. Below is the content of an email he sent one year ago today:
“I think most of us that have an interest in amateur baseball on the Nashville sandlots have our favorite players and teams. One person may think a particular team was the best all-time and others will disagree.Well, the 1985 Webb’s Flooring team can certainly make a strong argument that they were the best of all time. After losing a one-run game in the 1984 Stan Musial Championship game they came back strong the next year to win the long-coveted Musial World Series in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The manager of this team was Kenny Thomas and he took this team back to Battle Creek again in 1986 and finished third ( What a fantastic three-year run! ). Thomas was assisted by Harold Herman and his pitching coach was former Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians pitcher Wayne Garland. Former St. Louis Cardinals farmhand Orlando Thomas was the bullpen coach. Steve Hughes and Ron Breedlove were former professionals. Benton Patton would later sign and play at the AA level with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kenny Thomas was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Stratford HS here in Nashville, Tennessee. He had been a star on the Nashville sandlots all during his teenage and young adult years and after college decided to start coaching. He had attended Trevecca University where he was a first-team NAIA All-American as a catcher his senior year in 1978.
Several years ago his college playing number was retired and now that number graces the outfield wall at the Trevecca baseball field. This year Kenny began his 21st year as the head coach of the South Carolina-Aiken Pacers baseball program ( NCAA Division 2 ). Kenny has won 738 games with the Pacers and altogether has won 1,258 games as a college head coach. He was at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee before going to South Carolina.
Mark Ambrose also played professionally. In 1986 Mark was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and spent five years in their farm system with the last three years at Double-A El Paso, TX. Also, it needs to be mentioned that the pitcher that Webb’s defeated in the championship game in 1985 was none other than John Smoltz. Yes, that John Smoltz! Three years later Mr. Smoltz would make his major league debut with the Atlanta Braves!”
Farrell was one of those treasures we hold dear to our hearts. His enthusiasm was for baseball and those he came in contact with was second to none.
© 2021 by Skip Nipper. All Rights Reserved.
