There's a lot of back story about former Buffalo Bison Tim Laker. The catcher was a fan favorite in 2001, him and third-baseman Greg LaRocca both had my attention in addition to second-baseman Zach Sorensen (who later became an LA Angel for a short length of time) and new outfield addition Milton Bradley (august 2nd). On an aside, it turns out my mother had gone to high school with Phillies Hall-of-Famer and former Bison fan favorite Dave Hollins. One late summer night on Thursday, August 23, 2001 against the since relocated Ottawa Lynx (Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs), I had my first recollection or interest of the Bisons during a 7-0 rout of the team from the Canadian capitol. This was despite having been to my first Herd game of the new millennium for the Independence Day spectacular fireworks on Monday July 3rd the previous year against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (now Rail Riders). Then a week or so later, the herd finished 13.5 games ahead of eventual the runners-up Red Barons in the International League's north division. Scranton-Wilkes Barre lost game one of the Governor's Cup series at home to the Louisville RiverBats on September 10. Because of the following day's events, the series was cancelled and the RiverBats declared the champions of the IL and would shorten their nickname to the Bats and slightly rebrand.
So what happened to Tim Laker after his stop in Buffalo? Before we discuss that, let's find out how he got here. He was drafted in 1987 by Kansas City out of high school (Simi Valley, CA) and the year after by Montreal from college (Oxanrd). It was through Montreal which he had made his first acquaintance with the Rich family (mentioned on Monday's post). Through two and a half years and two more promotions, Laker found his way to Double-A Harrisburg by the end of 1991 and at the end of the following year, he got the September call-up from the big club north of the border, who were preparing plans for a new stadium in 1994. Through 1994, he spent time yo-yoing between Montreal and Triple-A Ottawa up the corresponding section of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Following a year away to injury, 1997 was split between AAA Rochester and affiliate Baltimore. 1998 was busy between two clubs and respective Triple-A clubs before Pittsburgh kept him in Nashville to start 1999 before another call-up sent him to the Buccos before being spending all of 2000 back with the Sounds in Nashville. It was just thirty days before this game in which he was call-ed up by the Tribe in Cleveland. Though he spent time both in Cleveland and Buffalo, he would wind up in Single-A Columbus (South Carolina) to end the season. This was just a blip as Tim was able to enjoy stability at the Indians' Jacobs Field for two whole seasons. 2005 was interesting as for one day, Laker was a Tampa Bay Ray before going to Triple-A Durham. The solitary year in Durham turned into a return to Buffalo in 2006 with a stint at "the Jake" for three weks starting in late May. At seasons end and thirty six years of age in 2006, Laker called it a day and hung up the spikes.
But the action happened after he called it quits. When the Mitchell Report was released in relation to the steroid and performance enhancing drug scandal, Laker's name was mentioned. he was a client of Kirk Radomski from 1995-1999, but openly admitted a year after the report that he had made an unwise choice in doing so. And there youhave the abridged biography of Tim Laker without referencing any sources that I haven't read in at least five years to remember where to like you to that isn't Wikipedia in this case. Buffalo was the one positive of his career. for as much time as he spent here, it allowed him develop rapport in his first stint in Buffalo with manager Eric Wedge who brought Laker with him to Cleveland after Wedge's promotion to managing the Tribe. I guess that means Buffalo really is the "City of Good Neighbors," even if you aren't from here.
-Ricky
July 3, 2001 was the last day of the home stand before the next road trip.
So what happened to Tim Laker after his stop in Buffalo? Before we discuss that, let's find out how he got here. He was drafted in 1987 by Kansas City out of high school (Simi Valley, CA) and the year after by Montreal from college (Oxanrd). It was through Montreal which he had made his first acquaintance with the Rich family (mentioned on Monday's post). Through two and a half years and two more promotions, Laker found his way to Double-A Harrisburg by the end of 1991 and at the end of the following year, he got the September call-up from the big club north of the border, who were preparing plans for a new stadium in 1994. Through 1994, he spent time yo-yoing between Montreal and Triple-A Ottawa up the corresponding section of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Following a year away to injury, 1997 was split between AAA Rochester and affiliate Baltimore. 1998 was busy between two clubs and respective Triple-A clubs before Pittsburgh kept him in Nashville to start 1999 before another call-up sent him to the Buccos before being spending all of 2000 back with the Sounds in Nashville. It was just thirty days before this game in which he was call-ed up by the Tribe in Cleveland. Though he spent time both in Cleveland and Buffalo, he would wind up in Single-A Columbus (South Carolina) to end the season. This was just a blip as Tim was able to enjoy stability at the Indians' Jacobs Field for two whole seasons. 2005 was interesting as for one day, Laker was a Tampa Bay Ray before going to Triple-A Durham. The solitary year in Durham turned into a return to Buffalo in 2006 with a stint at "the Jake" for three weks starting in late May. At seasons end and thirty six years of age in 2006, Laker called it a day and hung up the spikes.
But the action happened after he called it quits. When the Mitchell Report was released in relation to the steroid and performance enhancing drug scandal, Laker's name was mentioned. he was a client of Kirk Radomski from 1995-1999, but openly admitted a year after the report that he had made an unwise choice in doing so. And there youhave the abridged biography of Tim Laker without referencing any sources that I haven't read in at least five years to remember where to like you to that isn't Wikipedia in this case. Buffalo was the one positive of his career. for as much time as he spent here, it allowed him develop rapport in his first stint in Buffalo with manager Eric Wedge who brought Laker with him to Cleveland after Wedge's promotion to managing the Tribe. I guess that means Buffalo really is the "City of Good Neighbors," even if you aren't from here.
-Ricky
July 3, 2001 was the last day of the home stand before the next road trip.
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