The 2021 "Field of Dreams" Team signs a Gold Glove CF and a five-time All-Star RH relief pitcher.
Transactions:
Signed OF Bill Virdon and RHP Doug Jones.
Optioned OF Billy Conigliaro and LHP Pedro Feliciano to AAA.
Designated INF/OF Pedro Gonzalez and RHP Tom Acker for assignment.
Outrighted RHP Chuck Hartenstein.
Announced the retirement of 2B Wayne Terwilliger.
Named Wayne Terwilliger to the coaching staff.
Lineup (8):
C Bill Freehan
1B Eddie Robinson
2B Jerry Remy
3B Dr. Bobby Brown
SS Julio Lugo
LF Joe Cunningham (primarily a 1B/RF, but also played LF)
CF Bill Virdon
RF Henry Aaron
Bench (7):
C Del Crandall
C Ray Fosse
2B Rennie Stennett (platoon starter with Remy)
2B/3B/SS Billy Moran
3B Ken Reitz (platoon starter with Brown)
OF Johnny Groth (platoon starter with Virdon)
OF Richie Scheinblum
Rotation (5):
RHP Don Sutton
RHP J.R. Richard
LHP Juan Pizarro
RHP Mudcat Grant
RHP Stan Williams
Bullpen (5):
RHP Doug Jones
RHP Dr. Mike G. Marshall
RHP Dick Tidrow
LHP Grant Jackson
LHP Rheal Cormier
The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Paul Foytack
RHP Art Ditmar
RHP Lew Krausse, Jr.
LHP Pedro Feliciano
LHP Tom Hilgendorf
RHP Joe Beckwith
C Mike Sadek
1B Hal Breeden
2B Chuck Schilling
3B/1B/C Bill Sudakis
SS Coot Veal
OF Billy Conigliaro
OF Angel Mangual
OF Ed Armbrister
OF Stan Palys
Outright Minor-League Assignment:
RHP Cloyd Boyer
RHP Wynn Hawkins
RHP Randy Tate
RHP Jerry Davie
RHP Cecil Perkins
RHP Gerry Schoen
LHP Memo Luna
RHP Chuck Hartenstein
RHP Vito Valentinetti
RHP Dwight Siebler
RHP Rafael Carmona
LHP Willard Hunter
RHP Jack H. Smith
LHP Charlie Gorin
RHP Mike Overy
RHP Duke Simpson
RHP Frankie De La Cruz
RHP Dick Colpaert
RHP Hy Cohen
RHP Ted Wieand
LHP John LaRose
C/1B Tim Talton
C/1B/OF Adrian Garrett
C/OF Phil Lombardi
C Charlie Lindstrom
1B/C Don Gile
1B Ron Johnson
1B/OF Dave L. Roberts
2B Don E. Leppert
3B/SS Dick H. Smith
SS/2B Ron Samford
SS/3B Tom E. Carroll
SS Al Naples
OF Rich Barry
OF Jacke Davis
OF Solly Drake
OF Scott Reid
OF/1B Nino Escalera
OF/1B Tim Tolman
C Tim Thompson (DFA)
RHP Tom Acker (DFA)
2B/1B/OF Pedro Gonzalez (DFA)
Coaching Staff:
Tommy Lasorda (MGR)
Joe Altobelli
Ray Miller
Norm Sherry
Tom Robson
Wayne Terwilliger
Jim Snyder
Mike Bell
Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Lugo ss
Cunningham lf
Aaron rf
Freehan c
Robinson 1b
Virdon cf
Brown 3b
Remy 2b
<pitcher>
Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Lugo ss
Cunningham lf
Aaron rf
Freehan c
Robinson 1b
Groth cf
Reitz 3b
Stennett 2b
<pitcher>
The club signs a Gold Glove winner and former Rookie of the Year to strengthen CF, and a soft-tossing closer and five-time All-Star to bolster an already formidable bullpen. Bill Virdon, the 1955 NL ROY and 1962 Gold Glove winner, will take over the majority of the playing time in CF as the left-handed hitting half of a platoon with righty-hitting Johnny Groth.
The club also signs RHP Doug Jones, a five-time All-Star with over 300 career saves, to solidify the back end of the pen and serve as co-closer with Mike Marshall. Manager Tommy Lasorda's plan is to use Jones in the traditional ninth inning closer role, while Marshall will be his hammer to use at any time in a key situation. Once Marshall is in the game, he may pitch two or three innings, and possibly even finish the game.
To make room for Virdon and Jones on the 25-man active roster, the club options OF Billy Conigliaro and LHP Pedro Feliciano to AAA, and to open up space on the 40-man roster, the club designates INF/OF Pedro Gonzalez and RHP Tom Acker for assignment. The club announces that RHP Chuck Hartenstein has accepted outright assignment to the minors, and the club also announces the retirement of 2B Wayne Terwilliger, who is immediately named to Tommy Lasorda's coaching staff in a yet to be determined capacity.