2003 Goldpanner Brad Davis shines in MLB Debut

Davis, the latest of hundreds of ABL players
to ascend to Major League Baseball.
Photo courtesy of Goldpanners.com

Catcher Brad Davis -- a member of the 2003 Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks -- joined the prestigious club of ABL players to ascend the ranks to Major League Baseball this July 25th. What's more, he immediately proved that he belongs in the big leagues.

In a stellar debut on Sunday, Davis helped shut down the first-place Atlanta Braves (who are, as you may know, my favorite MLB team...good thing for Davis my love of ABL and the Panners transcends my life-long affinity for the Bravos) with two hits, an RBI, and a throw-out at second base of a stealing Matt Diaz. Davis had been on the 25-man roster since Wednesday, but Sunday was his first taste of big-league action when he got the start to spell every-day man Ronnie Paulino. Things obviously smoothed out for the catcher, who had to borrow gear after discovering that he had accidentally grabbed the wrong equipment bag in his haste to leave AAA New Orleans in the dust, and he went on to make a memorable MLB debut.

With his call-up, Brad Davis has become the 198th Goldpanner to play in the major leagues. Approaching the magic number of 200 alumni in the bigs, and countless more sent on to the various ranks of minor league ball, the Goldpanners have firmly established themselves as the most legendary amateur team in the history of the game. Counting alumni like Brad Davis and many more who are hot on his heels in the climb to the top, the Panners can be assured that their legacy will live on into the future.