Santa Maria Packers pitching coach Bryn Smith didn’t want it to turn out this way.
When he and the rest of the Santa Maria Indians’ coaching staff left the team to form the second incarnation of Packers baseball in December 2007, their intention was simple: to continue the legacy of the Indians’ longtime manager Clarence “Scoop” Nunes.
This year, following the Indians’ announcement on March 31 that the club won’t be taking the field for the 2009 season due to financial troubles, the Packers are left standing as the only game in town for semi-pro baseball. But Smith isn’t exactly thrilled.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” he said. “It’s disappointing that it’s come to this endeavor. That wasn’t our goal, but we plan on carrying the torch proudly and recognizing people from the Indians’ history.”
Established in 1944, the Indians are the oldest semi-pro baseball team in California. One of only two teams from the state to ever take home the National Baseball Congress championship, its alumni include former Major League Baseball stars like Ozzie Smith, Robin Ventura, Pete Incaviglia, and the San Francisco Giants’ Mike Aldrete.
Nunes managed the team for 47 of the franchise’s 65 seasons in Santa Maria, until his death in late 2003. With Nunes’ passing, Smith said, a piece of the Indians went with him. Beginning in 2004, a tussle ensued between Indians’ coaches and current team owner Kevin Haughian over how to best to continue his legacy.
Haughian thought it best to turn the club into a moneymaking venture, while the defecting coaches wanted the Indians to remain a nonprofit and rely on public donations to survive. The team lost money despite an increase in attendance over the past five seasons, leading to financial limbo and the real danger of being relocated permanently.
“Each and every year, the costs associated with running a ballclub continue to rise,” Haughian said in a press release.
“Unfortunately, because of our current economic climate, the financial support necessary to fund the Indians’ operation has been absent. In addition, rising expenses associated with the use of Elks Field, coupled with the establishment of a new team in Santa Maria, have further hampered our efforts to make ends meet.”
Through its website, the team is calling out to the public, former players, and local businesses for donations in order to stay afloat.
“Player housing, meal money, hotels, transportation, equipment, insurance, umpire fees, and field rental are just some of the costs associated with our 50-plus games every summer,” the website reads. “Any contribution to the program would be very much appreciated and put toward the continued good health of California’s oldest and most successful college summer baseball team.”
According to documents released to the media, team officials hope the Indians can return in 2010 with a new group of investors and a renovated Elks Field, but they’re also open to selling the club and even moving the Indians out of town. Haughian, who was unavailable for comment as of press time, said in a press release that he’s optimistic about the team staying in the area.
“With the continued support of the community, I’m very hopeful that in the near future the Indians will be able to deliver yet another national championship to the Central Coast,” Haughian said.
The key to any sports team’s survival is getting fans in the seats. In the past year and a half since the Packers and Indians split, there’s been doubt that the city is even capable of supporting two semi-pro baseball squads.
Despite the Indians’ woes—and worries that the Packers could soon follow—Smith says he thinks there’s enough of a fan base for baseball in Santa Maria to support both teams, provided the franchises are able to put money back into the community and continue to be actively involved with local baseball organizations like the Little League and Babe Ruth League.
“If one wants to do this and try to make money, I don’t think that’s probably going to be able to happen,” Smith said. “If both organizations were nonprofits, where the money was going back into the community and helping out—not only our organizations, but baseball in general—I think that everybody could come together and it could possibly survive.”
Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas will buy you some peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Contact him at jthomas@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 9-16, 2009.