In a hotel lobby in 1967, a 19-year-old pitcher from Illinois approached one of his new Bluefield Orioles teammates, a 22-year-old shortstop from California.
“Hi, I’m Ron Shelton,” the pitcher standing up said.
A befuddled look crossed the face of the seated shortstop.
“No you’re not. I’m Ron Shelton!”
After a two-year Minor League career, the pitcher returned to Illinois to become a teacher, coach and principal. His son Derek now manages the Pirates.
The shortstop’s career lasted five years before he went back to California and eventually wrote and directed “Bull Durham.”
Manny Machado’s 65th career home run at Petco Park put him into a tie with Adrián González for the most in the history of the stadium, which opened in 2004.