Congratulations, Rodney

In the offseason, Major League organizations spend a lot of time re-organizing. Hiring, firings, and re-locations are commonplace, but personnel moves of this sort are not the type of subject matter usually covered here at this fine blog.

I’ll make an exception for Mr. Rodney McCray, however, who was just hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a roving baserunning and outfield coach. Mr. McCray –who has also coached for the Reds, Padres, and Royals — spent time in the Major Leagues from 1990-92. However, he will always be a Minor League icon as a result of his 1991 crash through the outfield wall of Portland’s Civic Stadium.

McCray’s immortal blooper resulted in the much-celebrated "Rodney MCray Bobblefence Doll", which
was given away by the Portland Beavers in 2006 (and appropriated by the State College Spikes for last season’s Turner Ward Bobblewall).

I spoke with Rodney at the time of the Bobblefence Giveaway, and found him to be a truly nice guy who was at peace with his somewhat odd place in baseball history. Here’s hoping he finds success within the Dodgers organization, and that he continues to inspire a new generation of players to compete with the sort of energy and enthusiasm which results in busted walls and eventual bobblehead celebrity.