memory lane

Baseball America publishes a list every spring (see the April 6-19 issue) of all the minor league managers and coaches in every organization. It never ceases to amaze the number of familiar names that come jumping off the page. Former Jackson Generals manager Rick Sweet, who ran the first two Gens clubs in 1991 and ’92, is still managing; he’s with the Cincinnati Reds’ Triple-A club. Gary Allenson (Orioles) and Jim Pankovits (Astros), also former Generals managers, remain in the game as skippers. Ex-Generals outfielder Joe Mikulik is still running a club in the Rockies’ system, and ex-Gens third baseman Chris Truby will manage at the short-season level for the Phillies this summer. Former Gens pitching coach Charley Taylor is still teaching in the Astros’ system, now at the Class A level. Mississippi natives Chris Maloney, Stan Cliburn, Bob Didier and Bobby Dickerson are managing. Stan Cliburn, Larry Herndon and Jeff Branson are coaching. So is former Mississippi State star Bobby Thigpen. Alan Zinter, the last active ex-Jackson Met, is a coach for the Diamondbacks now. Greg Pavlick, who was on the very first Jackson Mets team in 1975 and later coached in the organization, is coaching the Yankees’ high-A team. Former Jackson Diamond Kats manager Steve Dillard, an Ole Miss alumnus who lives in Saltillo, is managing in the Cardinals’ system. And Jeff Ware — remember that name, Senators fans? — is a pitching coach in the Yankees’ system. Ware pitched and coached for the first Senators team in 2002, helping that club reach the Central League championship series. Trivia questions are beginning to boil.