Valentine, former Traveler general manager, dead at 82

Bill Valentine served Arkansas baseball fans for more than three decades as the general manager of the Arkansas Travelers, bringing out droves of fans thanks to his unique promotions during attendance booms in the 1980s and 1990s. Valentine then was instrumental in keeping professional baseball alive in central Arkansas, as the Travelers changed major-league affiliations and moved away from the fan favorite Ray Winder Field.

Valentine, a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Texas League Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Officials Association Hall of Fame, died on Sunday, according to the funeral home handling his services. He was 82.

Known for his colorful suspenders and at times just as colorful language, Valentine spent more than five decades in baseball. First, as an umpire where he spent six years in the American League, then as a broadcaster for the Travelers and finally as its general manager, pitching the experience at Ray Winder Field as much as the baseball itself.

His decades in the game earned him the title of "King of Baseball," given to him at the Baseball Winter Meetings last December in San Diego.

Valentine introduced such promotions as Roscoe Stidman, a 3-foot-5-inch pinch hitter, clunker car night and midget wrestling to Travelers fans, some of which are ongoing at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, which opened in 2007.

Dickey-Stephens Park came about after the Travs' long-time player development deal with the St. Louis Cardinals ended in 2000 after 35 seasons. After hearing complaints of the conditions of Ray Winder Field from Cardinals management, Valentine brokered a deal with the then Anaheim Angels to start the 2001 season, and that relationship remains today.

Valentine was born in Little Rock on Nov. 21, 1932, seven months after Travelers Field, later known as Ray Winder opened. Valentine worked at the park as a boy, working as a concession stands and as a clubhouse boy.

After graduating from North Little Rock High School, Valentine went to umpire's school and in 1963-1968 was an American League umpire, a tenure that ended when he was fired by American League president Joe Cronin shortly after Valentine tried to start an umpire's union.

Valentine stepped down as Travelers' general manager in 2006, and served as its chief operating officer in 2007-2009.

Services will be handled by Ruebel Funeral Home in Little Rock. Services are pending. The Travelers begin an eight-game homestand at Dickey-Stephens Park at 7:10 p.m. Monday night.

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