Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks

Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks

Nicknames	'Panners
Founded	1960
League	Alaska Baseball League
Based in	Fairbanks, Alaska
Ballpark	Growden Memorial Park
Colors	Blue, Gold, Red
Owner(s)	Alaska Goldpanner Baseball, Inc (non-profit)
President	Brian Rasley
Manager	Dave Nakama
General manager	John Lohrke
Championships	NBC (1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980, 2002) Alaska (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2014)
Broadcasters	Gero von Dehn
Website	http://www.goldpanners.com

The Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks are a collegiate summer baseball team which was founded in 1960 as an independent barnstorming team. The Goldpanners were charter members of the Alaska Baseball League at the league's inception in 1974. The Goldpanners play their home games at Growden Memorial Park in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. They also host the annual Midnight Sun Game at their home venue.

Like other amateur collegiate summer baseball teams, the Goldpanners operate in a similar manner to professional minor league organizations: playing a nightly schedule, using wooden bats, and with lengthy road trips facing advanced competition. Facing a unique challenge due to Fairbanks' isolated location, the Goldpanners often play teams from the rest of Alaska and the West Coast of the Lower 48.

History

Founded by H. A. Boucher in 1960, Fairbanks' baseball team first made national news when the Pan-Alaska Gold Panners appeared in the 1962 NBC national championship game. Following a business re-organization led by W.G. Stroecker in 1963, the team changed was renamed the Alaska Goldpanners.

In 2008, former Goldpanner Bill "Spaceman" Lee returned to Fairbanks as an alumnus of the Midnight Sun Game. During his time with the club, which included a win for Lee in the Midnight Sun Game, Bill declared that the Goldpanners were "the number one amateur baseball organization in history."

Championships and honors

Notable alumni

Midnight Sun game

The players line up before the first pitch of the 2011 Midnight Sun Game.

First held in 1906, the annual Midnight Sun Game is held yearly in Fairbanks, hosted by the Goldpanners. The game, which begins at 10:30 PM on the night of the summer solstice, has gained the attention of international media.

Baseball America declared the game one of the "10 Must-See Baseball Events." In 2005, ESPN spotlighted the game during "50 States in 50 Days." ESPN The Magazine called the event the "#8 Ultimate Baseball Experience." The Sporting News declared that on the 21st of June, "Fairbanks is the Baseball Capitol of America". In 2012, Yankees Magazine declared the game "Baseball's Most Natural Promotion".

Quotes

"I've been lucky enough to attend many World Series, All-Star Games and Opening Days but the Midnight Sun Game is in a league of its own." – Greg Harris, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

"Everybody should have an opportunity to come to Alaska and see the Midnight Sun Game." – Bobby Doerr, Boston Red Sox alumnus and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer

2017 Roster

External links

• Official website
• Alaska Baseball League

Sports teams based in Alaska
Baseball	ABL: Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks Anchorage Bucs Anchorage Glacier Pilots Mat-Su Miners Peninsula Oilers Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks
Hockey	NAHL: Fairbanks Ice Dogs Kenai River Brown Bears
College athletics	NCAA Division II Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks