This article uses shallow references to the home page or some other high level page of a website that contains the cited document. Please edit the article so that the hyperlink points to the cited document.(May 2021)
Minor league baseball team
Victoria Mussels Baseball Club
(1978 - 1979)
Victoria, British Columbia
Minor league affiliations
Class
Class A Short Season
League
Northwest League
Division
North
Major league affiliations
Team
Independent
Team data
Colors
Navy Blue Orange White
Ballpark
Royal Athletic Park
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)
Jim and Lynn Chapman, Don Rogelstad & Robert L. Peden Nov. 79
General manager
Lynn Chapman
The Victoria Mussels[1][2][3][4][5] were a minor league baseball team located in British Columbia, Canada. The Mussels were members of the short-season Class A Northwest League from 1978-1979. Besides the Mussels, the other teams in the 1978 North Division were the Bellingham Mariners,[6][7][8][9] Grays Harbor Loggers[10][11][12] and the Walla Walla Padres.[13][14][15] The South Division consisted of the Bend Timberhawks,[16][17][18] Salem Senators,[19][20] Eugene Emeralds[21][22][23] and the Boise Buckskins.[16][24][25] Jim Chapman [26] managed the team in 1978 and played infield while Don Rogelstad served as the pitching coach along with pitching for the Mussels in 10 starts.[27][28]
Prior to owning the Mussels, both players during the early 70's played in the MLB minor system where Jim rose to AAA in 1973 with the Peninsula Whips of the International League and Don pitched in the New York Yankees farm system in 1972 with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees of the A class Florida State League. The 1978 season record ended at 29-40 with an attendance of 10,103 or an average of 288 fans per 35 home games.[25]
In the 1979 season the North Division teams were the Victoria Mussels,[29][30] Bellingham Mariners,[31][32][33] Grays Harbor Mets [34][35][36] and the Walla Walla Padres.[37][38] The South Division consisted of the Central Oregon Phillies (replacing the Bend Timberhawks),[39][40] Salem Senators,[41][42][43] Medford A's[44][45][46][47](replacing the Boise Buckskins) and the Eugene Emeralds.[48][49][46][50] In the 79 season the owners formed a partnership with[51] Van Schley,[52] an independent baseball entrepreneur [53] from Texas/California who provided 16 players and his manager, Bill Bryk [54][55][56] and coach Chris Gandy and covered the cost of the payroll for the team in exchange for the player contracts for each player which could be sold to MLB to recover his cost. Van Schley even brought along Bill Murray[57][58][59][60][61] to liven up the crowd as a guest base coach and cheerleader.[27][28]
Chapman and Rogelstad stepped away from their on-the-field roles to concentrate on promoting the team; along with Jim's brother Lynn, to a very hardball sleepy Victoria.
Bryk's Mussels caught wind in the second half of 1979 winning 24 of their final 36 games finishing one game out of first with a 41-31 record.[62]
During the season the Mussels found a gem in knuckleball pitcher Tom Candiotti (the CandyMan)[63] earning a 5-1 record & %.833. After the Mussels he moved on to AAA in 1983-85 with the Vancouver Canadians of the Pacific Coast League earning an above %.600. He later made his MLB debut in 1983 as one of the first to make a comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery. He went on to play for the Brewers, Indians, Blue Jays, Athletics and Dodgers. He threw his final pitch in July 1999 at age 41. Since 2013 the Candyman has been a television and radio analyst for the Arizona Dianmondbacks[64][65]
Notables from the 1979 Mussels with a winning %.750 R-pitcher Edward Koziol, R-pitcher Roy Moretti[66] from Victoria with a %.545, dependable southpaw 61 RBI hitter Emil Drzayich. Both Drzayich and Koziol were selected for the All-STAR team of the Northwest League[67]
Other notables from the 1978 Mussels[68] were Dale Mohoric R-pitcher with %.545 who rose to AAA in 1981 with the Pacific Coast League Portland Beavers and finished out in 1990 with the Indianapolis Indians of the American Association of Professional Baseball, 3rd baseman Danny Gans with 27 RBI's, R-pitcher Roy Moretti from Victoria with a pitching %.545 and hard driving southpaw 42 RBI hitter and outfielder Paul Kirsch who ended his career in AA in 1983 with the Waterbury Reds of the Eastern League (1938–2020) and
southpaw pitcher Dave Cheadle, reaching AAA in 1976 with the Richmond Braves of the International League.
After the 1979 season ended[69] the Chapmans sold the Mussels assets (including logos, equipment and copyrights)[70] to Nanaimo/Parksville real estate builder/developer Robert L. Peden[71] formally from the Victoria sports family[72] of the early 20th century.[73] The name was changed to "The Victoria Blues Baseball Club" for the upcoming 1980 season with more to follow on the Blues Wikipedia page[74]
The 1979 season record ended at 41-31 with an attendance of 8,073 or an average of 224 fans over 36 home games. The 1980 Blues season was much better.[75][76][77]
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-04-29)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-05-13)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-05-25)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-06-10)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-06-18)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-06-21)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-06-22)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-06-23)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-25)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-30)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-21)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-18)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-04)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-22)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-22)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^ ab"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-09)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-15)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-17)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-11)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-09)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-07)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-13)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-15)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-06)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^ ab"The Daily Colonist (1978-08-24)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-06-27)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^ abCKDA 1220 Victoria - local radio broadcasting each week
^ abCJVI 900 Radio Victoria - local radio broadcasting each week
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-05-04)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-05-18)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-21)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-22)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-24)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-20)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-21)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-24)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-26)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-28)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-08)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-12)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-10)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-11)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-07-17)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-05)". University of Victoria. May 21, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-02)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^ ab"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-03)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-10)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-06)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-08)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-14)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The summer of Bill Murray". FOX Sports.
^Walsh, John A. (October 28, 1978). "Baseball's Oddballs" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-04-21)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-12)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-14)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-16)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-06-08)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"MINOR LEAGUE GEEK". February 2, 2019.
^"Did Bill Murray play in a minor league baseball game in Victoria in 1979?". Global News.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-18)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-19)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-15)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"Tom Candiotti Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
^Staff, LLAF (August 5, 2019). "Through Tom Candiotti's Eyes Former knuckleballer brings a wealth of knowledge as D-backs analyst".
^"Who's Your Daddy Week: Tom Candiotti". Arizona Sports. June 12, 2013.
^"The Daily Colonist (1978-07-20)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1978 – via Internet Archive.
^"1978 Victoria Mussels Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-vm15165/y-1979
^"1978 Victoria Mussels Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-08-31)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^"The Daily Colonist (1979-10-28)". University of Victoria. December 24, 1979 – via Internet Archive.
^Robert L. Peden is both the editor and former owner of the Mussels, each Colonist reference simply scroll to sports section.
^"William "Torchy" Peden | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.
The VictoriaMussels were a minor league baseball team located in British Columbia, Canada. The Mussels were members of the short-season Class A Northwest...
William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian, known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies...
He got a shot when he traveled to Victoria, British Columbia, for a tryout with the independent VictoriaMussels of the Northwest League in 1979. Candiotti...
win against the VictoriaMussels, and watched by the 141 fans in attendance, Murray got to pinch hit during the eighth inning. The Mussels manager (Jim Chapman)...
David Baird Cheadle, Jr. (February 19, 1952 – February 25, 2012) was an American professional baseball player. A 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 203 lb (92 kg) left-handed...
Dale Robert Mohorcic (born January 25, 1956) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 1990. Mohorcic was a star at Cleveland...
Royal Athletic Park is a stadium in Victoria, British Columbia, and is used for baseball, soccer, softball and football, but also hosts special events...
freshwater mussels, family Unionidae, which live in lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water. These freshwater pearl mussels occur not only...
(1946–1951) Victoria Tyees (WIL) (1952) VictoriaMussels (NWL) (1978–1979) Victoria Blues (NWL) (1980) Victoria Capitals (CBL) (2003) Victoria Royals (Pacific...
Affiliate New Westminster Frasers New Westminster, British Columbia 1974 0 Independent VictoriaMusselsVictoria, British Columbia 1978–1980 0 Independent...
species of freshwater mussels (family Hyriidae) occur in South Australia-the river mussel (Alathyria jacksoni) and the billabong mussel (Velesunio ambiguus)...
Power. His brother, Rod Murphy, played minor league baseball for the VictoriaMussels, Utica Blue Sox and Modesto A’s. 1987 Topps baseball card # 743 "Dwayne...
freshwater mussel or Glenelg River mussel, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. The species...
Although vivid green in appearance, the mussels are shrouded with overgrowth and are often hard to find. The mussels live in waters that are 11–32 °C (52–90 °F)...
12 Acquired Mark Wiley from the San Diego Padres for Andy Dyes. September 12 Purchased Dale Mohorcic from the VictoriaMussels of the Northwest League....
saltwater mussel, a marine bivalve mollusk species in the family Mytilidae, the mussels. Other common names for this species include: the Japanese mussel, Senhouse's...
predation of zebra mussels at any stage of development has not made a significant contribution to the long-term reduction of zebra mussel populations. Poaching...
species of molluscs (e.g., bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters, and mussels). The harvesting, processing, and consuming of seafoods are ancient practices...
contestants visited the Bendigo Art Gallery for a French themed mystery box (mussels, shallots, apples, Dijon mustard, peas, croissant, duck leg, prunes, bouquet...
Bay is a horsehead-shaped enclosed bay on the central coast of southern Victoria, Australia. The bay opens into the Bass Strait via a short, narrow channel...
were exports, usually sold as frozen mussels in half shells, patented with the trade name NZ Greenshell Mussels. There are two types of wild oysters in...
least part of their life cycle, but some animals, such as sponges, corals, mussels, and barnacles, later become sessile. The blastula is a stage in embryonic...
acidification makes it harder for marine calcifying organisms such as mussels, barnacles and corals to produce shells and skeletons; and heatwaves have...