Bill Valentine Retires From Arkansas Travelers
"I've been in baseball for almost 60 years," said Valentine. "Over the past couple of years, I think the daily grind has gotten to me a bit. Most nights I have been the last person to leave the ballpark, and I'm usually here seven days a week. I've just gotten tired."
Valentine, 77, grew up at Travelers Field in Little Rock working various jobs from clubhouse boy to ball shagger to concession worker. He attended umpire school in 1950 after graduating from North Little Rock High School, and became the youngest professional umpire in baseball history in 1951 at the age of 18. He worked his way up the minor league ladder until being elevated to the American League in 1963. He was let go by the AL in 1968 after attempting to start an umpire's union.
He came back to Little Rock in 1969 and joined Jim Elder on the air for Travs broadcasts for the next eight years. Valentine also worked as a television sportscaster and radio deejay on KARK (now KARN), did some sports writing for the Arkansas Democrat and was executive director of the Arkansas Republican Party. In 1976, the Travs were searching for a new general manager after Carl Sawatski was elected president of the Texas League. The Executive Committee of the fan-owned Travs hired Valentine to replace Sawatski for the 1976 season.
Over the first five years of his tenure at the helm of the Travs attendance jumped over 150,000. Valentine displayed a knack for promotions pioneering many giveaway nights and bringing various entertainment acts like Captain Dynamite to Travs games. Other unique promotions like pre-game midget wrestling or amateur boxing were frequent at Ray Winder Field, and Valentine was awarded the Lee MacPhail Trophy in 1983 as baseball's top promoter.
The Travs were the top draw in the Texas League during the 1980s, and in 1989 Valentine was named the double-A Executive of the Year by the Sporting News. In 1990 the Travs were recognized by Baseball America with the coveted Freitas Award that recognizes one organization's long term stability and success.
The Travs' charter as a fan-owned ballclub mandated that all profits must be used for the upkeep of Ray Winder Field, which was in a state of disrepair by the mid-1970s. Thanks to the increased attendance during his years, Valentine oversaw numerous renovations to the ballpark including new restrooms, clubhouses and playing surfaces on top of the annual up-keep on the venerable facility. Due to Valentine's near obsession with cleanliness, Ray Winder Field was one of the most spotless ballparks in the country.
After the 2000 season Valentine signed an agreement to make the Travs the Texas League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, ending the 35-year relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals. The team ended an 11-year drought by winning a league championship in the first year of the new affiliation.
In August 2005 the voters of North Little Rock approved a two-year, one-cent sales tax to build a new home for the Travelers. Valentine was instrumental in the construction of Dickey-Stephens Park. Due to his diligence and attention to detail, Bill was one of the driving forces that contributed to the success of the project. About to enter its third season in the downtown riverfront, Dickey-Stephens Park has been lauded as one of the finest minor league parks in the country.
Six times voted Texas League Executive of the Year and a member of the Texas League and Arkansas Sports Halls of Fame, Valentine has also been given the George Troutman Award in 1994 for long and distinguished service to baseball. He will continue to serve the rest of the current term on the Board of Trustees of Minor League Baseball.
Pete Laven, who became the Travs GM in 2007 when Valentine relinquished the position, will remain in his current role running the day-to-day operations of the club. The 2009 season will be Laven's 11th with the Travs.
"I've been lucky to work so closely with one of the true legends of professional sports," said Laven. "I know I can speak for hundreds of people across the country when I say that we owe Bill a debt of gratitude for our careers. He saved baseball twice in Central Arkansas, and our ballpark has his fingerprints all over it."
"Pete really has been tremendous as the general manager for the past two years," Valentine said. "I know the franchise is in terrific hands with him. And I'll tell you something else. Our office staff has never been better.
"I think I've done everything that I possibly can with the Travs," continued Valentine. "The franchise has come a long way from when they hired me to take over in 1976. I'm very proud of what we have accomplished here. I think I can say that baseball in Central Arkansas is better off today than it was when I started here."
Don't sleep on these prospects at Spring Breakout -- 1 from each team
The second edition of Spring Breakout is bursting with high-profile prospects. Seventy members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 are slated to participate, including Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), Tigers outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell (No. 7), Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 9) and
Meet the 14 women who run MiLB teams
From California to Massachusetts, from Arkansas to Iowa, leadership in professional baseball is evolving. Coming into the 2025 season, there are 14 women in general manager positions across Minor League Baseball. When most fans think of the GMs in baseball, they likely assume the job is all about building a
2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
From Spring Breakout to MLB? Here are nine players who could soon be in The Show
The inaugural Spring Breakout in 2024 provided a platform for fans to meet many of baseball's top prospects before they began standing out in the Majors shortly thereafter. Paul Skenes striking out Jackson Holliday. Jackson Chourio reaching twice and scoring a run. Jace Jung hitting a pair of homers.
Brewers' 17-year-old international signee draws comparisons to Chourio
PHOENIX – A farm system loses an elite-level prospect like Jackson Chourio, who was the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball at the start of the 2024 season, to the big leagues, it’s easy to understand that it would take a hit in this year’s farm system rankings. So don’t
Cubs have MLB stars AND loaded farm system
MESA, Ariz. – It’s a testament to where a farm system is when a Top 100-caliber hitter gets traded away and there’s still a desire to tout the bats. The Cubs traded Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal, but they still have seven players on the
Griffin boosts Pirates system, known for producing arms, with some pop
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects
New Rays prospect additions fitting right into the organizational mold
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Thirteen members of the Rays’ Top 30 prospect list weren’t in the organization at this time last year. Two arrived in the 2024 Draft, one was a 2025 international signee and a whopping 10 have come over in trades since last March. Normally with that level
Headlined by big-name bats, Mariners' system strong on pitching depth, too
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners placed fifth in MLB Pipeline's new farm system rankings, thanks in large part to their seven Top 100 Prospects. That total ties them with the Cubs for the most in baseball, and all seven of them are hitters. Don't get the impression that the organization
All eyes turn to hurlers Sykora, Susana in Nats camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will
Here are the prospects with the best tools in Spring Breakout
The inaugural edition of Spring Breakout was a rousing success last year. Sixteen games showcased not only many of baseball's best prospects but also some of the most jaw-dropping tools in the Minors. Of the 10 best individual attributes we highlighted a year ago, nine belonged to players who reached
Boston's 'Core Four' hitting principles breeding prospect success
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Boston was built to be a shining city on a hill, according to John Winthrop. Four centuries later, the Hub’s top three baseball prospects are meant to be a shining example atop the Red Sox farm system. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer – the
Phils' teen catching prospect using ABS challenge experience to his advantage
CLEARWATER, Fla. – One of the storylines of Spring Training has been the implementation of the ABS challenge system in select ballparks across Arizona and Florida. But those in the Sunshine State might be a little more familiar with the tech than their southwestern counterparts. The Florida State League first
Texas' exciting crop of pitching prospects looks to spin the narrative
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in
The 10 best 2025 Spring Breakout rosters, ranked
Ding, ding, who’s ready for Round 2? Last year’s inaugural edition of Spring Breakout gave fans early looks at Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Jackson Holliday, Ceddanne Rafaela and many other young stars who graduated off prospect lists in 2024. Not only does it serve as a
Yankees' prospect gains coming up long at short
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have a fascinating shortstop decision on their hands. You could say it’s the most interesting one since you-know-who retired in 2014. New York is battling going with a veteran presence in Isiah Kiner-Falefa or a prospect in Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza. It’s still too
Mets looking for top prospects to complement veteran stars
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The last time Juan Soto played in a Minor League game was back in 2018, when in the span of 39 games at age 19 he went from A ball to High-A to Double-A and then to the big leagues with the Nationals and never
'Eephus' director Lund talks movie on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors radio legend exits the booth in Birmingham
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MLB's 2025 farm system rankings -- with a new No. 1
It’s time to crown a new king. After a three-year run for the Orioles atop our preseason farm system rankings, they’ve stepped off the throne, making way for the Tigers. The O’s had slipped from the top spot in our 2024 midseason rankings as they’d graduated a number of prospects