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How it All Began for Allan Simpson "Before that, I had spent three summers with the (amateur) Alaska Goldpanners, during which time I doubled as sports editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. I had the good fortune to watch Dave Winfield break in as a full-time position player in Fairbanks in 1972" "In his previous life before founding Baseball America 20 years ago, Allan Simpson spent three summers in Fairbanks, Alaska, as assistant general manager of the Alaska Goldpanners. " - Baseball America

Pat Ebert:  Is there a team, or a couple of teams, that you hold particular interest in, whether it be a team you grew up watching or a team that in particular you admire the work they do in building a successful organization?

AS:  I was a huge Cincinnati Reds fan growing up, in the 60s and 70s. I'm not anymore.  Being from Canada, I had a natural inclination towards the Expos.  Prior to pursuing this career, I was a general manager in their minor league system when they had a team in western Canada in Lethbridge, Alberta. So in that sense, I was a fan of the Expos.  And being from the Pacific Northwest, I was a fan of the Seattle Mariners.  You have to allow yourself to cheer for some teams even if you're supposed to be neutral when you have to give equal treatment to all the clubs. I was involved with baseball with a couple of organizations before I started Baseball America.  I also spent three summers in Alaska, working for the semi-pro Alaska Goldpanners, a team that has sent about 200 players to the big-leagues over a 45-year period.  I went from working for that club in the mid-70's that had Dave Winfield as the left fielder, and three years later, to the team in Lethbridge that had Andre Dawson as its center fielder.  So I had some good exposure to a couple of premium players growing up." (cite)

Wally Burnett; Ray Leach; Jack Shuttleworth; Dr. James Beckley; Bob Bloom; Tony Messina; Duane Snedden; Dave Stewart; Joe Eisenmenger; Walt Kozie; Back from left: Harold Byrd; Ron Davis; Ed Orbeck; Steve Stephens; Gene Miller; Ed Merdes; Don Dennis; Bill Stroecker; Jack Murphy; Marc Langland; Phil Carboy; Barney Kopf

1969 Board of Directors

DEDICATED MEN - While the Goldpanners' playing season runs only 2½ months, it is a year-round job for the team's Board of Directors in keeping the program running.  Pictured are many of the members of the Board of Directors.    Front, from left, Emmitt Wilson, Tony Messina, Ron Davis, Dick Ward, Joe Eisenmenger and Ray Leach.  Back, from left, Barney Koph, Bob Voigt, Ken Haycraft, Gene Miller, Bill Stroecker, Don Dennis, Ted Lehne, Ed Merdes, Dr. James Beckley, Harold Byrd and Jack Murphy.

 

1964 Board of Directors

Mike Stepovich, Chairman, Wally Burnett, Ernie Carter, Charles Cole, Bob Dixon, Joe Franich, Larry Meath, Ed Orbeck, C.W. (Bill) Snedden, Bill Stroecker  General Manager : H.A. ' Red' Boucher. Business Managers : Ron Wood, Dick Ward, Don Bettinger.  Publicity : Stan Caulfield, Dick Lobdell.