In his first year as a manager in affiliated baseball, Davis won a first-half title in the Western Division to assure the Chiefs an invitation to the Midwest League playoffs starting next week.
Chiefs players and employees have been equally impressed with the way Davis handles autograph requests - every day, home and away - and a heavy volume of mail.
"It's funny that he gets more fan mail than anyone on this team," Chiefs first baseman Ryan Norwood said. "That's what we all want. I won't say it's a jealousy thing, but you see it and you say, 'Yeah, I want that. I want to be that good where people want my autograph.' "
Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen said this is the first season he can recall the manager being the center of attention. That has raised awareness of the team in the community.
"He does quite a few speaking engagements," Vonachen said. "We've never really gotten a lot of requests from rotary clubs and Kiwanis before. We've had a lot for Jody. He's done an excellent job with that. He goes out and tells great stories about his playing days. Jody's a laid-back guy who's pretty much done whatever we've asked him to do for us."
Today is the last day of Midwest League Baseball at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Enquirer has multi-story coverage.
Soon to be a memory
Years of rumors are finally a reality as poor attendance has forced the franchise out of town. This season, the Devil Rays ranked third from the bottom in Midwest League attendance.
However, the team isn't void of true fans. There's simply not enough of them.
Thirty-five loyalists have been season-ticket holders all 12 years and several other people have supported the team strongly. The Devil Rays offered all the 12-year ticket holders the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch between games of tonight's doubleheader finale against the Beloit (Wis.) Snappers, which starts at 5:35 p.m.
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Three years ago, the Payne family decided to make baseball a part of their lives. Ever since, Deborah and Brian, along with daughter Samantha have been C.O. Brown regulars and player hosts.
This year, the Paynes hosted fan-favorite Cesar Suarez, the Devil Rays' smiling, solid-hitting third baseman. Samantha Payne, 12, has become a baseball fanatic and one of the Rays' loudest supporters behind the third-base dugout.
"It's an awful feeling (seeing the team leave)," Samantha said. "I was thinking about it just the other day, and I didn't like the way it felt. I just like the atmosphere at the ballpark."
Even though it became inevitable the franchise would leave, that realization isn't making the breakup any easier on fans.
"Baseball has enhanced our lives in numerous ways," Deborah Payne said.
"It's been more than just a sport. To us, it's like breaking up a big family."
Sun sets on Rays' home season and an era of baseball in Battle Creek
People either thought this would never work, or they thought it could last forever. Turns out they we're all right, to a certain extent.
B.C. can boast Major alumni
In 1999, 40 percent of the Michigan Battle Cats' starting pitching rotation consisted of Roy Oswalt and Johan Santana.
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Oswalt and Santana are just two of the 42 players who spent time in the Battle Creek franchise and went on to play in the major leagues.
Whether it was the Michigan Battle Cats, Battle Creek Yankees or Southwest Michigan Devil Rays, the last 12 seasons have been talent-rich.
The complete list is over on the righthand side of the screen.
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