1945 Landis Millers | Opening Day Lineup
Boone Tucker walked out of the dugout at Lenoir-Rhyne College Park and met the umpires with his first regular-season lineup card as manager of the Landis Millers. Here’s who Tucker penciled in as starters on Wednesday, May 16, 1945 against Hickory (clip it – this card might be worth something some day).
LANDIS MILLERS- CF Phil Durham, 26, lefty hitter, “tireless worker”
- LF John Meeks, 19, switch hitter, “advanced approach at the plate, athletic”
- 2B Ross Stokes, 30, righty hitter, “sweet swing … plus-defender up the middle”
- 3B Joe Hayes, 22, switch hitter, “clubhouse leader”
- RF Sergio Garcia, 19, lefty hitter, “cool under pressure”
- SS Eric Gossett, 29, righty hitter, “quiet, introverted but steady”
- C Brandon Windstein, 21, switch hitter, "serviceable at the plate but a bulldog behind the plate”
- 1B Chris Vance, 19, righty hitter, “raw with potential to be a plus-plus power hitter”
- Pitcher John Twitty, 18, “appears ready for the spotlight now … it is rare to see talent like this”
And away we go!