It was only four years ago when J. R. House put up a .305-19-81 season with Long Island and was chosen as the all-league catcher. Now, the 35-year-old has been named Manager of the Year in the California League for leading Arizona prospects to a first-half divisional championship, Visalia's first in 25 years, and the team is well on the way to sweeping both halves of the split season. The Rawhide is rolling at 78-49 for the full year.
Previously the chief spokesman for Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth, Bob Wirz has been writing extensively about the Atlantic League and Independent Baseball since 2003. He is a frequent contributor to this site as well as writing his blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com.