yagsy
12-01-2006, 03:41 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20061201-9999-1s1bbnotes.html
Team's first trainer filled multiple roles throughout career
UNION-TRIBUNE FROM STAFF AND NEWS REPORTS
December 1, 2006
John “Doc” Mattei, the first employee of the National League Padres, died Wednesday night at Scripps Memorial Hospital. He was 83.
Mattei was the club's original trainer and traveling secretary from 1969 through 1978 and continued as the club's traveling secretary through 1994. During the Padres' formative years, Mattei made many key decisions, including the establishment of the club's original spring training home in Yuma, Ariz.
“In the baseball community, Doc was a legend,” Padres President and Chief Operating Officer Dick Freeman said yesterday.
“It is amazing how much he controlled during the Padres' early days,” said Brian Prilaman, who was hired by Mattei as a clubhouse assistant in 1971 and is now the club's traveling secretary and equipment manager. “He oversaw everything.
“Doc had this booming voice that got everyone's attention. But he also had a heart of gold. All these years later, bus drivers and clubhouse people still asked about Doc.”
“He was a good baseball man,” said General Manager Kevin Towers.
Mattei was hired by Padres President E.J. “Buzzie” Bavasi shortly after San Diego was granted an expansion franchise on May 27, 1968. A trained podiatrist, Mattei had served as the head trainer at Dartmouth College and with the National League's Dodgers and Cardinals.
“When we first started, I was in charge of counting everything,” Mattei once said. “But there were more paper clips and T-shirts to count than money.”
Mattei is survived by his wife, Jan, whom he married at home plate at then-San Diego Stadium between games of a Dodgers-Padres doubleheader. Services have not been scheduled.
– BILL CENTER
Team's first trainer filled multiple roles throughout career
UNION-TRIBUNE FROM STAFF AND NEWS REPORTS
December 1, 2006
John “Doc” Mattei, the first employee of the National League Padres, died Wednesday night at Scripps Memorial Hospital. He was 83.
Mattei was the club's original trainer and traveling secretary from 1969 through 1978 and continued as the club's traveling secretary through 1994. During the Padres' formative years, Mattei made many key decisions, including the establishment of the club's original spring training home in Yuma, Ariz.
“In the baseball community, Doc was a legend,” Padres President and Chief Operating Officer Dick Freeman said yesterday.
“It is amazing how much he controlled during the Padres' early days,” said Brian Prilaman, who was hired by Mattei as a clubhouse assistant in 1971 and is now the club's traveling secretary and equipment manager. “He oversaw everything.
“Doc had this booming voice that got everyone's attention. But he also had a heart of gold. All these years later, bus drivers and clubhouse people still asked about Doc.”
“He was a good baseball man,” said General Manager Kevin Towers.
Mattei was hired by Padres President E.J. “Buzzie” Bavasi shortly after San Diego was granted an expansion franchise on May 27, 1968. A trained podiatrist, Mattei had served as the head trainer at Dartmouth College and with the National League's Dodgers and Cardinals.
“When we first started, I was in charge of counting everything,” Mattei once said. “But there were more paper clips and T-shirts to count than money.”
Mattei is survived by his wife, Jan, whom he married at home plate at then-San Diego Stadium between games of a Dodgers-Padres doubleheader. Services have not been scheduled.
– BILL CENTER