Born: 6/25/1959, Philadelphia, PA

Height: 5'-11" Weight: 195 lbs

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Home: Virginia Beach, Virginia

High School: Northeast High School, Philadelphia PA (1977)

College: Temple University (B.S. in Secondary Education/Biology, 1982)

Grad School: Naval Postgraduate School (M.S. in Telecommunications Management, 1990)

Personal Sports Highlights (baseball): Not much in hardball, but in softball, singled and doubled (nearly taking it out) against a Canadian women’s championship fast-pitch team. That same year, batted .541 for the USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG-7) softball team that played numerous teams throughout the U.S. and Canada during our Great Lakes Cruise.

Personal Sports Highlights (non-baseball): Finished 5th in 1980 U.S. Men’s National Rowing Championship (Intermediate Men’s Eight). Won a heat in 1982 Dad Vail Regatta (Lightweight Men’s Four). Varsity Letter in crew rowing at Temple. Won 1982 Mid-Atlantic Rowing Championship (Men’s Intermediate Eight). At Temple University, was member of 1982 Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship in College Bowl Trivia. Currently working towards a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (presently High-Brown Belt).

Career Highlights (fan): My first game (May, 1969), where the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the San Diego Padres. Watching the Phillies sweep the Mets in a 1969 Twi-Night Doubleheader (also was Bat Day). Witnessing four no-hitters on TV (Bill Singer, Burt Hooten, Rick Wise, and John Candelaria). Seeing several of Steve Carlton’s phenomenal pitching performances at Veterans Stadium during his 1972 27-10 season. Living through the 1980 NLCS as a Phillies Fan. Attending a Cleveland Indians game in one of the luxury boxes at old Municipal Stadium. Watching a Fukuoka Daiei Hawks game (and seeing Sadaharu Oh) during my 1999 visit to Japan. Seeing Barry Bonds play in 2002 (5 plate appearances -- 5 walks)

Favorite Teams: (1969 - 1971) Washington Senators; (1972 - Present) Philadelphia Phillies

Ballparks Visited (chronological order):
• Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, PA
• Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA
• Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH
• Harbor Park, Norfolk, VA, home of the Norfolk Tides (AAA Affiliate of New York Mets)
• Fukuoka Dome, Fukuoka, Japan
• Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
• Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, FL (Took in an inning of an exhibition game between the Devil Rays and the Blue Jays)

Favorite Players:
Historical (i.e., before my time): Sandy Koufax, Richie Ashburn, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige
Retired: Frank Howard (All-Time Favorite), Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench
Active: Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Jim Thome
Favorite Managers: Tony La Russa (Featured in Mendoza’s Heroes), Larry Bowa, Tommy Lasorda
Favorite Announcers: Howard Cosell, Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, Bob Uecker (Featured in Mendoza’s Heroes)

Favorite Baseball Books:
• Ball Four, by Jim Bouton
• Shoeless Joe, by William P. Kinsella
• The Natural, by Bernard Malamud
• Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
• Total Baseball
• From Aaron To Zipfel, by Rich Mazzari and Len Fiorito (Major Inspiration and Influence to Mendoza’s Heroes)
• MISFITS, by J. Thomas Hetrick
• Chris Von der Ahe and the St. Louis Browns, by J. Thomas Hetrick
• Catcher in the Wry, by Bob Uecker
• The MacMillan Baseball Encyclopedia

Favorite Books (All Topics):
• The Caine Mutiny, by Herman Wouk
• Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
• Without Remorse, by Tom Clancy
• Most anything from Steven King, particularly Hearts in Atlantis
• I have read every James Bond book written by Sir Ian Fleming. My favorite is Casino Royale.

Back to Info Page