Ex-Ranger Wilkerson merging baseball, family life as manager of independent team
12:37 AM CDT on Sunday, June 15, 2008
Former Rangers utility man Curtis Wilkerson's life is different now.
Wilkerson, 47, no longer gets to enjoy private planes, five-star hotels and stadiums with 40,000 fans. Instead, his life revolves around vans, motels and bleachers with 150 fans.
But Wilkerson said he's content with the opportunity to manage his son, Brandon, with the McKinney Blue Thunder of the independent Continental Baseball League.
Brandon Wilkerson, a 20-year-old shortstop, joined the Blue Thunder last year. Brandon, a former Arlington Lamar player, was drafted in 2006 by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 47th round but never signed.
Curtis, who has been coaching his son since Brandon was a high school sophomore, said he jumped at the chance to be with Brandon on the Blue Thunder.
"He makes a lot of young mistakes, and I can tell him what he should have done," Wilkerson said. "It's working out great."
Wilkerson said he takes a low-key approach to teaching Brandon and the other young players on the Blue Thunder, who play the equivalent of lower-level Class A ball. The team was 9-10 through Wednesday.
Fans who attend a game at The Ballfields at Craig Ranch might see Wilkerson running around the diamond with his cap upside-down.
"It's called my rally cap," Wilkerson said. "I just try to loosen them up. They know I'm laid-back, and I just try to let them play."
Outfielder Jonathan Anderson said, "We respect him a ton, but he allows us to go out and have fun."
After finishing his playing career in 1993, Wilkerson coached in the Kansas City and Pittsburgh organizations. He said he has some interest in returning to minor-league coaching.
"He's had offers to go to affiliate ball," said Alan Burt, the Blue Thunder's general manager. "But Curtis opted to stay close to home and be with this team and with his family."
Wilkerson lives in Arlington with his wife, Brenda, and Brandon and his siblings Christopher, 17, and Briana, 15.
Wilkerson is no longer the recognizable character he once was around the area. But the influence he has on the young players around him, including his son, is important.
"I pick up everything that he tries to do," Brandon said. "I want to be just like him, and everything that he does, I'm going try to do."
Began play: 2007
Affiliation: Independent
Teams: McKinney Blue Thunder, Texarkana Gunslingers, Bay Area (Texas City) Toros, Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs
President: Ron Baron
On the Web: www.cblproball.com
Born: April 26, 1961, Petersburg, Va.
Position: Infielder
As a Ranger: 1983-88, 610 games, .255 average. Club's Rookie of the Year in 1984.
Also: Cubs 1989-90, Pirates 1991, Royals 1992-93.
On his career: "Just staying there for 10 years was pretty solid for being a utility player. I never got to sit down."
Did you know? Wilkerson left the Rangers in the 1988 trade that brought Rafael Palmeiro to Texas.