C's say goodbye to a baseball friend

(Vancouver, BC) - They are sometimes the forgotten element to a team's success. The person who when a team is struggling in a certain facet of their game, can come into town, bring down the tension on the field and get everyone back on the same page.

Ron Plaza was rarely seen by many here at Scotiabank Field, yet for 11 years the roving infield instructor for the Oakland A's would quietly come through town and work patiently with the bright young minds on the Canadians roster.

Plaza, who passed away peacefully in Florida on April 15th at the age of 77, spent 61 years of his life immersed in the game of baseball.

For nearly 16 years, he would lace up his cleats within the St. Louis Cardinals organization and although he never found his way to the bright lights of the Major Leagues as a player, he would eventually as a coach as hitting coach for the 1969 Seattle Pilots.

Plaza would also coach at the Major League level with both Cincinnati and Oakland before taking on a full-time position with the A's as a roving instructor back in 1984.

Beyond the baseball resume that is littered with great baseball moments, comes the man who with one glare from his steel coloured eyes, could let you know it was either time to pull your socks up and get to work, or that despite your recent struggle on the diamond, life was going to be okay.

He was for lack of a better phrase, a 'player's coach' and despite his hard exterior, Plaza had a laugh that was contagious and a personality that screamed 'baseball'.

The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club remember the life of Ron Plaza, who helped mold the abilities of our young stars out here at Scotiabank Field for more than a decade.