Riddoch returns to Eugene.(Sports)(The longtime baseball coach is back for his third stint as Emeralds manager)

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

E u g e n e E m e r a l d s

Greg Riddoch slipped back into a Eugene Emeralds jersey Friday afternoon for the first time since 1981.

"Feels good," Riddoch said. "Thirty-seven thousand years later. I guess they say that in your personal and professional life you start out at a certain point and when it's all said and done, it is exciting to go turn around and start over again. I guess I'm back to where I started."

Riddoch made his first visit back to Eugene since being named the Ems' manager for the 2007 season in November. Riddoch was the featured speaker at Lane Community College's dinner and auction to benefit LCC baseball Friday night, and he is scheduled to conduct clinics and private lessons through the weekend.

This will be the third stint as Ems manager for Riddoch, who led the Ems in 1975-76 before returning for 1978-81. He guided the Ems to their last two league championships in 1975 and '80 and ranks second in franchise history with 227 victories.

"My first year here was 1982, and that was the first year that Eugene had been without Greg in a number of years, and all I heard about was how wonderful he was," Eugene president and general manager Bob Beban said. "I got to know him in the '80s, and I knew in 2005 when he took a Spokane team that was really substandard in talent to the Northwest League title that I would really like to have Greg back."

Riddoch, 61, has worked all levels of baseball, including a stint as manager of the San Diego Padres from 1990-92. Riddoch had a record of 200-194 as manager with a lineup that featured Tony Gwynn, Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield.

Riddoch spent last season at his home in Longmont, Colo., teaching at baseball camps and clinics but was brought back this season by a friend and his former organization, San Diego Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson.

Riddoch worked with Fuson in the Rangers' organization from 2003-05, and the two reunited with the Padres.

"The phone rang and it was Grady saying, `Do you want to come back?' ' Riddoch said. "He is somebody I trust, and I think he is a good baseball man. I didn't really think much about it until the right people said, `How about helping us out,' and when the right people say that, you want to be a part of it."

Fuson has put some of his most experienced minor-league managers at the lower levels, including Riddoch and former Kansas City Royals manager Tony Muser, who is managing the Padres' rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona League.

"Ironically, you would like to have your best instructors and most experienced instructors at the lowest level, but the way it always works is that they break in new guys with no experience at the lowest level," Riddoch said. "With Tony Muser and I, we're guys that just want to hang out and work with kids.

"The intrigue and wonder of starting young boys off in the career that has been their dream their whole life and now it has come to fruition, it is real exciting to be part of that. I've been doing this for 40 years, and every year kids change and names change, but the situations are still the same and it is exciting to be part of their first shot at it."

Riddoch, who began his professional baseball career as a minor-league player in the Cincinnati Reds organization in 1967, returned to the NWL in 2005, when he led Spokane to a league championship despite a 37-39 record. The underdog Indians beat Vancouver three games to two in the championship series.

"Like anything else, you are only as good as the players you have, but I think the manager is responsible for atmosphere and creating the environment for kids to play in," Riddoch said. "If the environment is comfortable, whatever they've got we're going to get and that is my forte. I can do that. If Grady sends us a good team, we've got a shot at it."

George McPherson played for Riddoch with the Ems in 1975 and 1976, and is now the official scorer for the Emeralds.

"He's one of the best people I have ever known in my life," McPherson said. "Eugene wants a good person to come back here and manage baseball, and they couldn't ask for a better person because he is a super individual. He loves kids, loves the game of baseball, and there is not a person on the face of the earth that I would rather see here than him just because of how he cares for the game."

Riddoch said he and his wife, Linda, will see plenty of friends in Eugene this summer.

"It is a familiar place with familiar people," said Riddoch, who said he looks forward to once again spending some mornings fly fishing on the McKenzie River. "We still correspond with people here from 30 years ago. We have 100 friends here, and Linda is out right now with three of her girlfriends.

"This is a beautiful city to do something in."

Riddoch returns to Eugene.(Sports)(The longtime baseball coach is back for his third stint as Emeralds manager)

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

E u g e n e E m e r a l d s

Greg Riddoch slipped back into a Eugene Emeralds jersey Friday afternoon for the first time since 1981.

"Feels good," Riddoch said. "Thirty-seven thousand years later. I guess they say that in your personal and professional life you start out at a certain point and when it's all said and done, it is exciting to go turn around and start over again. I guess I'm back to where I started."

Riddoch made his first visit back to Eugene since being named the Ems' manager for the 2007 season in November. Riddoch was the featured speaker at Lane Community College's dinner and auction to benefit LCC baseball Friday night, and he is scheduled to conduct clinics and private lessons through the weekend.

This will be the third stint as Ems manager for Riddoch, who led the Ems in 1975-76 before returning for 1978-81. He guided the Ems to their last two league championships in 1975 and '80 and ranks second in franchise history with 227 victories.

"My first year here was 1982, and that was the first year that Eugene had been without Greg in a number of years, and all I heard about was how wonderful he was," Eugene president and general manager Bob Beban said. "I got to know him in the '80s, and I knew in 2005 when he took a Spokane team that was really substandard in talent to the Northwest League title that I would really like to have Greg back."

Riddoch, 61, has worked all levels of baseball, including a stint as manager of the San Diego Padres from 1990-92. Riddoch had a record of 200-194 as manager with a lineup that featured Tony Gwynn, Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield.

Riddoch spent last season at his home in Longmont, Colo., teaching at baseball camps and clinics but was brought back this season by a friend and his former organization, San Diego Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson.

Riddoch worked with Fuson in the Rangers' organization from 2003-05, and the two reunited with the Padres.

"The phone rang and it was Grady saying, `Do you want to come back?' ' Riddoch said. "He is somebody I trust, and I think he is a good baseball man. I didn't really think much about it until the right people said, `How about helping us out,' and when the right people say that, you want to be a part of it."

Fuson has put some of his most experienced minor-league managers at the lower levels, including Riddoch and former Kansas City Royals manager Tony Muser, who is managing the Padres' rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona League.

"Ironically, you would like to have your best instructors and most experienced instructors at the lowest level, but the way it always works is that they break in new guys with no experience at the lowest level," Riddoch said. "With Tony Muser and I, we're guys that just want to hang out and work with kids.

"The intrigue and wonder of starting young boys off in the career that has been their dream their whole life and now it has come to fruition, it is real exciting to be part of that. I've been doing this for 40 years, and every year kids change and names change, but the situations are still the same and it is exciting to be part of their first shot at it."

Riddoch, who began his professional baseball career as a minor-league player in the Cincinnati Reds organization in 1967, returned to the NWL in 2005, when he led Spokane to a league championship despite a 37-39 record. The underdog Indians beat Vancouver three games to two in the championship series.

"Like anything else, you are only as good as the players you have, but I think the manager is responsible for atmosphere and creating the environment for kids to play in," Riddoch said. "If the environment is comfortable, whatever they've got we're going to get and that is my forte. I can do that. If Grady sends us a good team, we've got a shot at it."

George McPherson played for Riddoch with the Ems in 1975 and 1976, and is now the official scorer for the Emeralds.

"He's one of the best people I have ever known in my life," McPherson said. "Eugene wants a good person to come back here and manage baseball, and they couldn't ask for a better person because he is a super individual. He loves kids, loves the game of baseball, and there is not a person on the face of the earth that I would rather see here than him just because of how he cares for the game."

Riddoch said he and his wife, Linda, will see plenty of friends in Eugene this summer.

"It is a familiar place with familiar people," said Riddoch, who said he looks forward to once again spending some mornings fly fishing on the McKenzie River. "We still correspond with people here from 30 years ago. We have 100 friends here, and Linda is out right now with three of her girlfriends.

"This is a beautiful city to do something in."

Riddoch returns to Eugene.(Sports)(The longtime baseball coach is back for his third stint as Emeralds manager)

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

E u g e n e E m e r a l d s

Greg Riddoch slipped back into a Eugene Emeralds jersey Friday afternoon for the first time since 1981.

"Feels good," Riddoch said. "Thirty-seven thousand years later. I guess they say that in your personal and professional life you start out at a certain point and when it's all said and done, it is exciting to go turn around and start over again. I guess I'm back to where I started."

Riddoch made his first visit back to Eugene since being named the Ems' manager for the 2007 season in November. Riddoch was the featured speaker at Lane Community College's dinner and auction to benefit LCC baseball Friday night, and he is scheduled to conduct clinics and private lessons through the weekend.

This will be the third stint as Ems manager for Riddoch, who led the Ems in 1975-76 before returning for 1978-81. He guided the Ems to their last two league championships in 1975 and '80 and ranks second in franchise history with 227 victories.

"My first year here was 1982, and that was the first year that Eugene had been without Greg in a number of years, and all I heard about was how wonderful he was," Eugene president and general manager Bob Beban said. "I got to know him in the '80s, and I knew in 2005 when he took a Spokane team that was really substandard in talent to the Northwest League title that I would really like to have Greg back."

Riddoch, 61, has worked all levels of baseball, including a stint as manager of the San Diego Padres from 1990-92. Riddoch had a record of 200-194 as manager with a lineup that featured Tony Gwynn, Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield.

Riddoch spent last season at his home in Longmont, Colo., teaching at baseball camps and clinics but was brought back this season by a friend and his former organization, San Diego Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson.

Riddoch worked with Fuson in the Rangers' organization from 2003-05, and the two reunited with the Padres.

"The phone rang and it was Grady saying, `Do you want to come back?' ' Riddoch said. "He is somebody I trust, and I think he is a good baseball man. I didn't really think much about it until the right people said, `How about helping us out,' and when the right people say that, you want to be a part of it."

Fuson has put some of his most experienced minor-league managers at the lower levels, including Riddoch and former Kansas City Royals manager Tony Muser, who is managing the Padres' rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona League.

"Ironically, you would like to have your best instructors and most experienced instructors at the lowest level, but the way it always works is that they break in new guys with no experience at the lowest level," Riddoch said. "With Tony Muser and I, we're guys that just want to hang out and work with kids.

"The intrigue and wonder of starting young boys off in the career that has been their dream their whole life and now it has come to fruition, it is real exciting to be part of that. I've been doing this for 40 years, and every year kids change and names change, but the situations are still the same and it is exciting to be part of their first shot at it."

Riddoch, who began his professional baseball career as a minor-league player in the Cincinnati Reds organization in 1967, returned to the NWL in 2005, when he led Spokane to a league championship despite a 37-39 record. The underdog Indians beat Vancouver three games to two in the championship series.

"Like anything else, you are only as good as the players you have, but I think the manager is responsible for atmosphere and creating the environment for kids to play in," Riddoch said. "If the environment is comfortable, whatever they've got we're going to get and that is my forte. I can do that. If Grady sends us a good team, we've got a shot at it."

George McPherson played for Riddoch with the Ems in 1975 and 1976, and is now the official scorer for the Emeralds.

"He's one of the best people I have ever known in my life," McPherson said. "Eugene wants a good person to come back here and manage baseball, and they couldn't ask for a better person because he is a super individual. He loves kids, loves the game of baseball, and there is not a person on the face of the earth that I would rather see here than him just because of how he cares for the game."

Riddoch said he and his wife, Linda, will see plenty of friends in Eugene this summer.

"It is a familiar place with familiar people," said Riddoch, who said he looks forward to once again spending some mornings fly fishing on the McKenzie River. "We still correspond with people here from 30 years ago. We have 100 friends here, and Linda is out right now with three of her girlfriends.

"This is a beautiful city to do something in."