Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Baseball Primer Newsblog > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Ex-pitcher casts lot as professional fisherman

A regular Michael Iaconelli Briles…

Fisherman Billy Brewer made his professional debut last weekend at the Sunshine Showdown, finishing in 45th place overall, and earning an $11,000 paycheck in his first appearance on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Brewer spent seven years as a reliever with the Kansas City Royals and the Philadelphia Phillies, among others. He appeared in over 200 major-league games, had a career record of 11-11 and recorded 137 strikeouts.

If it weren’t for elbow and shoulder injuries, Brewer said he would have played longer. That’s when he turned to fishing.

...“Even though there’s a bunch of other guys here that I’m going up against, I’m not competing against them,” Brewer said. “I’m really competing against those little green monsters.”

Brewer said he isn’t sure what to expect this weekend. “I just don’t want to be like Milli Vanilli, a one-hit wonder,” Brewer said jokingly.

Repoz Posted: March 13, 2008 at 10:18 AM | 14 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: athletics, phillies, royals, yankees

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: March 13, 2008 at 12:14 PM (#2711743)
I honestly had no idea that pro bass fishing brought in enough revenue that you can get paid $11,000 for finishing in 45th place. Unless the entry fee for the tournament is $10,000; that would explain it.
   2. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: March 13, 2008 at 12:35 PM (#2711752)
I honestly had no idea that pro bass fishing brought in enough revenue that you can get paid $11,000 for finishing in 45th place. Unless the entry fee for the tournament is $10,000; that would explain it.


Like golf and tennis, sponsors pay big bucks for promotional consideration. Nobody pays $75,000 for a set of clubs or a racket like they do a bass boat. Or maybe they do, what do I know.
   3. rfloh Posted: March 13, 2008 at 12:40 PM (#2711756)
Why won't someone think of the fish?
   4. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 13, 2008 at 01:10 PM (#2711769)
47th place is you're fired.
   5. schuey Posted: March 13, 2008 at 01:17 PM (#2711771)
I take it the Harry Maybourne method of fishing-tossing a live hand grenade in the water-is frowned upon in these tournaments.
   6. T.J. Posted: March 13, 2008 at 01:36 PM (#2711784)
Milli Vanilli was anything but a ONE-hit wonder. Depending on your definition of music, they were either a no-hit wonder or a five hit wonder. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milli_Vanilli:

The U.S. version of the album [Girl You Know It's True] lead things off with the single the title track, which peaked at number 2 on the Hot 100 in April of that year and was certified platinum (the song was a cover version of a Numarx track published in 1987 on the US Bluebird label). Even greater commercial success followed, as the pair's next three singles "Baby Don't Forget My Number", "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You" and "Blame It On The Rain" all hit number 1. A fifth and final single "All or Nothing", also made the Top 5 in the beginning of 1990. Milli Vanilli's meteoric rise to pop music superstardom culminated with a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on February 22, 1990.
   7. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 13, 2008 at 01:49 PM (#2711792)
how u mine 4 fish
   8. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: March 13, 2008 at 01:54 PM (#2711800)
ABC. A - Always, B - Be, C - Casting. Always Be Casting.
   9. Mike Emeigh Posted: March 13, 2008 at 02:13 PM (#2711813)
This is going to sound like an "I know but I can't tell you how I know" comment, but...I know. There is a LOT of big money in professional fishing. Most if not all of the pros are joined at the hip to sponsors; they get all of their equipment for free (new every year, too) and they spend most of their professional lives doing what the sponsors want them to do.

-- MWE
   10. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 13, 2008 at 02:16 PM (#2711817)
How many of these Bassmaster events can Brewer enter every year? He was a lot worse than the 45th best baseball pitcher, and got about $300,000 a year in his last two years. Maybe he can actually increase his income this way, and he doesn't have to stay in shape either.
   11. Belfry Bob Posted: March 13, 2008 at 02:16 PM (#2711818)
they spend most of their professional lives doing what the sponsors want them to do.

Sort of like politicians and lobbyists?

I don't think Billy has anything to worry about. I hear Milli Vanilli can't fish worth a darn.
   12. Belfry Bob Posted: March 13, 2008 at 02:18 PM (#2711820)
Bassmaster Elite Series

Mmmm...now that's great bass!
   13. John DiFool2 Posted: March 13, 2008 at 02:24 PM (#2711827)
Never grokked why this guy never pitched for Milwaukee...

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
Kiko Sakata
for his generous support.

Bookmarks

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogT.R. Sullivan: Of Frank Robinson, Milt Pappas and Jim Palmer
(8 - 12:40am, May 26)
Last: The Gurus DO NOT BourbonSamurai

NewsblogWilmoth: Nate McLouth Designated For Assignment
(12 - 12:25am, May 26)
Last: Tripon

NewsblogBoston.com: Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios lays off all staff
(118 - 12:15am, May 26)
Last: Paul D(uda)

Hall of MeritMost Meritorious Player: 1973 Discussion
(15 - 12:13am, May 26)
Last: DanG

NewsblogBud Selig -- No need for more MLB replay for now - ESPN
(86 - 11:59pm, May 25)
Last: cardsfanboy

NewsblogThe Hall of Very Good: Former Cards Slugger Critical of "LaRussa's Regime"
(4 - 11:26pm, May 25)
Last: cardsfanboy

NewsblogCSN to host ‘Phillies at the Beach’ on Memorial Day
(18 - 11:25pm, May 25)
Last: Fielder's the first baseman, Felder is the fielder

Hall of MeritMost Meritorious Player: 1972 Ballot
(28 - 11:25pm, May 25)
Last: lieiam

Sox TherapyA Winning Ballclub?
(20 - 11:24pm, May 25)
Last: Dan

NewsblogMatschulat: Did I Miss The "Paul Konerko Is So Overrated OMG" Bandwagon?
(27 - 11:16pm, May 25)
Last: baudib

NewsblogTBO: Nerdy Rays head north
(17 - 10:07pm, May 25)
Last: PreservedFish

NewsblogHimrich’s Top Ten Target Field Foods
(6 - 9:57pm, May 25)
Last: Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott)

NewsblogDodgers want to host NHL's Winter Classic
(22 - 9:38pm, May 25)
Last: Cris E

NewsblogGreenberg: Cubs' Ricketts decries proposal
(817 - 9:08pm, May 25)
Last: The Yankee Clapper

NewsblogHP: Baseball is leaving the human factor behind
(55 - 8:48pm, May 25)
Last: Squash

Buy MLB playoff tickets, plus 2011 World Series, 2011 ALCS tickets and NLCS game tickets. We also have Texas Rangers playoff schedule, tickets to Red Sox games and Yankees game tickets. Plus, buy Phillies baseball tickets, Tigers playoff tickets and the biggies like ALDS baseball tickets and 2011 NLDS tickets.

Demarini, Easton and TPX Baseball Bats

 

 

 

AllianceTickets.com has cheap MLB Tickets. Get all your Colorado Rockies Tickets, Seattle Mariners Tickets, San Francisco Giants Tickets and all your favorite baseball tickets here. We also carry cheap Denver Broncos Tickets, Seattle Seahawks Tickets and Denver Nuggets Tickets.

Page rendered in 0.1543 seconds
56 querie(s) executed