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Coldeen, Tan Ko tell CNMI baseball history
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Posted on Dec 14 2006
For some of Saipan’s youngest fans their first memories of baseball started this past summer when John Reyes and company ran around Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field after the CNMI defeated Guam to win the gold medal in the 6th Micronesian Games.
While fans and players of all ages rejoiced in the victory, the biggest win from the local nine was just the latest chapter in the storied history of America’s Game in the Marianas and two of Saipan’s sages have chronicled baseball from its hometown origins.
KMCV’s Bob Coldeen and Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios have spent the better part of the past year compiling stories of the CNMI’s most popular sport in a new book and DVD entitled Saipan Baseball From the Beginning.
The multimedia release is scheduled for next Tuesday, Dec.19, and covers the inception of baseball on Saipan and throughout Micronesia from turn of the 20th century, during Japanese times, after World War II, and includes the complete individual and team statistics from the Saipan Major League from 1982-2006.
The hour-long DVD includes interviews in English and Chamorro with Juan Blas Blanco, Frank M. Sablan, Manny “Kiyu” Villagomez, Antonio T. Salas, Lino Olopai, and Tan Ko as well as video footage from the 1969 Micronesian Olympics gold medal game between Truk and Palau.
Coldeen narrated the game with interviews of Singeru Techur and Olopai and includes highlights from the CNMI’s first gold medal victory in baseball during the 6th Micronesian Games.
The book will be made available next week during a one-hour session at the Civic Center Multi-Purpose Building from 7pm to 8pm at a special one-time introductory price of $10. Both Coldeen and Palacios will also be on hand to sign all purchased copies.
While in a limited supply, the DVD will also be available for $10 but Coldeen said that more copies will be available in the coming weeks.
“Anybody who has played in the Saipan Major League has his name in this book. It’s a great reference book and perfect Christmas gift here,” said Coldeen.
