On Aug. 26, 1993, nearly 1,400 fans showed up to VA Memorial Stadium to watch the last home game of the Chillicothe Paints’ inaugural season.
“The last home game is the biggest because it’s a chance to thank fans,” said player Mike Mulligan. “They never booed us when we were 0-5. They supported us all the way to the hilt.”
That first season was a tumultuous one with three sets of player releases, changes at manager and general manager, and the 0-5 start.
They played Ohio Valley in that final home game and lost 4-3 but they almost rallied for the win.
The Paints were down 4-0 when they scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The game ended on a strikeout with the game-tying run on second base.
“It might be the most disappointing moment of my baseball career,” said Rob “Sarge” Davis, who struck out to end the game. “When I was up there hitting tonight, there was 1,400 people up to bat with me. I just felt like I let them down.”
Despite the ending, moments after the game was over, the fans rose to their feet and gave the team a standing ovation.
Sports reporter Bob Barnhart wrote a column in the Aug. 28, 1993, Gazette to commemorate the ending of the season.
He named Damon Treadway as the Most Valuable Player. The Most Dedicated Fan went to Carol Cornish.
“Anyone who would drive to away games in Zanesville and Parkersburg, W.Va., and Pikeville, Ky., deserves the title,” Barnhart wrote.
The Foul Ball King went to Jason McClaskey, who Barnhart wrote should be scouted by the Paints.
The Best Debut went to Tony Bellinat, who homered on the first pitch he saw as a Paint.
As it turned out, the final home game ended up being the final game of that season as rain canceled the away game against Ohio Valley.
The Paints finished their first season with an overall record of 25-27, going 14-15 in the first half and 11-12 in the second half.
As pointed out in the Aug. 27, 1993, Gazette, the ending of the season would be the end of some of the players’ baseball careers.
“Some of us will be softball players and coaches after Saturday,” Aaron Crabtree said. “It’s questionable for all of us if we’ll play again.”
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Glory Days: Paints fans giving standing ovation to players after inaugural season
Reporting by Chillicothe Gazette / Chillicothe Gazette
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