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Aussie All-Stars
Countrymen square off in tonight's game
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press June 16, 1998.By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - They were born in the same city - half a world away.
They played on the same team, sharing the same co-MVP award at the end of the season.
They've shared many drinks at each other's houses while swapping stories and career advice.
Even their girlfriends are close friends.
But there is one thing Lancaster's Brendan Kingman and Rancho Cucamonga right-handed pitcher Brent Iddon, who are both from Sydney, Australia, have never done - face each other on a baseball field.
"We're real good mates," said Kingman, who plays everything from catcher to first and third base for the JetHawks. "But I've never stepped in against him."
Both said they wouldn't mind if that changed tonight, when Kingman's Valley Division All-Stars face Iddon's Freeway Division AllStars in the Cal League All-Star Game at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.
Kingman and Iddon will be just two of the three native Australians to play in the game. San Bernardino right-hander Luke Prokopec, who was born in Renmark, South Australia, is also a member of the Freeway Division All-Stars.
"There's a limited number of Australians playing over here," Iddon said. "There's like 50-60 in the minor leagues now. But I think you're seeing the overall talent of the players in Australia improve."
Kingman said this is not the first time he has played in an allstar game in the United States with two other Australians. He played in the 1995 Florida State League All-Star Game, which also featured three Australian-born players.
But this is the first time he's played against his close friend, Iddon.
"It's always nice to see familiar faces over here," Kingman said. "I'm looking forward to talking to him while he's here. We were real close back in Australia."
Both were members of the 1997-98 Sydney Storm, which plays in the Australian Winter League. The duo shared the team's co-MVP honors after helping the Storm to the semifinals.
They were also close off the field as Kingman and his girlfriend often made the 45-minute drive across town to see Iddon and his girlfriend.
"We'd do a lot of things together," Iddon said. "We were real close."
They were so close that Kingman asked for Iddon's advice when he was contemplating signing a contract with either the Seattle Mariners' organization or a Japanese team.
Iddon, who started his professional career in the United States with the Mariners, was more than willing to help.
"He told me what it was like to play for the Mariners," Kingman said. "He really helped me make up my mind."
Kingman obviously chose to sign with the Mariners, and was assigned to the JetHawks, where he's been an offensive catalyst through the first 2 1/2 months of the season.
Kingman finished the first half second in the batting race behind Visalia's Jose Soriano. He is hitting .350 with 42 runs scored, 44 RBI and seven home runs.
"He's an excellent hitter," Iddon said. "I remember sitting in the dugout and watching him hit. He meant so much to our team back in Sydney, and he's doing the same things here (in the Cal League) this year."
Kingman is actually on his second tour of duty in the American minor leagues. He played almost four seasons in the Florida Marlins organization before he was released. He stayed away from baseball for a year and a half after his release.
Iddon is playing in his third organization. He spent his first four years with the Mariners, working his way up to Class-A Wisconsin, before joining the Boston Red Sox minor league system last year. He joined the Padres as a minor league Rule V selection this season.
Iddon has worked mostly out of the Rancho Cucamonga bullpen so far this season, helping the Quakes claim the Freeway Division's first-half title. He is 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA, a save and 56 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings pitched.
He is also making his second appearance in an American allstar game, after being chosen for the 1996 Midwest League All-Star Game while with Wisconsin.
"That was quite an experience," Iddon said. "It's always an honor to play in an all-star game - to know you're going up against the best."
This year, that means he could face his good friend.
If that matchup does materialize, Iddon said he'll approach it like he does any other batter.
"I'll probably try pitching the same way I do any other righthander," Iddon said.
Deep down, both know that atbat would mean something in terms of bragging rights when they return to Sydney in the offseason.
"One day it would be nice to face him," Kingman said. "If that happens in the All-Star Game, that would be great. I'm going to go out there and try to get a hit, and I'm sure he's going to try to get me out.
"Whoever does their job, I'm sure they're going to rub it in a little when we get home."
