Friday, May 18, 2001
[COMMEMORATIVE EDITION]
Some 400 young men played for Murakami.
By Al Chase
Many offered their thoughts and
reminiscences about the time
spent under his guidance.
Star-Bulletin
Approximately 400 young men played for Les Murakami in his 30 seasons as head coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow baseball team.
The thoughts and reminiscences of former Rainbows offer great insight into Murakami, the person. He was more than just a coach who won 1,079 games. He often counseled players, helping them with life's choices away from the baseball field.
Colin Miyabara (1972-74). From the 1970s
"The highlight was the one road trip we took to play in a tournament in California. I remember one year USC came down here. They must have been rated one or two and had big name players like Fred Lynn. Rod Dedeaux (USC head coach) wasn't at the game. Les was incensed. I think Les resolved that day that this would not happen to him again and Rod Dedeaux would remember. I think it gave him the resolve to build the program, that no one was ever going to take UH cheap again."
Joey Estrella (1972-74).
"I remember one time myself and another player were in charge of watering the field (the on-campus field before the original Rainbow Stadium was built). One day we turned the water on and went back to the dorm. We fell asleep. When we got back to the field, it was under water.
"We spent half the night mopping the field. We even threw gas on it and lit it. The fire department came thinking there was a fire in the dorm. I don't know if Les ever knew about that, but the field was in playing shape the next day."
Gerald Ako (1974-1977).
"Coach Les knew his players. For a long time we believed Coach Les was born under a lucky star. It was unbelievable how lucky this man was. He would pull out star players for a pinch hitter or he would give a bunt signal at the most inopportune time or make a pitching change at odd times. Yet, time and time again, the pinch hitter would come through, the bunt would end up in a errant throw by the defensive team and the pitching change would get us out of the inning. We would scratch our heads and say 'what a lucky dog.' But, soon it be came very evident that Coach Les knew exactly what each player could do and could not do and in what situations. He knew what the other team could and could not do. It was not luck, it was knowing the game."
Randy Weinstein (1972-74).
"I remember my freshman year they had two teams. I would pitch for the varsity, but play other positions for the freshman team. One day Les was making the lineup for the freshman team. He got the leadoff batter, then had everyone lineup. He told me since I was the tallest, I would be the cleanup hitter. The local guys got quite a kick out of that. I never saw a lineup made that way."
Rich Olsen (1976-78).
"Les is not a man of many words. He gets right to the point. When we started to have good teams and started playing the big boys like Arizona State, he would say, 'If you're afraid to play these guys, you're going to lose, so just forget it and go out there and win.' We all believed in that."
Derek Tatsuno (1977-79).
"I appreciate him giving me the opportunity to stay home and play here. Not only for myself, but for all the local players who would not have played Division I baseball anywhere else. With Coach Les it was basic. If you didn't perform, you didn't play."
Vern Ramie (1977-79).
"I always remember what Coach Les used to say to us, 'the cream always rises to the top.' When I think about it, I laugh. I heard that for three years. It really didn't hit me until after I left the program that it's true. Even watching a game now, that phrase pops into my head. It was his way of telling us to rise up and be the best. He always got the best out of his personnel and he opened a lot of doors for a lot people."
Rick Bass (1977-1980).
"Les was an interesting guy. He always never let on what was going on his side of his head. There were guys who thought they were getting away with something, but he knew who they were. Then, they'd find themselves out running and wonder why."
Wade Mauricio (1978-80).
"What really stands out about Coach Les is basically he is the person who built baseball in Hawaii. He gave a lot of opportunities to local players and to players from the mainland. His building the program inspired a lot of local kids to keep playing beyond high school."
Sam Kakazu (1977, 79-81).
"I wasn't recruited. When I went to tryouts, I was injured. I had run into a wall at Kaneohe District Park and injured my wrist and knee. I was afraid to tell him that I couldn't throw, run or hit. Coach Les said, "That's great." He had cut some guys by the time I healed so I've always appreciated the chance to be part of the program."
Collin Tanabe (1978-81).
"I'm not sure who we were playing, but we were down a couple of runs. Curt Watanabe was on second and Vern Ramie was on first. I hit a ball to the right-center field alley, pretty much a sure double. Curt scored easily, but when Vern rounded third, Les was back peddling and fell into the dugout (in the original Rainbow Stadium). Vern kept going. I'm not sure if he was safe or out, but when I got to second I didn't see any third base coach, so I stayed there."
Eric Tokunaga (1978-81).
"He always treated us like adults. I was never forced to do anything. He didn't force us to lift weights or force us to run. I didn't think he made us hit or field a certain way. He let us be individuals and play the game. He never over coached us. He took what he had, molded everyone together, made a lineup and that's why he was successful."
Kimo Perkins (1978-81).
"In 1979, Coach Les implemented a system of measuring at-bats using criteria such as moving runners up who were on base, successful sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, hitting behind runners, driving runners in who were in scoring position, putting the ball in play as opposed to striking out, things that stressed benefits for the team rather than the individual.
"Throughout that year, the team's focus became 'making the charts'. During an at bat, it didn't matter if you didn't get a hit, if you moved the runners up by hitting the ball to the right side, put down a successful sacrifice bunt, scored a runner from third with a sacrifice fly, drove in runners in scoring position, or just put the ball in play instead of striking out to put pressure on the defense to make a play with runners on base.
"These all were rewarded with points on the charts. After the games, Coach Les would review the charts with the entire team and recognize the guys who did well on the charts. Home runs and batting average, an individual's statistics, were not emphasized. The team had great success that year, we broke or came close to breaking the NCAA record for wins with 60 something."
Thad Reece (1978-81).
"I remember a side of Coach Les that changed my life forever. It was early in 1980. I had just come off of one the best years of my life, hitting .395 and leading the nation in doubles.
"But, the beginning of 1980 was not quite the same. I was kicking balls around, throwing balls into the old snack bar (not on purpose), struggling at the plate and extremely frustrated. I'll never forget Coach Les sitting me down after a practice and talking with me. He said that he was thinking about moving me from shortstop to the outfield to get my mind off defense for awhile.
"However, he actually allowed me to make the choice. He was considerate and sensitive, which you don't see a whole lot of in this crazy, competitive game. Emotionally I was a wreck, and I believe Coach Les saved me from further disaster. I chose to take his suggestion.
"That year became my greatest (not as a baseball player), but through a series of events ... I found the true meaning of life. I will never forget what Coach Les and Hawaii did for me. I salute my college coach today, and congratulate him on an outstanding career."
Chuck Crim (1980-82). From the 1980s
"In more then thirty years of playing baseball, from a young boy to the Major Leagues, I count it an honor and a privilege to have played for Les Murakami. He is a man of incredible honor and integrity both on and off the field. Les was more then a coach to the team. He took care of us like family, even feeding us after games to make sure we ate well .... which meant more then you can imagine to the mainland boys on their own for the first time. But more importantly, he treated us with respect as men, and it made us deliver for him. I am thankful for the opportunity to have played for Coach Les, and proud to have been a part of some of his many baseball accomplishments."
Greg Oniate (1980-83).
"I remember his confidence, his no fear attitude. That's how he built the program. That gave me the confidence when we faced the big boys. It made me more cocky than timid."
Chuck Jackson (1982-1984).
"I remember when Coach Les and Coop DeRenne recruited me. We went to an outdoor cage. It was November or December, probably about 30 degrees and raining. Les and Coop had on matching brown leather jackets and were freezing. Coop got in the cage to throw BP He took his jacket off and a cold gust of wind hit him. He about froze right there. Les, with his dry wit, said, 'the head coach gets to keep his jacket on.' I hit six or seven balls and Les said, 'hit the ball the other way.' I did for 10 or so pitches and that was it. I want to thank Les for taking a chance on a skinny kid from Seattle. I only got to the big leagues because he believed in me and got me out of the cold."
Lance Belen ( 1982-84).
"I think my laid back demeanor always got Coach Les kind of riled up. I tried my best, but he didn't think I was giving a 100 percent."
Bruce Walton (1982-85).
"Well, being young and knowing all the answers, I failed out of school my junior year and it was Coach Les who was the most supportive. He told me I needed to come back my senior year and accomplish what I had come there to do. I have him to thank for that and look at me now."
Mario Monico (1982-85).
"He was like the general on the team. I had to show him that I could play from the beginning. The most vivid memory was the way he stands. You can tell his body language did all the speaking. He never had to say much for you to know what you had to do."
Randy Inaba (1982-85).
"He's a man of few words. Everything is pretty much black and white. The first day of practice he told me, 'I know you're going to hit eventually, but you've got work on your defense.' When he was recrutiing me, he told me I would make a name for myself where ever I went, but if I planned to live in Hawaii, this is the place to play. That's kind of paid off for me. It was a great experience and I have to take my hat off to Les."
Paul Brown (1986-87).
"Remember my perfect game? I wasn't supposed to pitch that game. I was supposed to pitch the last game against Colorado State two days before. Les scratched me from that. He gave me the opportunity to pitch in front of some people. Maybe he knew something I didn't, but it was the highlight of my career. I'm gateful for his foresight. It wasn't the first time he did that. He pitched me in the first game of the 1986 regional against UCLA. The Red Sox scout came to see a star-studded UCLA team, but saw me. Once again, Les went on instincts. I benefited from his choices career wise. Three times people saw m epitch and I'm very grateful for that."
Joey Vierra (1986-87).
"Coach Les always played percentages. One night, after I had pitched another bad game as a starter, he approached me and said, 'You've only pitched in three games and you have about 16 walks!' He stood there waiting for a reply and I told him, 'You're the one who says this game is about averages. So that must mean I won't be walking very many more.' He laughed and got me the next day in the paper."
Todd Takayoshi (1988-91).
"The one thing that sticks out most in my mind about Coach Les is how brutally honest he could be. He'd tell you exactly the way it was whether you wanted to hear it or not. At the same time, however, you always knew that he cared about you and not to take anything personally. When I started playing pro ball, my teammates would talk about how much they disliked their college coaches. I'm glad I was able to say I always liked Coach Les even when we disagreed. I realize now how difficult it is to coach 25+ 18-22 year old kids that all think they should be in the lineup. Coach Les did a good job at it. It was always good to know that even after he would chew you out he would not hold a grudge or treat you any differently. He just wanted to make you better."
John Matias (1986-89).
"Les is such a Rainbow icon that, at this point, it's hard to imagine anyone else filling his shoes, taking over and doing all he has done for Hawaii atheltes and mainland athletes. It's just hard to imagine."
Steve Otani (1988-91).
"I just appreciate the fact he gave me the opportunity to play at the University of Hawaii. I learned from him how to be a good ball player and a good person. He call us in for individual meetings and tell us we couldn't throw our helmets or bats or swear after making an out, things like that."
Brady Perreira (1989-92).
"Just being part of one of Coach Les' milestones, his 800th victory. I don't remember much about the game, but celebrating some special with Coach Les, that felt good."
Paul Ah Yat (1994-96). From the 1990s
"What I remember most is probably his dedication toward education. The thing I took away most was that academics was a shared responsibility. When you left the program you wanted to be more than just a ball player."
Rob Williams (1992-93).
"Les is so unique. When I think about him. I smile. All he said to me my first semester was "Do you have a tutor and are you going to be eligible?" But, he made a promise to my parents that he would graduate and I did. That meant a lot to me and my parents and we have a special relationship with him."
Trey Garman (1993-94).
"I remember Coach Les to be fair. I walked-on to the program with no references and very average credentials out of Long Beach City College, tore my ACL before I ever played a game, had no speed and no power, yet still Coach Les gave me the chance to earn a spot on the team and eventually a baseball scholarship. He didn't owe me anything but he took me into his baseball family just the same and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to play at UH. Everything was first-class for us and I have great memories and lifelong friends from when I played. Coach Les handed me the opportunity of a lifetime and I'll be forever grateful to him."
Mark Johnson (1994-96).
"One of my favorite memories is when Coach Les won his 900th game and Carl told me to get the warm bucket of water and dump it on him. Well I grabbed the cooler and soaked him. He never said it was cold but it was mainly filled with ice. Not to mention the it was filled with Gatorade,"
Matt Wheeler (1998-99).
"I think the thing that stuck out the most in my mind about coach Les was that I thought that he was funny as hell. Most of the time, I don't even think he was trying to be funny. He always had that serious look on his face, but I always looked forward to him talking to the team after practice. He always used the same phrases. I actually used to count the times he would say, "No question we can hit" or "The cream will always rise to the top" while he was talking to us. I have a lot of good memories of coach Les both on and off the field. But I will always remember the whole team sitting around him on the field and him just talking."
Jamie Aloy (1997-2000).
"I remember his 1,000th victory. I came in to close. I saw something in Coach Les' eyes, that determination that he had accomplished something. He finally got to 1,000 wins and maybe he was kind of relieved, yet happy."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
