Both Mike and Randy Searl (a 72'er from our Walter Hays days) and long gone now as well were such talented mechanics. Mike was in my 8th grade metal shop class with Mr. Dockins, who recognized that Mike was gifted in his field and fabricating go carts at 14. Even before then, Randy was racing dual engine go carts and later became a well known winning Bulatco Dirt Bike racer. Not the usual Palo Alto stuff. I bought a noisy Mini Bike from Randy at about that age and got into some fun and a little trouble running it around the Paly track surrounding the Foolball Field with a couple of other 72'ers.
Interesting post, speaking of Randy Searl, I just remembered I sold him my 63 ford falcon in 11th grade, he took it out to the baylands and drove it maniacally until the engine blew up. Very awesome thing to do!
Mike was one of the toughest pitchers I ever saw, first in the 9th grade at Jordan (we won our league that year, largely due to his efforts on the mound), and then at Paly, I believe only as a sophomore. He drifted away from baseball which was too bad, he could have played at the college level and perhaps in the pros. An absolute competitor, when he pitched we always felt we were going to win as long as we could get him at least one run!
At age 12, I was Mike's catcher in Little League. On the Elks, we won our division, Mike lead the city in strikeouts, threw a no-hitter, the only one I ever caught, and in an all-city exhibition All-Star team, Mike hit threee doubles and we beat Ravenswood 8-0 (Ravenswood went on to the Little League World Series). In Babe Ruth league, he grinned at me when I had my first at bat off him, grooved a fastball, and I got my first hit. in the 9th grade at Jordan, he dominated and we won the league. He dropped out of baseball until joining my summer team at age 18, but his fastball wasn't as crisp and his curveball didn't have the same gigantic, quick snap. After he gave up a few long homers, a devastating experience for him, he quit again. In the 1990s, my brother ran into Mike at the Oasis, where he was taking a break from working in the craft industry, but said he didn't think he would live long and wouldn't provide a way for me to track him down. For me, I'll always think of him as a great friend, talent and champion.
And yes, Mike was part of the powerful backfield on our legendary 1969 Jordan football team. Scott Duncan, Walt Barrett, and Mike Edson. Three more fierce running backs never played; fierce, fast, tough and with tremendous burst speed. Along with quarterback Dan Hagemann, if those four would have stuck together, anything would have beeen possible.
Jack Kelley
Sorry to here that Mike has passed away. He was a good friend, and I had wondered if he was still around.
Robert Douglas Moore
Both Mike and Randy Searl (a 72'er from our Walter Hays days) and long gone now as well were such talented mechanics. Mike was in my 8th grade metal shop class with Mr. Dockins, who recognized that Mike was gifted in his field and fabricating go carts at 14. Even before then, Randy was racing dual engine go carts and later became a well known winning Bulatco Dirt Bike racer. Not the usual Palo Alto stuff. I bought a noisy Mini Bike from Randy at about that age and got into some fun and a little trouble running it around the Paly track surrounding the Foolball Field with a couple of other 72'ers.
Bradley Dirk Martin
Interesting post, speaking of RandySearl, I just remembered I sold him my 63 ford falcon in 11th grade, he took it out to the baylands and drove it maniacally until the engine blew up. Very awesome thing to do!
Robert Douglas Moore
Right! Both of these guys were Steve Mcqueens. Randy was always finding new ways to go faster,
Rick Rice
Mike was one of the toughest pitchers I ever saw, first in the 9th grade at Jordan (we won our league that year, largely due to his efforts on the mound), and then at Paly, I believe only as a sophomore. He drifted away from baseball which was too bad, he could have played at the college level and perhaps in the pros. An absolute competitor, when he pitched we always felt we were going to win as long as we could get him at least one run!
Robert Douglas Moore
Wasn't Mike also quite the Half Back fearlessly running up the middle time and time again?
Won't forget Mike. He was always a regular in the thick of it!
Tom Stienstra
At age 12, I was Mike's catcher in Little League. On the Elks, we won our division, Mike lead the city in strikeouts, threw a no-hitter, the only one I ever caught, and in an all-city exhibition All-Star team, Mike hit threee doubles and we beat Ravenswood 8-0 (Ravenswood went on to the Little League World Series). In Babe Ruth league, he grinned at me when I had my first at bat off him, grooved a fastball, and I got my first hit. in the 9th grade at Jordan, he dominated and we won the league. He dropped out of baseball until joining my summer team at age 18, but his fastball wasn't as crisp and his curveball didn't have the same gigantic, quick snap. After he gave up a few long homers, a devastating experience for him, he quit again. In the 1990s, my brother ran into Mike at the Oasis, where he was taking a break from working in the craft industry, but said he didn't think he would live long and wouldn't provide a way for me to track him down. For me, I'll always think of him as a great friend, talent and champion.
Tom Stienstra
And yes, Mike was part of the powerful backfield on our legendary 1969 Jordan football team. Scott Duncan, Walt Barrett, and Mike Edson. Three more fierce running backs never played; fierce, fast, tough and with tremendous burst speed. Along with quarterback Dan Hagemann, if those four would have stuck together, anything would have beeen possible.