Brian Traxler, the popular first baseman for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks during the 1996 and 1997 seasons died at the age of 37 on November 19 in San Antonio, TX.
Baseball Almanac records that Brian Traxler appeared in 11 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1990, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story of his professional baseball career. Brian was a fan favorite everywhere he played. Former RedHawk general manager John Dittrich recalls, "He was truly an all-time favorite for me as a GM and for the fans of Fargo." After one game Dittrich staged the Man Against Horse race in which Traxler riding horseback was narrowly defeated by speedy RedHawk outfielder Chris Powell.
In remarks published in the
San Antonio Express-News, longstanding San Antonio Missions broadcaster Roy Acuff remembered Traxler as, "a very engaging guy, very likeable… he was always a great hitter, a natural hitter with a great swing." The
Albuquerque Journal reported that fans selected Traxler as the most popular Duke player in 1992, 1993 and 1995. He was so popular with Japanese fans in 1994 that the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks issued a Brian Traxler bobblehead. In June 2004, Traxler was listed as a fan choice in the Most Obscure but Memorable Dodger competition.
Traxler’s professional playing career spanned twelve seasons, starting in 1988 when he joined the San Antonio Missions (Texas League AA). He also played for the Albuquerque Dukes (Pacific Coast League AAA), Los Angeles Dodgers (National League), and Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (Japan League) before joining the RedHawks in 1996. Traxler played for the Somerset Patriots in 1998 and 1999 and was an Atlantic League All Star in 1999. In 2000, Traxler returned to the Northern League as a player-coach for the Sioux Falls Canaries. He recently served as a hitting coach for the Vero Beach Dodgers.
Rest in peace Brian Traxler.
Below are articles from the
San Antonio Express-News and the
Albuquerque Journal.
Ex-Mission Traxler dead at 37 years old
San Antonio Express-News
By Paula Hunt
Brian Traxler, 37, a former player with the Missions who had a brief career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, died on Nov. 19 in San Antonio. A memorial service at Alamo Funeral Home is planned for next Wednesday. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Traxler, a popular player with teammates and fans during his time with the Missions, had spent the past season as a hitting coach for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Dodgers in Vero Beach, Fla. "He was a very engaging guy, very likeable," said Roy Acuff, the Missions' long-time broadcaster. "He was always a great hitter, a natural hitter with a great swing."
In 1989, Traxler hit .346 for the Missions with nine home runs and 44 RBIs. In 1990, he hit .256 with seven home runs and 61 RBIs.
Traxler played in nine games for the Dodgers in 1990. In 1994 he played for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in the Japan League where, Acuff said, he was so popular the team released a bobblehead doll in his likeness.
Fan Favorite Ex-Duke Traxler Dies at 37
Albuquerque Journal
By Randy Harrison
Brian Traxler, who played in more games than any other Albuquerque Dukes baseball player, has died at the age of 37. Traxler, who played for the Dukes for parts of the 1988-1993 seasons and again in 1995, died Friday in Santonio, Texas, according to information provided by his family. No cause of death was detailed
A left-handed hitting first baseball, Traxler set club records for career games (544), doubles (122) and total bases (829). He also made his mark in another way as a Duke – fans voted him the team’s most popular player in 1992, 1993 and 1995.
In 1994, Traxler played professionally in Japan with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks before returning to the Dukes. He played only briefly in the majors, going 1 for 11 with one double early in the 1990 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Traxler was born in Waukegan, Ill., and played collegially at the University of New Orleans. He was a 16th-round draft pick, the 400th player selected in the 1988 amateur baseball draft.
Traxler is survived by his daughter Ashley, his mother, two sisters, and two nephews. A memorial is scheduled for Dec 1 in San Antonio.
