It's no surprise that Kirk Roland, a teammate of Harry Black's at Mark Morris High in Longview, Wash., still calls the former major league pitcher "Buddy." According to Roland, it's the most fitting name.

"He's got to be one of the nicest, best guys I've ever met," says Roland, today a sports manager at KLOG in Longview, of "Bud" Black, 42. "When he was playing in the big leagues, you could ask anyone in the clubhouse, from a player to the janitor, and they'd say the same thing."

Before the benevolent Black struck gold in the majors, he was a small left-hander at Mark Morris High. His control was great, but his physical makeup didn't allow for an overpowering fastball.

"It's a unique story. If you look up and down our high school roster to find a guy with the potential to be a big-league ballplayer, well, Buddy wouldn't be your first choice," says a chuckling Roland, who still keeps in contact with the former hurler. Black pitched for Seattle, Kansas City, Cleveland, Toronto and San Francisco over his 15-year Major League Baseball career (1981-1995). "He was always the crafty little left-hander who had good breaking stuff, but was not an intimidating power athlete."

By the time Black reached his senior season of high school in 1975, he had bulked up and stopped playing most other sports, including his first love, basketball, to concentrate on pitching. Smart move. That spring, Black was 9-1 with a 2.52 ERA and led Mark Morris High to a third-place finish in the state tournament. The lefty was also tough at the plate, hitting .359 with 20 RBI. The achievements earned Black ample attention. He was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the late rounds of that June's draft, but decided to forego the majors so he could get an education.

That decision, just like giving up basketball his senior year of high school, paid huge dividends. Black attended Lower Columbia Community College in Washington and eventually transferred to San Diego State University, where he played with current San Diego Padres right fielder Tony Gywnn. Making the most of his time between the two schools, Black was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 17th round of the 1979 draft.

"He's the kind of guy that, when given his chance, he always comes up huge," says Roland. "In high school, college and getting drafted, he was clutch at the right time."

After compiling a Major League pitching record of 121-116, with 32 complete games, 12 shutouts and 11 saves, Black called it a career in 1995. He finished with a career ERA of 3.84 and a World Series ring as a member of the 1985 Kansas City Royals.

But retirement from playing baseball hasn't keep Black away from the game. He was a pitching coach for Cleveland's AAA team, Buffalo, in 1998. He was the special assistant to the general manager of the Indians last spring, and finally landed in Anaheim, where he is currently the pitching coach for the Angels.

"Buddy" also still gives back to Longview community. He often hosts clinics and autograph shows and has started and maintained the Bud Black Youth Foundation, which donates money to several youth programs in Longview.

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