As the Dawgs celebrate their 10th anniversary, the Western Wheel looks back at some of the unique characters who played or visited Seaman Stadium. This week, a man who inspired a t-shirt.
As the Dawgs celebrate their 10th anniversary, the Western Wheel looks back at some of the unique characters who played or visited Seaman Stadium. This week, a man who inspired a t-shirt.
The jury is still out if a former Okotoks Dawgs still sucks, but the stats will show he was a pretty good ballplayer.
Austin Voros was the Dawgs 2012 MVP when he hit .339, with two dingers and 44 RBI. His .444 on-base percentage led the team that year. Still the affable outfielder might be best known for the hot-selling “Voros sucks” t-shirts that flew out of Seaman Stadium like a Kody Funderburk home run.
“The “Voros sucks” thing came from a locker room thing that I won't talk about,” Voros said while working on a construction job in Winnipeg. “One time, I was on the bus, and they told me to get off to go get something and I came back on and they were all wearing these “Voros Sucks” t-shirts. I laughed my butt off. Pablo (Forno, the owner of Grand Slam Sports and head of Dawgs merchandising) said “I wish I could sell those.'
I told him: “You can. I have a thick skin.'”
It turned into a George Lucas like merchandising product — plenty of sequels.
“He sold a whole bunch and then it turned into “Voros Still Sucks”, “Voros Sucks More” and I think “Coach Voros Sucks” when I was coaching (with the Junior Academy).”
Voros fell in love with Okotoks his first year with the Dawgs in 2010.
“Just seeing the ballpark and all the fans that was the coolest experience — I never experienced something like that,” Voros said. “I'm very personable and I like to talk to people, it just came naturally. I liked joking around with the fans.”
He would toe the line now and then for the fans. During a rain delay he, Rylan Chin and Adam Clark went and lined dance for the fans. He YMCA'd the odd-time with the legendary Grant Sullivan on top of the Western Wheel dugout.
But he was also a good hitter. He turned in a two-dinger performance against their rivals in the day the Medicine Hat Mavericks in the friendly confines of Seaman Stadium in 2011.
“My dad was in town and he filmed it,” Voros said. “It was always great to beat up on Medicine Hat.”
His father was able to link the home runs with the play-by-play of former Dawgs announcer Jonathan Hodgson. To see the video click on the link on the story in the Western Wheel's web page.
Voros, who grew up in Surrey, B.C. is a general manager with the family business, Southridge Projects based out of Vancouver.
To see the Voros-Hodgson video go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXvtUlGuhNM
