If a marriage of bureaucracy and baseball at first seems a bit odd, consider that the primary proponent of this one, Dave Edler, played third base for Bobo Brayton at Washington State.
Also be reminded that Edler, Yakima's mayor, became visibly emotional while reading a proclamation making Saturday Coach Bobo Brayton Day in Yakima.
And then consider that Edler isn't the only one so inspired, that Brayton has fostered perhaps as much affection, loyalty and respect among his players -- be they from Yakima Valley Community College or WSU -- as any coach who ever lived.
"Absolutely," Edler said. "I was very honored to read that proclamation, and I kind of got choked up as I tried to do it."
Edler's sentiments were then passed on to Brayton during a recent telephone interview from his Red Cougar Ranch near Pullman. The coach paused, then responded in his trademark, gravely voice, "Attaboy, Eddie!"
Brayton had no doubt shouted those words many times during Edler's four years at Washington State. The Cougs went 156-67 (.699) during that span, winning four conference titles, and Edler was named third-team All-American in 1977.
So the bond is cleary there.
But it also exists with so many others, from so many other teams and so many other eras.
At the Parker Youth & Sports Foundation banquet of 2006, Mel Stottlemyre entered the room and began to smile as he recognized faces from years past.
But then he saw Brayton. And Stottlemyre, his expression changing from joy to unbridled euphoria, rushed to meet his old YVCC coach, hugging Brayton and then holding him firmly by the shoulders while the two men exchanged a lengthy and emotional greeting.
"A lot of us from the Yakima Valley have been impacted by him and his coaching," Edler said. "He was a person who if you played for him, you began to talk like him and act like him. It's just amazing the influence he has had."
So much so that this might as well have been Bobo Brayton week.
He has embraced the Parker Foundation since its inception, partly because it benefits youth in a community in which Brayton spent 11 years but also because one of its founders, Bill Faller, remains a close friend.
Before Brayton came to Yakima in 1950, and before he was succeeded at YVCC by Faller in 1961, the two co-captained the 1947 Cougars to a 23-11 record and a first-place Northern Division finish.
Brayton, 82, will serve as honorary chairman of the Foundation's High Hopes Golf Tournament at Apple Tree Golf Course on Saturday.
Prior to that, and his official day, he will address the Yakima Rotary Club's meeting today -- an event at which Brayton will be joined by Pete Rademacher. Brayton will then be interviewed on KIT radio today from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Friday night he will be joined by Edler, Rademacher, John Olerud, Steve Mahre, Hazel Leland and Taylor Stubblefield at the Yakima Sports Legend Reception, scheduled for 5:30-9 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center. Cost is $25 and $5 for children 12 and under. Appetizers will be included.
And speaking of food, Brayton happily reported no frost damage to what he calls his "petrified cantaloupes" -- more commonly known as rocks.
"Bumper crop," he said. "The grass is growing, I'm mowing the lawns and we've built a new house. It'll be real nice -- we've got a better view of the river (south fork of the Palouse). It has a lot of glass, a very nice feel to it, and my wife loves it."
He'd just returned from watching WSU beat Washington 5-1 in Seattle, and sounded genuinely excited in anticipation of the coming week.
"Gotta talk to the Rotary Club at noon Thursday, so I'll get over there Wednesday night," he said. "Can't take a chance on being late. And I always look forward to seeing people in Yakima -- ex-YVC(C) players, ex-Cougars. We'll make 'er, and it'll be a great time."
He will miss old pal Stottlemyre, of course. Mel's busy these days, and in that regard Brayton was asked if he had any advice for the first-year Mariners pitching coach.
"Boy," he said. "I guess you just tell those guys to keep their head down and throw hard. I'm really feeling for Mel, because he's a wonderful man. They're struggling, but another thing is where are their hitters at? For (Jarrod) Washburn to pitch and win, you've got to get the guy some runs. For any pitcher to win, you've got to score some runs or they begin to start thinking they have to pitch a perfect game to win.
"Mel's one of the best guys in the world, in my eyes, and I'm sure the guys there respect him and what he's telling them. Me? I wouldn't know quite what to say, but I'd tell 'em to keep their heads down and throw hard. Do that and you'd be surprised at how many guys can't hit it."
And even Bobo Brayton, while honored by his own day Saturday, will probably be surprised at how many people here will be happy to see him.
Roger Underwood can be reached at 577-7694 or runderwood@yakimaherald.com
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