Barers of Maple Valley

Thursday, October 01, 2026

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered 41--Mike Cherry Calls Baseball

Mike Cherry, in 1973, was named radio announcer for the Walla Walla Padres in 1973. The games were broadcast on KUJ.

This articles was sent by my brother, Steve.

Cherry would later serve the area as county assessor. He was a Democrat, but was married to the daughter of a prominent Walla Walla Republican. This probably did much to get him elected in a mostly Repubican Walla Walla County.

Cherry did set me up to interview for a job at KUJ, but I was close to graduation and planned to leave the area to go to college.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Passengers And Crew Save Flight After Pilot Stabbed

This is a major miracle. A rogue co-pilot stabs fellow pilot, but somehow, the plane, which was to go to Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, was able to make a safe landing in Saudi Arabia.

Word is, Israeli soldiers and former soldiers, some with flight training, were able to take control of the flight.

Islander Baseball In Walla Walla

For one year, the Walla Walla Northwest League baseball team was the Walla Walla Islanders. They add an odd agreement with the Hawaii Islanders, which itself was Pacific Coast League Minor League team.

One of the stars of that team was Kurt Russell, who also was a movie actor, appearing, primarily, in Disney films. He would eventually become a much bigger name, in movies, not baseball.

Thank you to my brother, Steve for this article from the 1973 Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Progress Addition.

I did not remember that the team won its division that year. I do remember the announcers bragging about the attendance.

When the 1973 Northwest League season started, the team would then have switched its affiliation to the San Diego Padres. They would be the Walla Walla Padres for several seasons..