In 1984, he stole 39 bases in only 72 games.

In those days, Otis Nixon was one of the crowd favorites at The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach. He has wearing a Maine Guides uniform at the time.

Nixon has gone on to have a respectable major league career with Cleveland, Montreal, and Atlanta.

Nixon is one of five former Maine Guides/Phillies currently involved in the National League Championship Series.

Center fielder Nixon and relievers Steve Bedrosian and Marvin Freeman are playing for Atlanta, while Philadelphia has two former Maine Phillies in catcher Darren Daulton and outfielder-first baseman Rick Jordan.

“Otis was certainly a fan favorite,” recalled Dave Ekelund, who was part owner of the Guides and their director of sales. “He had world class speed. His speed was second to none on the team. He was a gazelle. He had those long strides. He was an outstanding outfielder. He could go get the ball.”

“I know (Guides manager) Doc Edwards was concerned about his hitting and wasn’t sure he’d make it,” added Ekelund. “One of the reasons he was with us was to improve his bunting. Personally, I thought he would make it at least as a role player because of his speed. But did I think he’d become a premier leadoff hitter in the major leagues? I’d have to say no.”

He also recalled Nixon as being a “very quiet person. He was a nice family man. He was humble.”

In 1984, Nixon was in his sixth season in pro ball and he hit .277 for the Guides with 42 runs and 22 RBIs. He had started the year in Cleveland and hit .154 in 49 games.

Daulton played for the Maine Phillies in 1987 after opening the season on the disabled list and spending nine games with Clearwater in the Class A Florida State League. He hit .214 in 20 games for the Phillies with three homers and 10 RBIs. He was called up and went on to hit .194 for Philadelphia. It was his eighth pro season.

Freeman had two stints with the Phillies. In 1987, his fourth pro season, he was 0-7 with a 6.26 ERA in 10 games, all starts. The following season, he appeared in 18 games, 14 of which were starts, and was 5-5 with a 4.62 ERA. He was called up and was 2-3 with a 6.10 ERA for Philadelphia that season.

Jordan wore Maine Phillies colors for 87 games in 1988 and hit .308 with seven homers and 36 RBIs. He stole 10 bases. It was his sixth pro season. He was called up by Philadelphia later that year and hit .308 there, also.

Bedrosian had an injury rehabilitation stint with the Phillies in 1988. He appeared in five games encompassing 6 2/3 innings and didn’t allow a run. He was 0-0 with five strikeouts and two walks. He went on to register 28 saves for Philadelphia later that year.