What's Up, Doc? Remembering the Riverside Red Wave

By Randall Freeman, PhD

My family and I recently attended a Lake Elsinore Storm game. My mother-in-law asked me about the visiting team, the High Desert Mavericks -- where they were from and so forth. As I was recounting the details, I remembered their former name as the Riverside Red Wave.

In 1987, while working on my teaching credential, I had the opportunity to work as a "prep-release" teacher for the Alvord Unified School District in Riverside. I was assigned to two schools, Foothill Elementary and McAuliffe Elementary. For the majority of those periods, I taught physical education for some 300 fourth and fifth grade students.

When local radio station KGGI announced a "Name the Team" contest for Riverside's minor league baseball team, I decided to have all 300 students provide ideas. I told the children that the team colors were red and white and could influence the name, much as the White Sox and Red Sox in Major League Baseball. To help the children, I began throwing out college team names.

One of the college teams I called out was the Waves of Pepperdine University. I suggested either red or white be combined with one of the college names. A little boy named Glen heard me say "Red Wave." (I actually said Red Waves; I hate singular team names.) He submitted the name Red Wave.

Much to my amazement, he won. At Foothill Elementary School, the owners of the fledgling minor league team -- George, Ken, and John Brett (yes, THAT George Brett) -- came to a school assembly, where Glen was recognized as the contest winner. Among other prizes, he received season tickets to Red Wave home games and threw out the first pitch at the season opener. (I was also provided the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a subsequent game – it traveled 58 feet before landing in the dirt).

Glen was a very quiet boy, one of 10 children. I cannot remember his last name but it was a wonderful experience for him to receive so much attention. It was amazing.

A side note: George Brett was still playing for the Kansas City Royals at the time. I believe that pitcher Ken Brett had retired by then. John was the attorney of the family. During the assembly, George began to sit on the edge of a cafeteria table. Knowing what was going to happen, I immediately pushed down on the center of the table, preventing George from sliding to the floor onto his tailbone. I undoubtedly saved George Brett from a stint on the DL (disabled list).

Following three seasons of poor attendance (the City of Riverside made them play at UCR and could not sell beer), the team relocated to Adelanto and became the High Desert Mavericks.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, 18, and 14-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy, Mikko, & Max, 17-year-old cat Hunter, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. Randy has wisely decided to delete the bit about being Karen's boss in order to continue living in his happy home.