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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Cedar Rapids Kernels legend Ron “Roady” Plein dies at 81
Spent 40 years as clubhouse manager for Quad City Angels and Kernels
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CEDAR RAPIDS - Everyone has a Roady story. Everyone.
Ron Plein was the quintessential minor league baseball ballpark character.
Even his nickname “Roadrunner,” which eventually was shortened to Roady, is a story in and of itself. Back in the day, a young Plein would chase foul balls on the field with unabashed ferocity, like a kid who’d been chugging Mountain Dews all day.
From the dugout to the tarp tube in left field in 5.2 seconds. Sometimes even in the tarp tube if a ball had found its way inside of it.
The longtime Cedar Rapids Kernels clubhouse manager died Saturday morning at the age of 81. He’d been battling health issues for a long while.
Roady spent 40 years as a clubbie for the Kernels and Quad City Angels, coming to C.R. when the California Angels moved their Midwest League affiliate to town in 1993. When the Kernels opened the newer Veterans Memorial Stadium in 2002, Plein had his own room just outside the home team’s clubhouse, where he stayed the entire season.
Plein is a Dubuque native, and there will be a visitation for him Tuesday at Leonard Funeral Home (2595 Rockdale Road) in that city. A celebration of life will be at the ballpark at a date and time to be determined.
Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
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