Ruben Karlsson

Ruben Karlsson played third base with reckless joy, diving into the dirt for balls other players conceded and firing across the diamond from his knees. The Stockton crowd adored his all-out style.

At the plate he was a contact machine who sprayed line drives to all fields, the sort of hitter a manager loves batting in any spot in the order.

He gave the Stags an identity of grit and hustle that long outlasted his playing days in the valley.