Bend Rainbows

The Bend Rainbows existed for only two seasons, 1970 and 1971, as a Class A-Short Season affiliate in the Northwest League. They were linked to the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders, who themselves were tied to the California Angels. Though their time was short, the team is best known as the place where actor Kurt Russell started his professional baseball career.

The Northwest League grew from four to six teams after the 1969 season, adding franchises in Coos Bay-North Bend and Bend. The Hawaii Islanders, a loose affiliate of the California Angels, wanted to build a farm system to strengthen their case for Major League status. Islanders president Jack Quinn struck a deal with the Northwest League to run the Bend team as an Islanders affiliate. More than 90 name suggestions came in; Mrs. Dennis Huntley of Prineville, Oregon, submitted "Rainbows." The name honored the Hawaiian parent club and the rainbow trout common in the Bend area.

For the 1970 season, former Major League catcher Charlie Silvera was hired as manager. Silvera had won six World Series titles as Yogi Berra’s backup with the New York Yankees. The Rainbows’ roster mixed players owned by the Islanders with players loaned from other minor league teams.

The Islanders preferred loans because the loaning clubs paid the players’ salaries, keeping the Rainbows’ costs low. A notable player was Bend native Ed Cecil, a relief pitcher bought from the Philadelphia Phillies. Cecil earned the Rainbows’ first win, a 10-9 extra-inning victory over the Tri-City Padres.

Despite drawing decent crowds compared to other Northwest League teams, the Rainbows lost over $10,000 in their first season. After 1970, their return to Bend was uncertain.

The Islanders did not want another money-losing year and refused to commit unless enough loaned players could be secured to make a profit. On May 1, 1971, just over a month before the season, Quinn called general manager Ward Goodrich to confirm the Rainbows would play. With Silvera gone to coach in the Detroit Tigers system, Cecil became player-manager for 1971.

To boost interest, Goodrich signed actor Kurt Russell. The 20-year-old had played in high-level semi-pro leagues in Los Angeles and wanted to test himself in the minors. He chose Bend over offers from teams with Major League affiliations because the Rainbows allowed him to keep acting; other teams demanded full focus on baseball. Russell’s father, Bing Russell, was an old friend of Goodrich.

Russell said he aimed to be the first Academy Award winner to reach the Majors. He missed the first road trip to finish filming Now You See Him, Now You Don’t, joined for the home opener, and played the rest of the season at second base, batting .285 with one home run. His play earned him a spot on the Northwest League All-Star team. Future big-league manager Tom Treblehorn also played for the Rainbows in both years.

Although the Rainbows finished first in their half of the division and had Russell, attendance dropped in 1971, worsening their financial troubles. Equipment and travel costs overwhelmed the team, even though most players were loaned and their salaries paid elsewhere. Citing money problems, the Islanders moved their affiliation to Walla Walla after 1971, becoming the Walla Walla Islanders. The Bend franchise was sold and moved to Seattle, renamed the Rainiers.

The Northwest League returned to Bend in 1978 with the Timber Hawks for one season, then continued through 1994 with the Phillies (1979–86), Bucks (1987–91), and Rockies (1992–94). Today, the Bend Elks, a collegiate wood-bat team in the West Coast League, play at the same stadium and carry on Bend’s baseball tradition. Russell played for Walla Walla in 1972 and moved up to Double-A El Paso in 1973, where a rotator cuff tear from a collision ended his career. He made one appearance as a designated hitter for the Portland Mavericks, a team owned by his father, in 1974.

The Rainbows played at Municipal Ball Park in south Bend, now known as Vince Genna Stadium. Vince Genna was the director of Bend’s Parks and Recreation.