‘The Show’ earns high rating from Dallimore

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 30, 2001 | 11:38 a.m.

Most of his Arizona Diamondbacks teammates were already in the showers by time Brian Dallimore signed his final autograph and trotted off the field Thursday night at Cashman Field.

No one could blame the former Clark High star if he wanted to savor the moment.

So what if the Diamondbacks had just lost a tough 5-4 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers in an exhibition game? So what if Dallimore lined into a double play back to the pitcher in his only at-bat? So what if his uniform number (87) seemed better suited for a tight end than a middle infielder?

Dallimore, the former all-state quarterback for the Chargers and the son of former UNLV baseball coach Fred Dallimore, got to experience for one night what it would be like to play in "The Show." And he got to do it before a sellout crowd of 11,788 in his hometown to boot.

"I was really excited when they told me I was going to make the trip," Dallimore said. "It's always good to come home ... and then to be in this kind of atmosphere, a big league game. It was just a thrill to be here."

Dallimore, who has bounced around Class A and double-A the last five years after starring collegiately at Stanford, will begin 2001 at double-A El Paso for the Diamondbacks. He said he found out on Wednesday that he'd be flying to Las Vegas with the big club.

"At this time of camp the roster is cut down to the point where you need a few extra guys in the event of injuries or if you want to get your starters out of the game," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "Brian came highly recommended to us from our minor league staff. They thought it would be good for him and good for us to take a look at him."

Brenly was unaware of Dallimore's Las Vegas background until informed by a reporter before the game.

"I didn't even realize he was from Las Vegas," Brenly said. "That even makes it better."

Dallimore said it was an experience he wouldn't forget.

"You learn a lot from these guys and the way they conduct themselves," he said. "It would have been nice to drive in the winning run and do something heroic. But I'm just thankful that I got to come."

There was one thing missing, however. Father Fred didn't attend the game.

"He's in Tucson at our spring training camp," Brian said. "It's ironic I got sent here while he was down there."

The good news is Fred Dallimore still got to watch his son play because the game was televised live in Arizona.

Morgan, who turns 42 on Oct. 8, has earned a roster spot as a spot starter and long reliever with Arizona for the second straight season. Arizona is the 12th team that Morgan has played for in the major leagues.

The Arizona media guide says Morgan is the first player in modern major league sports to wear the uniform of 12 teams, although Golden State forward Chucky Brown (11 teams) is hot on his trail.

Former UNLV star Matt Williams, sidelined for about a week because of a bone spur, went 1-for-3 for the Diamondbacks.