University alum Tim Wallach most proud of Gold Glove awards he earned in the Major Leagues

Tim Wallach returned Saturday to University High School where he began his baseball career. (Photo: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

It had been a while since former Major Leaguer and five time all-star Tim Wallach had been back at the baseball field at University High School.

But Wallach, who played 17 seasons for the Montreal Expos, Dodgers and Angels, said he was honored to be recognized along with another former Trojan alum and Major Leaguer Garrett Atkins during an event held Saturday by the school’s baseball booster club.

“It was great, I think they did a great job,” Wallach said in an interview Saturday. “It’s an honor. It’s been a long time since I’ve played here. But still, you remember your high school friends and coaches, it’s kind of where it all started. It’s a great honor.”

Wallach, who was a third baseman, said he had many fond memories of his Uni career.

“Not one game necessarily, I still have a couple friends who played with here in Doug Robinson and Jack Murray, they’re still good friends that I still talk to and see every now and then,” he said.

Wallach said he was proud of the three Gold Glove awards he earned as a member of the Montreal Expos.

“Gold Gloves are the things I’m most proud of, number one. I played for a long time and never embarrassed my family,” he said.

He was also appreciative of his former coach at University Ken Trater.

“Coach Trater was a wonderful man. He followed my career, he’s followed my kids’ career, he’s just a good man,” Wallach said. “It kind of started here, he cared about all the kids.”

His advice for young players with Big League dreams:

“Just work hard and love the game if you don’t love the game, it’s hard to work at it,” he said. “If you love the game, you got to love to work and love to practice. If you practice hard, you got a chance to do it.”

Trater, who coached Wallach, couldn’t attend Saturday’s event, but sent comments about Wallach which were read by former Trojans Coach Mike Gerakos.

“Tim was a coach’s dream, a team player, humble, polite, unassuming, dedicated and very hard working. Besides his baseball talent, I always admired Tim as a person. He played the game with integrity. Tim set a great example for his three sons.”

Wallach, who later played at Saddleback College and Cal State Fullerton, was well respected by his teammates and was also generous with his time, umpiring Little League baseball games, the tribute from Trater noted.

Wallach said he’s enjoying retirement and doesn’t anticipate returning to baseball. He was also a base coach for the Dodgers and Marlins.

Wallach, 64, said he enjoys spending time with his wife Lori and six grand-children. The couple, who lives in Yorba Linda, have three sons.

“I’m playing golf and watching grand-kids,” he said. “I still follow it because my son is playing, he’s been up and down the last couple of years. I still pay attention.

“I’m done (with baseball). I’m just getting more and more grand-kids so I don’t have enough time to coach.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com