Life of Peanut Man An Easy Catch For SB Author- Sun Newspaper

©2004, Sun Newspaper Story by James Figueroa - 04/15/04 Seal Beach-Huntington Beach-Cypress-Rossmoor-Huntington Harbor	The author is Daniel Green, a Seal Beach resident who also happens to be Owens‘ nephew. ”Being family made it that much easier,” said Green, whose first book is quickly becoming a favorite of Dodger fans. ”I tried to write it as if I was putting the reader in the moment.” Owens began working at Dodger games in 1958, the first year after the team moved west from Brooklyn. He started out carrying heavy crates of soda bottles, a job he had persistently sought as a way to keep his family together. The oldest of eight children, Owens and his siblings had been broken up and sent to foster homes in the early 1950s, after his mother, Mary, suffered a mental breakdown and was admitted to a hospital. The family was too poor to survive without her. After several years, a 15-year-old Owens convinced his father, Ross, to pull the family back together, promising to find work to support them. He began working as a stock boy at a drug store, and slowly advanced his way into the Dodger organization as a crowd vendor, selling soda, then ice cream and finally the most coveted merchandise by salesmen, peanuts. The book delves into many other hardships that Owens overcame during his life, including a Jeep accident that nearly killed him when he was in the Army, bouts of vertigo in recent years and a frightening attempted murder on his father, who was shot point-blank in the chest. ”The people I'm seeing at the ballpark are saying that they just can‘t put it down,” Owens said. He credits Green for having the dedication to put the story together, the first of several aspiring writers to follow through after expressing a desire to chronicle Owens‘ life. Owens is particularly impressed, and proud, because Green had to overcome his own obstacles along the way. ”He‘s just an inspiration for all of us,” Owens said. ”He has such a command for the emotion and feeling for this story.”	A graphic designer (he created the cover jacket for his own book), Green is burdened by his own physical ailment. He was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease (an older brother and two cousins also have it) that slowed him down several times while he was writing the story. Green believes the hard work has paid off. The book has benefitted from strong word of mouth among Dodger aficionados, he said, and was listed as a top choice by a baseball website. Negotiations are underway to make the book available at the Dodger Stadium gift shop. ”People have been reading it in one day,” Green said. ”I even heard about a preacher who used it in a sermon.” Owens usually tires himself out at the beginning of the season reacquainting himself with friends in Chavez Ravine, and this year he has been hearing lots of compliments by fans who have read the book. He has been receiving an even greater number of congratulations by fans who read newspaper articles about his marriage earlier this year. Owens wed his new love, Sharon, on Valentine's Day, and surprised the reception party when he changed out of his tuxedo into his baseball uniform, tossing peanuts to everyone in the house. Fame has offered Owens countless experiences throughout the years, including guest spots on ”The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, a bit role in the movie ”Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” and throwing out the first pitch at games. But Owens has remained grounded through it all. ”I'm starting to realize how much people appreciate the enthusiasm and pride I take in the job,” he said. ”It‘s magic in the stands.” Green and Owens will be at the Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa this weekend, April 17, for a book signing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Owens naturally is planning to toss a few peanuts to please the crowd. For more information on the signing, call (714) 966-8422. ”The Perfect Pitch” is available through major booksellers over the Internet, and may also be purchased at Green‘s website, www.rogerowenspeanutman.com.
Life of Peanut Man An Easy Catch For SB Author by James Figueroa The L.A. Dodgers were trounced on opening day last week, their hitters silent as the southern rival Padres clubbed a grand slam. Roger Owens still thought it was a great day at the ballpark. Owens is the internationally-famous peanut guy, the vendor who can pitch a bag of nuts under his leg and into your seat from 40 rows away. A peanut salesman for 46 years, he has become as much of a tradition at Dodger Stadium as hot dogs, Vin Scully and the wave, entertaining fans with incredible bag-tossing accuracy and an affable demeanor. Never at a loss for words, Owens is capable of becoming your best friend in the time it takes for a pinch-hitter to warm up. But even fans who have known the peanut man since they were kids, and who now bring their own children to games, are unaware of the tough life that Owens had to endure before finding his calling. A new biography, ”The Perfect Pitch,” reveals the hardships faced by a young Owens while growing up with his large family, presenting a Huxleian rags to riches story that includes poverty, mental breakdowns, disease, freak accidents and foster homes.