Loe bonds with a family of fans
Stambaughs caring for snake while pitcher's in Triple-A
Stambaughs caring for snake while pitcher's in Triple-A

By Matt Patterson

Published: April 24, 2008

With much of his life spent on the road, in airports or on buses, Oklahoma RedHawks reliever Kameron Loe misses his girl.

Loe's girl doesn't walk on two legs and isn't human. It's a seven-foot Colombian red tail boa constrictor named Angel.

"I've had her for seven years and I've grown quite attached to her,” Loe said. "She's cool. I take her out and let people hold her all the time.”

The snake was a gift from a former girlfriend. Loe also owns an English Bulldog, though he said he never lets the dog hang around the snake.

"I've always loved reptiles,” Loe said. "I got her for my 19th birthday. She knew I liked snakes and lizards and all that stuff, we'd go to the pet store and I'd want to hold them so she bought me one.”

Snakes are, in many ways, low maintenance pets. When Loe was with the Rangers he'd feed her a couple of rats before a road trip and all was well. But now that he's in Triple-A, and Angel is in Dallas, a better plan was needed.

Enter Craig Stambaugh, a Rangers fan who met Loe at a season ticket holders function a few years ago. Stambaugh and his family immediately hit it off with Loe.

"We've had long conversations over the years and we've gotten to know each other pretty well,” Stambaugh said. "He was in a bind. Nobody he knew wanted to get near the snake and he couldn't take it with him to spring training so we agreed to take care of it.”

The Stambaughs are snake lovers, too, making it a natural fit. Such close relationships between pro athletes and fans are rare in today's time. While America's sports culture continues to grow, players and fans are often separated by literal barriers like rope lines and figuratively by the circles they run in. The family's friendship with Loe is unique.

"A lot of players are that way out of necessity,” Stambaugh said. "Kameron is very personable and open. That's just his style, but I understand why pro athletes are the way they are with the public.”

The Stambaughs go to most Rangers games as season ticket holders. Their upper deck seats at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington usually feature a "Kam's Snake Pit” banner.

"They're a great bunch of people,” Loe said of the Stambaughs. "I really appreciate what they've done to help me.”

In a time when parents are questioning the value of pro athletes as role models, Stambaugh takes a different approach, adding Loe has set a meaningful example for his five sons.

"My kids love me, but I'm their dad,” he said. "What I like about Kam is he works hard. He's been sent up and down and he doesn't complain or fuss, he just tries to get better. It's an example that's meaningful to us.”

Loe is a candidate to be called up to pitch for the Rangers' beleaguered bullpen at some point this season. He has spent time as a starter in his career. Loe started 23 games for the Rangers last year, going 6-11. He's now making the transition to reliever.

"It's a different role, you're coming in with runners on,” Loe said. "You sit there for a good portion of the game and you have to get hot real quick. It's a different adrenaline rush.”

The 6-foot-7 Loe is 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA in about 12 innings of work for the RedHawks. The move to reliever is a work in progress.

"He's had some injury problems with his arm and his back,” RedHawks manager Bobby Jones said. "He's changed his arm angle this year to help ease some wear and tear. He's basically starting all over again but he has some good stuff.”

The move to the bullpen should help extend Loe's career. The 26-year-old still has plenty of upside.

"It's less wear and tear on his arm being in the pen,” Jones said. "He doesn't have to go six innings and throw 100 pitches. He comes in for two innings and he's out of there.”

Loe has embraced the change.

"It's fun,” he said. "As long as I'm out there getting hitters out and helping the team, that's what I want to do.”

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