MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Tom Brookens Takes the Helm

Published on November 6, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - In 2006 the West Michigan Whitecaps claimed the team's fourth Midwest League title and the Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant for the first time since 1984. Now the championship tradition continues as Tom Brookens has been named manager of the Whitecaps. Brookens was a member of the Tigers 1984 world championship team and brings his baseball expertise and winning mentality to West Michigan. Joining Brookens on the staff are pitching coach Ray Burris and hitting coach Benny Distefano.

Brookens comes to West Michigan after managing the Oneonta Tigers for two seasons in the short-season New York-Penn League. In his first season, he led the Tigers to a 48-27 record and a Stedler Division championship. Last season he guided the O-Tigers to a 40-34 record and a second place finish in the division. Brookens is best known to Tigers fans as the gritty third baseman on the Tigers 1984 World Series Championship team. He played 12 seasons at the major league level with the Tigers (1979-88), New York Yankees (1989) and Cleveland Indians (1990). He finished his career with a .246 batting average, 71 home runs and 431 RBI in 1,336 games. Brookens served as an interim coach for the Whitecaps from April 27 to June 5 during the 2006 season.

Burris served as the pitching coach for Oneonta in 2006 in his first season with the Tigers organization. Burris played 15 years at the major league level with seven different clubs. Prior to joining the Tigers, Burris served as the roving pitching instructor for the St. Louis Cardinals. He held several positions with Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers organizations as a coach and in the front office.

Distefano begins his second season in the Tigers organization and his first as the Whitecaps hitting coach. He is a veteran of five seasons in the major leagues and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1984, 86, 88-89) and Houston Astros (1992). Distefano served as a coach for the Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2006, which was his first professional coaching assignment.

The Whitecaps first pitch in 2007 will be Thursday, April 5 at Dayton. The home opener is Monday, April 9 versus the Lansing Lugnuts at 6:35 p.m. and will be followed by a Farm Bureau Insurance fireworks show. The upcoming season will be highlighted with 18 Farm Bureau Insurance fireworks shows, which is the most in team history. Fifth Third Ballpark will host great entertainment all summer as great acts like Myron Noodleman, Rubber Boy and Birdzerk! return. There are already five bobblehead giveaways planned and more than 50 exciting promotions scheduled. For more information on the 2007 schedule and promotions visit www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from November 6, 2006


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