Gregg Langbehn to Return Through 2012
Published on October 21, 2010 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.- Beach Bums Manager Gregg Langbehn has accepted a two-year contract extension bringing him back to Traverse City through the 2012 season. Langbehn started his stint in Traverse City in November of 2008 after managing in the Houston Astros organization for 10 years.
After a disappointing season in 2009 going 42-53, Langbehn worked tirelessly during the off-season in conjunction with Jason Wuerfel, Vice President and Director of Baseball Operations, to make sure the 2010 season would be a success. With only two returning players from the 2009 roster Langbehn built a new team and had to teach not only skills but also a dynamic of team chemistry, and that's just what he did. The Beach Bums finished the 2010 season in second place in the East Division behind the Windy City ThunderBolts, giving them their first ever playoff berth in their five year history. They advanced to the Championship Series against the River City Rascals before eventually losing the series three games to one.
However, it was the Beach Bums most successful season thus far and they will look to continue the trend starting with bringing Langbehn back. "I'm excited to continue the commitment with the Beach Bums," said Langbehn. "We're looking to pick up where we left off last year and make another run at our ultimate goal which is a Frontier League Championship." Langbehn also emphasized the support of the Traverse City community and counts on that to continue in the future. "We want to reward our faithful supporters by always doing our best to put a winning and entertaining product on the field each and every night."
Before arriving in Traverse City in November of 2009, Langbehn served as manager of the Lexington Legends, the Astros Class-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League, for 2007 and 2008 seasons. Prior to his time with the Legends, the Wisconsin native managed the Tri-City ValleyCats (Troy, N.Y.), an Astros Class-A affiliate in the New York-Penn League, for three seasons.
Two Stedler Division Championships in 2004 and 2006 were won under the leadership of Langbehn while with Tri-City. A 2005 inductee into the Central Wisconsin Baseball Hall of Fame, he also earned the opportunity to join the major league staff assisting in the Astro's first-ever World Series run following the 2005 season.
His stint as hitting coach for the Legends in 2003 helped the squad to a second-half South Atlantic League Northern Division Championship. In 2001 and 2002, Langbehn gained experience as a hitting coach with the Martinsville (Virginia) Astros, a rookie-class team in the Appalachian League. Also in 2002, Langbehn served as a manager in the Astros Instructional League.
The 2000 season saw Langbehn on the move, as he served as the bullpen coach for the Round Rock Express and the New Orleans Zephyrs for the first half of the season. He then was named the pitching coach for the Michigan BattleCats for the second half of the season, helping lead them to a Midwest League Championship. Langbehn began his coaching career as the pitching coach with the Auburn Doubledays, then an Astros Class-A affiliate in the New York-Penn League.
Langbehn entered his playing career directly after attending Everest High School (Schofield, Wis.) and was drafted in the 1988 amateur draft by the New York Mets. He pitched in the minors eight seasons from 1988 to 1995, spending one season and parts of two others at the AAA level with both the Mets and the Boston Red Sox. He ended his professional playing career with a 35-32 record, 3.32 ERA and 393 strikeouts in 547 IP.
In the off-season, Langbehn resides in Rothschild, Wis. with his wife Shelly and son Nathan. The Langbehns are expecting a new baby this weekend.
The Traverse City Beach Bums are Northern Michigan's only professional sports team, competing in independent baseball's Frontier League. In five seasons of existence, the Beach Bums have drawn well over 997,000 fans and lead the Frontier League in attendance brining in 204,400 fans through the gates in the 2010 season.
Beach Bums season tickets are now available and can be purchased by calling(231) 943-0100 or stopping by the Beach Bums front offices Monday through Friday, 9am to 5 pm.
Frontier League Stories from October 21, 2010
- Gregg Langbehn to Return Through 2012 - Traverse City Beach Bums
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