Turner Ward Wins Manager of the Year Award
Published on September 2, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
MOBILE, Ala. - On Friday, the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced Mobile native Turner Ward as its 2011 Manager of the Year. Ward is the second BayBears' skipper to ever win the honor and the first since 1998.
With just four contests remaining in the regular season, the BayBears have been led to the league's best record under Ward with 82 victories which is the second-most in franchise history. This year is Ward's first as the manager of the BayBears and his third overall as a field general. He was the skipper with the Bradenton Pirates in 2006 and State College Spikes in 2007.
Ward, 46, joined his hometown team, the BayBears, in 2008 as the club's hitting coach, a role he filled for three seasons until he took over as the team's manager prior to the start of this year. The BayBears finished second under Ward's guidance in the first half before running away with the second half South Division title to advance to the Southern League Playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Ward graduated from Satsuma High School before attending the University of South Alabama. He was drafted from there by the New York Yankees in 1986 before making his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1990. He hit .251 in 12 big league seasons while finishing up with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2001.
The Second Half South Division Champion BayBears battle the Huntsville Stars in the second of their five-game set at 6:43 from Joe Davis Stadium on Friday night. Righty Jarrod Parker (11-8) starts for the BayBears against fellow right-hander Michael Bowman (6-11). The BayBears will host game three of the South Division Championship Series on Saturday, September 10 at 7:05 p.m. against the Birmingham Barons with fireworks after the contest and a 9/11 tribute before the ballgame. For tickets, which start at $5 for kids and $7 for adults, please call (251) 479-BEAR or visit www.mobilebaybears.com. You can also follow the BayBears all season long on Facebook and Twitter.
Southern League Stories from September 2, 2011
- Smokies Hold on for 3-2 Win in Birmingham - Knoxville Smokies
- Mississippi beats Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- Smokies Ignite Barons, 3-2 - Birmingham Barons
- Lucas Blasts Braves to Fourth Straight Win - Mississippi Braves
- Stars' Bats Silent in 2-0 Loss to Mobile - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears Blank Stars to Even Series - Mobile BayBears
- Offense Stays Silent in 4th-Straight Defeat - Montgomery Biscuits
- Lookouts Cruise to 8-2 Victory over Biscuits - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Catricala Homers But Generals Fall to Suns Again - Jackson Generals
- Suns Defeat Generals 4-3 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Dan Nelson and Billy Bullock to Gwinnett Andrew Wilson and Marcus Lemon to Mississippi - Mississippi Braves
- Turner Ward Wins Manager of the Year Award - Mobile BayBears
- Chen Rejoins Smokies Roster Friday - Knoxville Smokies
- Hand Recalled to the Major Leagues - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- RHP James to Nashville - Huntsville Stars
- Attalla Named Southern League Groundskeeper of the Year - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Mobile's Turner Ward Named Southern League Manager Of The Year - SL1
- Jackson Generals Notes Friday - Jackson Generals
- Southern League Announces End of Year Awards - SL1
- Smokies to Begin Playoffs Thursday, September 8 at Smokies Park - Knoxville Smokies
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