2009 International League Field Managers Announced
Published on February 17, 2009 under International League (IL1) News Release
The fourteen teams of the International League will once again be piloted by an experienced group of field managers in 2009. This year's crop of IL skippers has won over 12,000 games combined in the Minor Leagues.
All four managers from the 2008 Governors' Cup playoffs are back for another run at the IL's postseason championship. That includes IL Manager of the Year Rick Sweet, who became Louisville's all-time winningest field general en route to leading the Bats to the West Division flag last season. Dave Miley guided Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to its first Governors' Cup championship in 2008, one year after winning Manager of the Year honors. Charlie Montoyo looks to lead the Bulls to their third straight division title in his third season at the helm in Durham. Last year's Wild Card club, Pawtucket, brings back Ron Johnson after the PawSox won a franchise-best 85 games in 2008.
The playoff managers won't be the only familiar faces in International League dugouts this season. In fact, thirteen of the fourteen skippers have previously managed in the IL, including eleven who were in the League in 2008. In an interesting twist though, only eight managers are returning to the same city in which they served last year, thanks in part to the Major League affiliation shuffle this past offseason.
Larry Parrish has already won two Governors' Cups and an IL Manager of the Year Award in Toledo, where he looks to lead the Mud Hens to another strong campaign in 2009. Stan Cliburn is back for his fourth season in Rochester, where his Red Wings have finished in the top half of the IL North three straight times. Former IL MVP Gary Allenson will once again pilot the Norfolk Tides, as he has done in each of the club's first two years affiliated with Baltimore. Rounding out the group of managers returning to the same city is Dave Huppert, back for the second season of baseball in Lehigh Valley. Huppert's 20th victory this season will be the 1,500th of his career.
The other six IL managers will spend 2009 in a new city, although three of them were in the League last year. Dave Brundage, who won the Governors' Cup in 2007, will be the first manager for the Gwinnett Braves after relocating from Richmond. Former Clipper Torey Lovullo returns to Columbus to continue his tenure piloting Cleveland's Triple-A team after three years in Buffalo. Columbus' most recent affiliate, Washington, along with their former manager, Tim Foli, have moved on to Syracuse.
A new affiliation with the Mets brings a new skipper to Buffalo in Ken Oberkfell, who has managed New York's Triple-A club in Norfolk (2005-06) and New Orleans (2007-08). Seventeen years after managing Richmond, Chris Chambliss returns to the IL to pilot the Charlotte Knights, his sixth season as a manager. Chambliss was in Richmond last season as the hitting coach. The only field manager who will be making his IL debut in 2009 is Indianapolis' Frank Kremblas, but Kremblas is no stranger to Indianapolis or Triple-A Baseball. The former Indians infielder spent the last four years managing Nashville of the Pacific Coast League, a stint which included both a PCL Championship (2005) and a Manager of the Year Award (2007).
With such a high level of Triple-A experience in every one of the IL dugouts this season, 2009 is sure to be an exciting year. The League will also open two brand new facilities this season in Columbus (Huntington Park) and Gwinnett (Gwinnett Stadium). As the season unfolds, only time will tell who will become the 77th manager to have his name etched on the Governors' Cup trophy. Ken Oberkfell (Buffalo): Entering his fifth year at the helm of the Mets Triple-A affiliate, 52-year-old Ken Oberkfell prepares to pilot his third different franchise. Oberkfell took Norfolk to the playoffs in his first season in the IL, earning honors as the Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year. Overall the Tides went 136-149 under Oberkfell before he relocated with the Mets to New Orleans in 2007. He guided the Zephyrs to a division title, then after starting the 2008 season 36-36 Oberkfell was promoted to the Mets staff where he served as a first base coach for the remainder of the season. Prior to managing in Triple-A, his 2004 Binghamton Mets advanced to the Eastern League playoffs with a 76-66 mark. In 2003, Ken completed a two-year run with Class-A St. Lucie by capturing the Florida State League title, the only championship of his managerial career. The Highland, IL native made his Mets debut in 2001, guiding Capital City to a 62-73 mark in the South Atlantic League. Prior to joining the New York system, Oberkfell spent four years as a manager in the Philadelphia organization. In his first three years in the Phillies' chain, Ken led Class-A Piedmont to a combined 215-208 record, then managed Clearwater (Florida State League) to a 64-71 record in 2000. Oberkfell actually made his managerial debut in 1995 in the independent Northeast League. He spent two seasons in the loop, piloting Sullivan (NY) in 1995 and Elmira a season later. A former infielder, Ken enjoyed an 18-year professional career that included parts of 16 seasons in the Major Leagues. He spent the majority of his career with St. Louis, but also suited up for Atlanta, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Houston, and California before retiring following the 1992 campaign. He finished his career with 29 HR, 436 RBI and a .278 average in 1,602 games and earned a World Series ring with the 1982 Cardinals. Oberkfell's career managerial record in affiliated Leagues stands at 812-803 (.503).
Chris Chambliss (Charlotte): Chris Chambliss takes over in Charlotte from Marc Bombard, who is now managing Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League. The 59-year-old Chambliss brings nearly 40 years of experience in professional baseball, including a brief but accomplished career as a Minor League manager. Chambliss won an Eastern League Championship in his second season as a skipper in 1990 with London, earning honors as The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year. After winning another league Manager of the Year Award in 1991, this time in the Southern League with Greenville, Chambliss made his Triple-A debut in 1992 with Richmond. He guided the Braves to a 73-71 season, also managing the National League affiliates in the Triple-A All-Star Game that summer. Most of his time since has been spent as a hitting coach, a role in which he served with the New York Yankees during their championship seasons of 1996 and 1998-2000. Chambliss was also hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals (1993-95), New York Mets (2003), and Cincinnati Reds (2004-06). His only other season as a manager came in 2001 with Calgary of the Pacific Coast League, finishing 72-71. Last season he was the hitting coach for Richmond. Before his coaching days, Chambliss enjoyed an outstanding 17- year playing career in the Major Leagues with the Indians, Yankees, and Braves. The 1971 AL Rookie of the Year went on to a Gold Glove, an All-Star appearance, and two World Series rings with New York. His career record as a Minor League manager is 372-337 (.525).
Torey Lovullo (Columbus): After three seasons in Buffalo, 43-year-old Torey Lovullo will continue to manage Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate. That means a return to Columbus for Lovullo, who as a player in 1991 and 1992 helped lead the Clippers to consecutive Governors' Cup championships (hitting .284 with 29 HR and 164 RBI in 237 games). His 13-year playing career also brought him to Toledo, Ottawa, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and Buffalo, where he earned induction into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. Lovullo now enters his fourth season as an IL skipper after piloting the Bisons to a 214-212 record from 2006 through last year. In 2005 he was named the Eastern League Manager of the Year after guiding Double-A Akron to an 84-58 record and the Eastern League Championship. This followed a 2004 campaign in which Lovullo was named Carolina League Manager of the Year when his Class-A Kinston Indians stormed to the Carolina League title with an 88-50 mark. In his first season as a manager in 2002, Lovullo's Class-A Columbus RedStixx won the South Atlantic League's second half championship in the Southern Division. With six winning seasons in seven years as a skipper, Lovullo's career managerial record stands at 538-446 (.547).
Charlie Montoyo (Durham): 44-year-old Charlie Montoyo returns to the Bulls after two very successful seasons in Durham. Montoyo's Bulls have won back-to-back South Division flags, going 154-133 overall, but the Bulls have also come up short in the last two Governors' Cup finals (against Richmond in 2007 and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2008). This will be Montoyo's 13th season as a manager, all coming within the Tampa Bay farm system. From 2003-06 Montoyo managed Tampa Bay's Double-A affiliate - Orlando in 2003 and Montgomery from 2004-06. The Biscuits' most successful season under Montoyo's guidance came in 2006, as Montgomery rolled to a 77-62 record before defeating Jacksonville and Huntsville to win the Southern League Championship. His first managerial experience was in 1997 with Princeton of the Appalachian League (Rookie), where his club posted a 39-30 record. The second year he guided Hudson Valley to a division title (50-26) in the short season New York-Penn League. From 1999 to 2000 he skippered the Charleston Riverdogs of the South Atlantic League (Class-A), guiding the team to its first winning season as a Tampa Bay affiliate in his second year (73-66). The following season was spent at Class-A Bakersfield of the California League, where his 64-76 club was the organization's only to make the playoffs. In 2002 Montoyo's Bakersfield team missed returning to the postseason by just 1.0 game. The native of Manati, Puerto Rico had a 10-year professional career as a player. The former middle infielder played with the Brewers, Expos, and Phillies organizations, tasting the Major Leagues just once. In September of 1993 he spent 27 days with Montreal, highlighted by his game- winning double in his first Major League at-bat on September 7 against Colorado. So far in his 12-year managerial career, Montoyo has a record of 780-767 (.504). Dave Brundage (Gwinnett): The first manager in Gwinnett Braves history will be 44-year-old Dave Brundage, who led Richmond to a 140-142 record over the last two seasons. The R-Braves won the Governors' Cup in 2007 during Brundage's first season in the IL. His Triple-A debut had come just one year earlier in the Pacific Coast League with Tacoma, piloting the Rainiers to a 74-70 mark. Brundage spent the previous five seasons as manager of Double-A San Antonio, guiding the Missions to back-to-back Texas League Championships in 2002-03. He earned distinction as Baseball America's Minor League Manager of the Year in 2003 following an 88-51 season. Brundage began his managerial career with Seattle's Class-A clubs in the California League, Riverside in 1995 and Lancaster in 1996. In 1997 he was promoted to manager of the Mariners' Double-A affiliate in Memphis, where he went 67-72. Brundage spent the next three seasons (1998-2000) as a coach for Tacoma before returning to the manager's role in San Antonio. Brundage played ten seasons in the Minor Leagues, including six with the Triple-A Calgary Cannons where he became a player-coach in 1993. Brundage enters the 2009 campaign with a lifetime record of 793-747 (.515) in the Minor Leagues, including a 214-212 (.502) mark at the Triple-A level.
Frank Kremblas (Indianapolis): Former Indianapolis infielder Frank Kremblas returns to the Indians as manager. He replaces Trent Jewett, who is now managing Class-A Potomac in the Washington farm system. Kremblas has managed Nashville of the Pacific Coast League for the past four seasons. Last year the Sounds finished a disappointing 59-81, but the team won division titles each of the previous three years and a PCL Championship in 2005. Kremblas was named PCL Manager of the Year in 2007. His 299 victories in Nashville rank 3rd in franchise history. Before his time in the Music City, Kremblas compiled a 210-207 record in three seasons with Double-A Huntsville, where he won a division title and a Southern League Manager of the Year Award in 2003. Kremblas managed in the Class-A California League from mid-2000 (with Mudville) through 2001 (with High Desert), taking the Mavericks to the second round of the playoffs in his only full season in the League. Prior to that he was a member of the Expos system, managing teams in the Gulf Coast and South Atlantic Leagues in 1998 and 1999. The former catcher, second baseman, and third baseman played eight professional seasons after being drafted by Cincinnati in 1989 out of Eastern Kentucky University. His playing career topped out at the Triple-A level, where he played 201 games with Indianapolis when the Indians were a member of the American Association. The 42-year-old Kremblas has a career managing record of 647-613 (.513).
Dave Huppert (Lehigh Valley): Veteran skipper Dave Huppert returns for the second season of Lehigh Valley baseball, hoping to improve on the IronPigs' 55-89 debut campaign. The 51-year-old Huppert is entering his 22nd season as a Minor League manager and his fourth in the Philadelphia farm system. In 2007 Huppert guided Class-A Clearwater to an 83-57 record and the club's first Florida State League Championship since 1993. That came on the heels of his first season in the system in which Huppert piloted Class-A Lakewood to the South Atlantic League title. Before joining the Philadelphia organization, Huppert was the third base coach during the inaugural season for the Washington Nationals. He managed in the Montreal organization from 2002-04, including two seasons with the Expos' Triple-A affiliate in Edmonton. In his 21 seasons as a Minor League skipper Huppert has compiled 14 winning campaigns, 11 playoff berths, and three league titles. Since his managerial career began in 1986, he has guided clubs in several different organizations, including Milwaukee, Chicago (White Sox), Florida, Montreal, and now Philadelphia. Huppert's career as a catcher earned him two brief stints in the majors with Baltimore and Milwaukee, totaling just 15 games. His lone big league hit came off of Hall-of-Famer Phil Niekro. Longtime International League fans remember Huppert's involvement in one of the circuit's most legendary games, as he caught 31 of 33 innings for Rochester in the longest game in professional baseball history in 1981. Huppert enters the 2009 season with a 1,480-1,303 (.532) lifetime managerial record.
Rick Sweet (Louisville): The 2008 IL Manager of the Year is back for his fifth season with the Bats, where he now owns Louisville's all-time record for victories. 56-year-old Rick Sweet guided the Bats to the West Division title last year, tying for the IL's best record at 88-56. Overall the Bats are 303-272 during Sweet's tenure. He joined the Cincinnati organization in 2005 after one year in the Detroit system, where he led Double-A Erie to an 80-62 record and a playoff berth. A season earlier he completed a three-year run with Triple-A Portland, San Diego's affiliate in the PCL. Rick's three Beaver clubs were a combined 212-219. He spent each of the 1998-2000 campaigns in the Montreal Expos' organization. He managed Double-A Harrisburg to the Eastern League crown in 1998, then accepted a position as the organization's Minor League Field Coordinator. He held that job through July 20, 2000 when he took the helm of Ottawa. Rick led the Lynx to a 15-34 record down the stretch. In 1997, he managed Double-A Binghamton (Mets) to a 66-76 record. Sweet's longest stint with any organization spanned eight years (1989-96) with Houston. After skippering teams in Osceola, FL (1989), Columbus, GA (1990), and Jackson, MS (1991-92), Sweet made his Triple-A managerial debut with Tucson in 1993. He had a successful three-year run with the then-Toros, leading the club to the PCL title in his inaugural season (83-60 record), earning the loop's Manager of the Year Award in 1994 (81-63), and guiding his team to the circuit's best record in 1995 (87-56). Following a nine-year playing career, Sweet retired following the 1983 season. He spent five seasons in the Seattle system, serving as the Major League bullpen coach (1984), advance scout (1985-86), and as a Minor League manager (1987-88). Sweet's career managerial record stands at 1,352-1,327 (.505).
Gary Allenson (Norfolk): Former International League MVP Gary Allenson is back for his third season as manager of the Norfolk Tides. Allenson's Tides have gone 133-152 in his two years at the helm. 2009 will be Allenson's 15th season as a Minor League skipper as he attempts to lead his third IL club to the postseason. He guided the 2003 Ottawa Lynx to a 79-65 record, earning the team a Wild Card berth in the playoffs. His only previous Triple-A managing experience came in 1998-99 with Louisville, where he led the then-RiverBats to a 140-148 record. His 1998 club won the IL West. After his two years in Louisville, Allenson spent three seasons as a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers before joining the Baltimore organization. His career as a manager also includes stints in Bluefield (2006; Rookie), Carolina (2005; Class- A), Jackson (1997; Double-A), Charleston (1996; Class-A), New Britain (1991; Double-A), Lynchburg (1989-90; Class- A), and Oneonta (1987-88; Class-A). His resume also includes three seasons (1992-94) as a bullpen coach and third base coach for the Boston Red Sox. As a player, Allenson spent seven seasons (1979-85) as a Major League catcher with Boston and Toronto, hitting .221 with 19 HR and 131 RBI. In 1978 he was named the International League's Most Valuable Player after hitting .299 with 20 HR and 76 RBI for the Pawtucket Red Sox, but that isn't Allenson's personal highlight from his days playing in the IL. He also met his future wife, Dorothy, while playing on the road in Norfolk, where she was an usherette at Met Park (former home of the Tidewater Tides). The couple has three sons and has been married for 27 years. The 54-year-old Allenson owns a career managerial record of 853-911 (.484), including a 352-365 (.491) mark at the Triple-A level.
Ron Johnson (Pawtucket): Ron Johnson returns for his fifth season at the helm of the Pawtucket Red Sox after guiding the team to 296-277 mark over his first four years. Johnson (soon to be 53 years old) guided the PawSox to the winningest season in team history last year, going 85-58 and making the playoffs as the Wild Card. Before taking over the PawSox, Johnson spent the previous three seasons with Boston's Double-A affiliate, leading Trenton to a 63-77 mark in 2002 and Portland to a combined 141-143 record from 2003-04. Ron joined the Boston organization in 2000, piloting Class-A Sarasota to a 60-79 record. His second season with the club saw the team finish 54-83. Johnson spent eight seasons as a manager and six as a coach in the Kansas City organization before joining Boston. His previous experience at the Triple-A classification came in 1998 & 1999 with Omaha. In 1998, he led the O-Royals to a 79-64 record, which he followed with an 81-60 mark and the PCL Central Division title in 1999. Johnson led his first five clubs to .500 or better records and guided four to playoff berths. He made his managerial debut with Baseball City (Florida State League) in 1992, posting a 71-60 record and advancing through two rounds of postseason play before finally falling in the finals. Johnson moved on to Wilmington (DE) in 1993, posting a 74-65 record and advancing to the Carolina League Finals. He then went to Double-A in 1994, leading Memphis to a 75-62 record before winning Texas League Manager of the Year honors in 1995 as Wichita's skipper. Johnson, a former first baseman, spent parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues during an eight-year professional career, suiting up for the Royals (1982-83) and Expos (1984). Johnson enters his 18th consecutive season as a Minor League skipper with a career record of 1,200-1,180 (.504), including an impressive 456-401 (.532) mark at the Triple-A classification.
Stan Cliburn (Rochester): Stan Cliburn, entering his tenth year in the Minnesota Twins organization, will return for his fourth season as manager in Rochester. Cliburn's Red Wings have finished in the top half of the North Division three straight years, going 230-201 overall and reaching the Governors' Cup Finals in 2006. Overall, the 52-year-old Cliburn has managed 20 seasons following a playing career as a catcher in which he spent 14 years in the Minor Leagues. Prior to taking over in Rochester, Cliburn spent five years managing the Twins' Double-A affiliate in New Britain. Cliburn, who left as New Britain's all-time winningest manager, led the club to a franchise-best 87-55 record and the Eastern League Championship in 2001. Stan earned EL Manager of the Year honors for his efforts in that memorable campaign. Cliburn began his managerial career with the Angels short-season Class-A affiliate in Watertown of the New York-Penn League in 1988, guiding the club to a 35-39 record. He moved on to Class-A Augusta in 1989 (74-64) and Salem in 1990-91 (124-157). After one year as hitting coach for Gastonia, he returned to pilot Double-A Tulsa in the Texas League in 1993-94, going 129-142 (.476), after which he moved to independent baseball for five seasons. He joined the Twins' organization in 2000 as the skipper at Quad Cities in the Midwest League, going 64-75 before heading to New Britain in 2001. In his 15 years in the affiliated Minor Leagues, Cliburn has produced a record of 1,023-1,015 (.502).
Dave Miley (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): In two years at the helm in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Dave Miley has won an IL Manager of the Year Award and a Governors' Cup title. His Yankees have gone 172-117 since 2007, the best record in the League. Last September the Yankees defeated Pawtucket and Durham to win Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's first Governors' Cup championship, and the second for Miley (Louisville, 2001). He also piloted New York's Triple-A affiliate in Columbus in 2006 (69-73). Prior to joining the Yankees, Miley spent 26 years in the Cincinnati organization, highlighted by his stint as manager of the Reds. From July 2003 to June 2005, Miley's Reds went 125-164. Miley also spent several years as manager of Cincinnati's Triple-A team. In four years with Louisville (2000-03), Miley went 296- 245 (.547), a period which included the first of two times he would manage the IL All-Stars at the Triple-A All-Star Game (2002 & 2008). Prior to his time in Louisville, Miley was at the helm for four seasons in Indianapolis (1996-99). Miley led the Tribe to four straight winning campaigns, the first two in the American Association before Indianapolis joined the IL in 1998. Miley was named the American Association Manager of the Year in 1997. In 1995 his Chattanooga Lookouts enjoyed an 83-60 season and came within one game of winning the Southern League Championship. Miley was honored as both the Southern League and Double-A Manager of the Year. Dave spent parts of 1993-94 as a Major League coach and Minor League coordinator. His managing debut came in 1988 with Class-A Greensboro of the South Atlantic League, the first of five straight years he guided a club into the postseason. Miley was a catcher for seven seasons (1980-86) in the Reds organization, hitting .238 with 16 HR and 172 RBI, all in the Minor Leagues. The 46-year-old enters the 2009 season with a career mark of 1,356-1,029 (.569), including a record of 851-694 (.551) at the Triple-A level.
Tim Foli (Syracuse): 58-year-old Tim Foli will manage the Syracuse Chiefs in 2009, moving over from Columbus where last year he guided Washington's Triple-A affiliate to a 69-73 season. Last year was a return to the dugout for Foli after spending 2007 as the field coordinator for the Nationals' farm system. Foli also managed Washington's Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans in 2005 and 2006, guiding the Zephyrs to a 136-147 record in two years. Before New Orleans, Foli spent three seasons on Cincinnati's coaching staff under manager Bob Boone, serving as third base coach in 2001-02 and bench coach in 2003. Foli also worked in the New York Mets farm system from 1998-2000 as an infield/base running coordinator. During the 1998 season he added the duty of manager of the Mets' Appalachian League club in Kingsport, where he guided the rookie-level team to a 38-30 record. In addition to his roles with the Reds and Mets, Foli has served extended stints on big league coaching staffs with Milwaukee (1992-95) and Texas (1986-87). Foli was a highly regarded talent during his playing days. The first overall pick of the 1968 draft by the Mets went on to hit .251 in 1,696 big league games spanning 16 seasons. Foli played for the Mets, Expos, Giants, Pirates, Angels, and Yankees. Tim Foli brings a career Minor League managerial record of 243-250 (.493) to Syracuse.
Larry Parrish (Toledo): Back at the helm of the Toledo Mud Hens is Larry Parrish, who's Mud Hens went 75-69 last year but failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. This will be the seventh season in which Parrish has managed the Mud Hens. In 2005 and again in 2006 Toledo won the Governors' Cup Championship under Parrish, but he missed the 2007 season while healing from ankle surgery. He was honored as the 2005 Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year. Parrish led Toledo to back-to-back 65-78 marks the previous two seasons. Prior to the 2003-04 campaigns, Parrish's only other experience at the Triple-A level came in 1994 when, after opening the season as Detroit's Minor League hitting instructor, he took over the reigns of the Mud Hens from Joe Sparks on May 2 and led the team to a 56-62 record down the stretch. Parrish made his managerial debut in 1992, leading Niagara Falls (New York-Penn.) to a 39-39 record. He returned to the club in 1993 and won his first League Championship as the Rapids went 47-31 and swept a pair of playoff series. After spending the entire 1995 season as an instructor, Parrish again experienced an in-season change in 1996. He joined Jacksonville on June 21 and replaced Bill Plummer as manager, piloting the club to a 36-31 record, the second half divisional title, and the Southern League Championship. From 1997 through September 1, 1998, Larry served as the bench coach for the parent Tigers. He replaced Buddy Bell as Detroit's manager for the final month of the 1998 season (13-12 to close the season) and all of the 1999 campaign. In '99, his only full Major League managerial season, he led the Tigers to a 69-92 record. He then served as a Major League scout for Detroit during the 2000-2002 seasons. Before becoming a manager, Parrish enjoyed a 19-year professional playing career, spending parts of 15 seasons in the Major Leagues with Montreal (1974-81), Texas (1982-88), and Boston (1988), earning two All-Star berths (1979 & 1987) and finishing his career with a .263 average, 256 HR, and 992 RBI. Entering his ninth Minor League managerial season, the 55-year-old Parrish has a career record of 630-613 (.507) with a 426-408 (.511) mark with the Mud Hens.
International League Stories from February 17, 2009
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