FL Windy City ThunderBolts

3-Time Frontier League MVP to Lead Bolts in 2012

Published on September 22, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release


The Windy City ThunderBolts have announced that Morgan Burkhart will become the new field manager, taking over the club for the 2012 season.

Burkhart comes to Windy City from the Calgary Vipers, where he spent the last three seasons as manager. In 2009, his rookie season in that position, he led the Vipers to a 49-27 record and a Golden League championship. In two years in the Golden League, Burkhart's Vipers went 102-62.

Calgary joined the North American Baseball League in 2011 and continued their recent success, finishing 53-33 and qualifying for the playoffs. Overall, in three seasons, Burkhart has compiled a managerial record of 155-95 and his teams have appeared in the postseason every year.

In 2012, Burkhart will be managing for the first time in the Frontier League, where he achieved his most impressive numbers as a player. Between 1995 and 1998, he hit .353 for the Richmond Roosters. He was selected to the Postseason All-Star Team in all four of his Frontier League Seasons and won the league MVP award, which is now named for him, three times. In 1998, he won the Triple Crown, batting .404 with 36 home runs and 98 RBI, all league-records at the time. His 36 homers still stand as the best mark in Frontier League history and his 86 career home runs remained the standard until Charlie Lisk hit his 87th late in 2010.

When asked about his return to the Frontier League, Morgan said, "I am looking forward to getting back into the league where I began. I am excited about working in Windy City after talking with everyone this week. They seem to strive to put a winning team on the field, which is my plan. It will be nice throughout the summer to see some familiar faces and be back in the Midwest."

In 2000, Burkhart became just the second former Frontier League player to appear in the Major Leagues when the Boston Red Sox called him up. Burkhart spent time with the Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals from 2000 - 2003.

Bill Lee, the Commissioner of the Frontier League, had this to say about the hiring of Morgan Burkhart in Windy City, "The ThunderBolts could not have hired a better person. Morgan Burkhart helped to build the Frontier League into what it is today. He is the greatest player we ever had and I am elated to have him back in the League. He is a former 3-time MVP and our first position player to make the Major Leagues."

Lee continued, "the league's MVP Award is named after Morgan Burkhart. His work ethic and love for the Frontier League is beyond reproach. He has become a successful manager over the last 3 years and he will bring his intensity and passion for the game to the ThunderBolts."

Burkhart takes over a ThunderBolt team that finished 48-48 in 2010. The Bolts reached the playoffs every year between 2007 and 2010 and won Frontier League titles in 2007 and 2008.

Burkhart added to his earlier statement, "I have always had interest in getting back in the league as it seems like it gets better each year. I thank Mike for the oppurtunity and look forward to the challenge."

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Frontier League Stories from September 22, 2011


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