Another Year, Another Milestone for Machemer
Published on July 21, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - For the second straight season, Augusta GreenJackets manager Dave Machemer has reached a level of wins that few before him have accomplished. With a thrilling 2-1 win at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Tuesday night against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Machemer has reached 1,400 career minor league managerial wins.
Machemer is in his second year as manager of the GreenJackets and his sixth year with the San Francisco Giants organization. The native of Benton Harbor, Michigan has also worked with the Brewers, Expos and Orioles organizations, making his debut as a manager in 1985. Between his time as a player, advanced scout and manager, "Mac" has spent nearly 35 years in professional baseball.
Players have come and gone throughout the years for Machemer but the two things that have remained the same for the veteran skipper are his love for the game and his desire for his players to succeed.
"What this milestone means is that there are a lot of players that went on to play big league ball during my years of managing and if I had something to do with that, it means a lot to me" Machemer said.
Machemer's efforts are not lost on those within the Giants organization, who recognize the contribution he's made in the lives of so many young baseball players.
"The San Francisco Giants would like to congratulate Dave Machemer on recording his 1,400th career victory." said Bobby Evans, Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Giants. "Dave has dedicated his career to helping develop and teach so many young professional players and helping them learn to play the game the right way."
Over the years, Machemer has come to know and manage for and against some of the best baseball minds in the game. These relationships have been one of the more fulfilling aspects of the job for the veteran manager.
"The friendships with my peers are what have meant the most to me over the years," Machemer said.
Machemer still makes his off-season home in Michigan with his wife Marcia and will never be able to forget and remember those that provided the love, support and passion necessary to help him reach this point in his career.
"At an early age my Dad instilled in me what the game of baseball meant to him and my mother encouraged me to believe in myself," Machemer said. "My wife Marcia has been by my side throughout my career to support me every step of the way and I could not have done it without her."
Before managing, Machemer played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the California Angels and the Detroit Tigers, becoming the 46th player in major league history to hit a home run in his first major league at bat on June 21, 1978 at Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis.
Among his accomplishments, Machemer has two league crowns to his name - the 1986 California League title he earned with the Stockton Ports and last year's Arizona Rookie League championship he won with many of the players on the current GreenJackets squad. He's also made a name for himself in winter ball too, taking his Mexicali Aguillas team to the 1988 Caribbean World Series and competing twice in the playoffs of the Venezuelan Winter League.
This season, Machemer was named to manage the Southern Division All-Stars at the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in Greenville, SC. Through everything, and through all the years, Machemer has been able to do what it takes to keep his passion for the game alive.
"I like doing what I do, working to make young players into better baseball players and hopefully into major leaguers." Machemer said. "To me, just going to the ballpark on an everyday basis is the best part of it allthat's what keeps me going."
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