Cooper, Mansolino join club for 2005
Published on November 8, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
HOUSTON, TX â The Houston Astros announced today that Cecil Cooper has been named bench coach and Doug Mansolino has been named third base coach. In addition, Jose Cruz will return as first base coach, Mark Bailey returns as bullpen coach, and both Jim Hickey and Gary Gaetti will retain their positions as pitching coach and hitting coach, respectively, after serving the same posts in an interim role during the second half of the 2004 season.
A veteran of 17 Major League seasons, Cooper returns to the big league coaching ranks. He spent the last two seasons managing Triple A Indianapolis in the Milwaukee system after serving as the Brewers bench coach for most of the 2002 season. He also worked in the Brewers organization as a special assistant to the general manager and roving minor league hitting instructor (2000-01), and as director of player development (1997-99). Cooper, 54, batted .298 with 241 home runs and 1,125 RBI during his Major League playing career. He was selected by Boston in the 27th round of the 1968 free agent draft and made his big league debut with the Red Sox in 1971. He was traded to Milwaukee following the 1976 campaign and finished his career with 11 seasons as a Brewer. He earned two Gold Gloves as a first baseman (1979 and 1980) and was a five-time American League All-Star. He and his family make their home in Katy, Texas.
Mansolino, 48, joins the Astros after serving the past two seasons as the roving infield coordinator in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He has 10 years of Major League coaching experience, including stints with the Chicago White Sox (1992-96), Milwaukee Brewers (1998-99), and Detroit Tigers (2000-02). The 2005 season will mark his fifth year on the coaching staff of manager Phil Garner, having worked with him in both Milwaukee and Detroit. Mansolino began his coaching career in 1984 in the San Francisco system before beginning a nine-year stretch in the White Sox organization.
Pacific Coast League Stories from November 8, 2004
- Bay beats out Greene for National League Rookie of the Year award - Portland Beavers
- Beavers' Tankersley traded to Kansas City - Portland Beavers
- Cooper, Mansolino join club for 2005 - Round Rock Express
- Face Lift at Cheney Stadium - Tacoma Rainiers
- Crosby Named A.L. Rookie of the Year - Sacramento River Cats
- Isotopes Park to Host Major League Weekend - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Ex-Sound Jason Bay Named N.L. Rookie Of The Year - Nashville Sounds
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