Former World Series Champ Named Skyhawks Skipper
March 17, 2010 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Sussex Skyhawks News Release
The Sussex Skyhawks have announced the signing of Ed Ott as the new field manager for the 2010 season.
"We are extremely excited to have Ed manage the team in 2010." Commented Skyhawks General Manager Ben Wittkowski. "Ed brings a wealth of baseball knowledge and a proven track record of success. We look forward to Ed bringing home the championship in 2010."
Ott, a former outfielder turned catcher, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round of the 1970 amateur draft. While with the Pirates, he scored the game-winning run in Game 2 of the 1979 World Series versus the Baltimore Orioles as a member of the "We Are Family" team. That team would move on to win the World Series in seven games.
Ott was traded to the California Angels prior to the 1981 season, but was limited to 75 games as he was plagued by a rotator cuff injury. Due to his injuries he was forced to retire and was soon rewarded for his dedication for the team and was hired as the Angels Triple-A affiliate. In 1984, he led that team to the league championship. After taking a year off from coaching, Ott joined the coaching staff of Art Howe and the Houston Astros in 1989. Over the next five seasons, Ott held almost every coaching position helping the young players develop during the rebuilding period.
Among the players Ott coaching during his tenure in Houston were Ken Caminiti, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Luis Gonzalez, Steve Finley and Curt Schilling. The season after leaving the Astros, the team finished just a half a game out of first place in the National League Central Division when the league closed for the labor lockout.
For the next couple of seasons, Ott decided to spend time away from baseball and with his wife Susan. In 1997, Ott was hired as the first manager of a new independent league team, the Allentown Ambassadors of the Northeast League. During his three seasons with the Ambassadors, Ott was selected as the "Manager of the Year" in 1998 and 1999.
His hard work earned him another job in the major leagues working for Phil Garner, a fellow coach while in Houston, as the Detroit Tigers bullpen coach. Again, Ott was a part of a rebuilding program where he worked with the young players as they developed. After three seasons, Ott left the Tigers in the beginning of the 2002 season. Later that summer, he returned to the Allentown Ambassadors as a midseason replacement.
After managing the Ambassadors again in 2003, Ott left the baseball world to spend more time with his family. Three years later, Ott was hired as a coach for the New Jersey Jackals where he excelled as the batting coach for three seasons.
The Sussex Skyhawks, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Skylands Park located in Augusta, NJ. 2010 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-300-1000. Visit the Skyhawks online at www.sussexskyhawks.com.
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Canadian American League Stories from March 17, 2010
- Former World Series Champ Named Skyhawks Skipper - Sussex Skyhawks
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