Forney Crowned Manager of the Year
Published on August 26, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
WINNIPEG - It's one of the few awards that has eluded the Winnipeg Goldeyes organization, until now.
The American Association announced today that Goldeyes manager Rick Forney has been named the league's 2011 Manager of Year. It's the first time a manager for the Goldeyes has won this award.
Forney, 39, has been at the helm of the Goldeyes since 2006. Next week he will lead the Fish into the playoffs for the fifth time in his six seasons as manager. A product of Walkersville, Maryland, Forney has compiled a 313-264 record as the team's manager, which is good for a .542 winning percentage.
While the Goldeyes posted a winning record in four of his first five seasons, this year has topped them all. Winnipeg has won a career-best 57 games for Forney and is two wins shy of setting a new franchise record for most wins in a season. The Fish have a .600 winning percentage right now and have the opportunity to record the team's first plus-.600 winning percentage since 2003. And then there is a pennant race. Any combination of Goldeyes wins or St. Paul Saints losses equalling two will give Winnipeg its first division pennant since 2003.
"The entire organization is thrilled with the job Rick has done this season and is very proud of him for winning this award," Goldeyes General Manager Andrew Collier said. "This has been a season of transition for the Goldeyes moving into a new league. Rick has met the challenge by building one of the best teams in all of independent baseball. He is very deserving of this award."
Prior to becoming the team's manager for the 2006 season, Forney was the team's pitching coach from 2000-2005 and was the ace of the pitching staff from 1997-2000. As a player, Forney had a 33-17 record as a Goldeye and 3.46 ERA. He is third on the Goldeyes' all-time wins list with 33.
A presentation was made to Forney during the fifth inning of the tonight's game recognizing his accomplishment.
The Goldeyes begin the 2011 American Association playoffs next week. Tickets for the first two games are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Dates and a first round opponent have yet to be determined.
American Association Stories from August 26, 2011
- T-Bones Finish Home Schedule with Four-Game Sweep - Kansas City Monarchs
- Jennings Dominates as AirHogs Complete Sweep - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Wingnuts Gain Split, Three Teams Even with Four Left - Wichita Wingnuts
- Jennings, Kaminsky Duel in Home Finale, AirHogs Win 4-0 For Series Sweep - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Saints Drop Great Pitchers Duel 2-0 - St. Paul Saints
- Winnipeg's Forney Named American Associaton Manager Of The Year - AA
- Forney Crowned Manager of the Year - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- St. Paul Takes Game Three 5-2 - Sioux City Explorers
- Douglas leads hit barrage in doubleheader sweep - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- AirHogs Sweep Captains in Doubleheader 12-0, 4-3 - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Pheasants can't hold late lead, lose to Kansas City - Sioux Falls Canaries
- RailCats Climb Back into First with 13-5 Win Over Saltdogs - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- American Association Results - AA
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