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EL1 Harrisburg Senators

Four-time NL All-Star hits managerial milestone in Bowie

July 24, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Harrisburg Senators News Release


Bowie, MD - With Thursday's 8-7 win at Bowie, Harrisburg Senators manager John Stearns notched his 500th career win. Stearns reached the milestone in his 8th season as a professional manager.

The win didn't come easy for Stearns and the Senators. Harrisburg entered the bottom of the 9th with an 8-3 lead, but Matt Wieters drilled a grand slam to make it a one-run game. RHP Adam Carr induced an inning-ending groundout by Lou Montanez to finish it out.

Stearns is currently in his second stint as a manager in Harrisburg; he led the Senators to a 67-75 record in 2006. He began his managerial career in 1990 with the Knoxville Blue Jays, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and stayed for two seasons. Stearns was a scout for the Cincinnati Reds in 1992 and worked as a broadcaster for ESPN in 1993. After a one-year stopover as a manager for Appalachian League champion Princeton in 1994, Stearns worked in the Baltimore Orioles organization in several capacities from 1996-98. He rejoined the Mets in 1999 and was the bench coach when New York won the National League pennant in 2000. He has twice managed at Triple-A: in 2004 with the Norfolk Tides (Mets) and in 2007 with the Columbus Clippers (Nationals).

On May 23rd this year, Stearns filled in as a third-base coach for the Washington Nationals while regular third-base coach Tim Tolman attended his daughter's high-school graduation. The Nationals topped the Milwaukee Brewers that night, 5-1.

Stearns also was a coach for the World Team at this year's Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. The World Team prevailed, 3-0 and former Senator RHP Shairon Martis fired a scoreless 9th inning to collect the save.

Prior to his professional career, the Denver native was a standout both in baseball and football at the University of Colorado. He was selected second overall by the Phillies in the 1973 draft and was also drafted by the Buffalo Bills of the NFL as a defensive back, but chose to play baseball. Stearns played one game with Philadelphia in 1974 and was traded to the Mets in December of 1974. The trade involved six players, including reliever Tug McGraw, who went to the Phillies. All told, Stearns played 11 years in the major leagues and was a four-time National League All-Star catcher.

The Senators return to Commerce Bank Park for a seven-day, eight-game homestand against the Altoona Curve (Double-A Pittsburgh Pirates) and Reading Phillies (Double-A Philadelphia Phillies). Game time Friday against Altoona is set for 6:35 PM. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (4-2, 3.50 ERA) goes to the mound for Harrisburg against Altoona LHP Kyle Bloom (2-4, 4.09 ERA).

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