Huppert returns as Trappers' manager
February 6, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Trappers announced today that Dave Huppert will return as the club's manager in 2004. Joining Huppert on the Trappers' field staff will be coach Mike Hart, pitching coach Charlie Corbell and trainer Mike Quinn. Huppert, who will be trying to guide the Trappers to their third consecutive North Division title, is the 12th manager in club history. Corbell was the pitching coach at Double-A Harrisburg last season, while Hart was a coach under Manager Phil Roof with Triple-A Rochester. Quinn served as Edmonton's trainer in 2003.
Huppert, 46, has compiled an 1188-1028 (.536) record over 17 seasons as a minor league manager. He has guided his clubs to the post-season on nine occasions, including 2001 when Brevard County was named Co-Champion of the Florida State League and Huppert was named the 2001 Florida State League Manager of the Year. Huppert was also named as the California League Manager of the Year in 1988 after guiding Stockton to a 94-49 record. His clubs have finished with a winning record in 12 of his 17 seasons as a manager.
Huppert began his baseball career in 1977 when he was signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Orioles. He appeared in 17 Major League games with the Orioles and the Milwaukee Brewers going 1-for-21 (.048) in those contests. The former catcher began his coaching career with the Brewers organization in 1986, leading Helena of the Pioneer League to a 38-32 record. Huppert spent two seasons with Helena before moving along to Stockton for two campaigns and Double-A El Paso for two seasons. He was the bullpen coach for the Chicago White Sox in 1992 before returning to the minors where he managed Single-A Sarasota in 1993 and Single-A Prince William for three seasons after that. In 1997 the White Sox named Huppert as manager at Double-A Birmingham, where he skippered the Barons for two campaigns. The Florida Marlins hired Huppert to manage Brevard County in 1999. He spent the next three seasons with the Manatees before being hired by the Expos in 2002 to manage Double-A Harrisburg. Huppert resides in Zephyrhills, Florida. He has one daughter, Megan.
Hart, 52, will begin his first season in the Expos farm system after spending one year under former Trapper coach Phil Roof with the Minnesota Twins top affiliate in Rochester, New York. He was originally drafted by the Expos in the 11th round of the 1972 draft. Hart led the Florida State League in walks in 1973 and the Pacific Coast League in base on balls in 1979 and was the top switch hitter in the American Association in 1978, where he batted .320 with 19 home runs and 98 RBI. He had close to 1200 hits in his minor league career. Hart began his coaching career with Baltimore, guiding the Orioles' Newark affiliate in 1987 and the Hagerstown squad in 1988. He has also managed in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, leading Double-A Reading in 1989, and the New York Yankees system, piloting Single-A Ft. Lauderdale in 1990, Single-A Prince William each of the next two campaigns and Double-A Albany-Colonie in 1993. Hart joined the San Francisco Giants organization in 1994, where he managed Short-Season Single-A Everett. He was promoted to Single-A Burlington in 1995 and then was named hitting coach at Double-A Shreveport, a position he held for two seasons. In 1998 Hart was named manager of the Captains. He began a four-year stint as hitting coach with Triple-A Fresno in 1999 before moving on to the Twins organization last season. Hart graduated from Western Michigan University in 1986 with a business degree. He currently resides in Naples, Florida.
Corbell, 43, begins his third year in the Expos organization and his first season at the Triple-A level in 2004. The right-hander was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 21st round of the 1983 draft. He spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, compiling a 54-42 record in that span. Before the 1988 season he was traded by the Giants to the Oakland A's in exchange for reliever Rod Beck. After retiring Corbell spent 13 seasons coaching at the college level. He was the pitching coach at Lamar University for three campaigns (1989-91) and spent the next 10 years at Galveston College before joining the Expos with Short-Season Single-A Vermont in 2002. Last season in Harrisburg Corbell worked with pitchers Ron Chiavacci, Roy Corcoran, Chuck Crumpton, Anthony Ferrari and Seung Song before they were promoted to Edmonton. He graduated from Lamar University in Physical Education and Kinesiology. Corbell currently resides in Maytown, Texas.
Quinn, 35, will begin his third season in the Expos' farm system in 2004. In addition to working with the Trappers last season he spent the 2002 campaign with Triple-A Ottawa. Quinn worked in the Florida Marlins system in 2001 with Triple-A Calgary. This upcoming season will be his fourteenth in minor league baseball. Quinn began his career in Bristol, Connecticut with the Detroit Tigers New York-Penn League affiliate in 1991. After three seasons with Bristol, Quinn was hired by Charlotte, the Texas Rangers affiliate in the Florida State League. He spent three campaigns there before being promoted to Double-A Tulsa (Texas League) in 1997, where he worked for the next four seasons. Quinn owns a Bachelor's Degree from Western Kentucky University and a Masters' Degree from Jacksonville University. He currently resides in Park Hills, Kentucky with his wife Jenny.
Pacific Coast League Stories from February 6, 2004
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- Huppert returns as Trappers' manager - Edmonton Trappers
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