Knights name new VP,General Manager
October 17, 2005 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
FORT MILL, S.C. - The Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A (International League) affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and team CEO Don Beaver are pleased to announce that Dan Rajkowski has been named Vice President/General Manager of the club. Rajkowski replaces Bill Blackwell, who resigned last month.
Rajkowski brings a strong background to the Knights after serving in various roles over a 22 year Minor League Baseball career. Most recently, Rajkowski served as Director of Business Development for Beaver Sports Properties concentrating on the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn, a Champions Tour PGA event, and assisting with the operation of three minor league baseball clubs operated by Beaver Sports. Beaver Sports owns and operates the Class A Hickory Crawdads and the Class AAA New Orleans Zephyrs as well as the Knights.
Over the span of Rajkowski's career, he has operated clubs at all levels of Minor League Baseball. The past twenty years have been spent serving as General Manager for clubs in Florence (SC), Little Falls (NY), Myrtle Beach (SC), Knoxville (TN) and New Orleans (LA).
"We are pleased to name Dan as the new General Manager of the Knights," stated Don Beaver, CEO of the Charlotte Knights. "He has been very successful over the years and brings a wealth of experience to the table. He is truly one of the top executives in Minor League Baseball."
Rajkowski has been honored with numerous awards over his 22-year career including being named the 1997 Southern League Executive of the Year and the recipient of the highly coveted Larry McPhail Promotional Award for Minor League Baseball in 2000. He also was honored by the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2001 for dedication and excellence in the field of player development with the Bobby Mattick Award.
Since 1993, Rajkowski has worked with Beaver Sports as Vice President/General Manager of the Tennessee Smokies and the New Orleans Zephyrs. While with the Smokies, he was responsible for the development and construction of a state-of-the-art facility to house the Class AA team in Sevierville, Tennessee.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to lead the Knights and build on the tremendous foundation established over the years," noted Rajkowski. "The Knights have a valuable history and I believe they have a very bright future."
"The ownership and staff are committed to the region, the community and the fans," added Rajkowski, who officially assumes his role as Vice President/General Manager on November 1st. "I'm anxious to become a part of the team and start building for the future."
The Knights open the 2006 home season at Knights Stadium on Friday, April 14th versus the Pawtucket Red Sox at 7:15 p.m.
International League Stories from October 17, 2005
- Knights name new VP,General Manager - Charlotte Knights
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