Lorain County Ironmen Hire "Super Joe" Charboneau as Manager
June 3, 2015 - Prospect League (Prospect)
Lorain County Ironmen News Release
LORAIN, OH - Director of Baseball Operations Kevin Rhomberg announced today that Joe Charboneau has been named the manager for the Lorain County Ironmen. "Super Joe" returns to the Ironmen after his stint as the Lake Erie Crusher's batting coach in 2014. He was the Ironmen's batting coach from 2011-13.
"We're very excited to have Joe return to the Ironmen this year," Rhomberg said. "We're appreciative to have someone like him who knows the game and will teach the kids valuable skills."
"I missed it last year. I was with the Crushers, but my heart was kind of (in Lorain)," Charboneau said. "I just enjoy (coaching), it's a lot of fun."
Rhomberg and Charboneau have had a relationship dating back to their time in the Indians' AA system in Chattonooga in 1979, where Charboneau hit .352 and was called up to the Indians a year later.
"We became good friends then, I respect Kevin a lot. From being a player, to a manager, to an owner, he's worn every hat in baseball." Charboneau said.
After he was called up to the majors, Charbonaeu hit .289 with 23 home runs and 87 RBI. His break-out year garnered him American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1980.
As the manager of the Ironmen, Chaboneau wants to extend the careers of his players, "We're going to point them in the right direction, keep them working hard and try to instill in them that if they want to play at another level they have to kick it up a notch. It's a combination of working hard, having fun and getting good chemistry as a team."
Although it'll be the Ironmen's first time in the Great Lakes League, it won't be the first time for Charboneau. He was involved with the Euclid Admirals in the early 1990's, "I've seen the Great Lakes League change just like the Frontier and Prospect Leagues did, and I think it changed for the better," Charboneau said. "There have been a lot of caliber players in this league. It has produced a lot of solid pro baseball players and I'm interested to see how it is now."
The Lorain County Ironmen enter their first season in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League. The season starts Thursday, June 4 at Northern Ohio Baseball Club in Strongsville, and will have their home opener Thursday, June 11 against the Galion Graders at the Pipe Yard Powered by First Energy Solutions. You can catch all the action on the Lorain County Ironmen's Radio Network with Jake Hromada.
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Prospect League Stories from June 3, 2015
- Lorain County Ironmen Hire "Super Joe" Charboneau as Manager - Lorain County Ironmen
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