PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Maloney Returns as Zephyrs Manager

Published on December 9, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


Metairie, LA --- The HOUSTON ASTROS and the NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS are pleased to announce that Chris Maloney will return as the field manager for the 2004 Triple-A Zephyrs. Maloney will once again be joined by hitting coach Gary Gaetti, Pitching Coach Jim Hickey and Trainer Mike Freer.

Maloney, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, has a career managerial record of 146-142 (.507) with the Zephyrs. The 2004 season will be his third season at the helm after having guided the Z's to a 71-73 record in 2003 and a 75-69 record in 2002 and tying for first place in the Eastern Division. Maloney has a career 787-674 (.539) record in twelve seasons as manager.

He won Manager of the Year honors in 1998 when he led Arkansas to the Texas League Championship. In '93 he led the Savannah Cardinals to the championship and also earned USA Today's Baseball Weekly Minor League Manager of the Year. He won Manager of the Year honors in 1992 in the New York-Penn League, as well. Maloney was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the New York Mets in June 1983. The outfielder – first baseman also played in the Cardinals system in 1986. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1983.

Pitching Coach Jim Hickey returns for his seventh season with the Zephyrs. He has spent 14 seasons as a pitching coach in the Houston organization. Hickey has been a part of two Pacific Coast League Championships. The Z's pitching staff has finished first each of the last two seasons in the Pacific Coast League in earned run average. He was also named Pitching Coach of the Major League Baseball Futures Game in 2002 and named Houston Astros Player Development of the Year. He spent eight seasons as a pitcher in the minor leagues with the White Sox, Dodgers, and the Astros organizations.

Gary Gaetti returns for his third season as the hitting coach for the Zephyrs. A 20 year Major League veteran with the Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox. He won a world championship in 1987 with the Twins and earned American League Championship Series MVP that season. A two time Major League All-Star in 1988 and '89 also won four gold gloves. The infielder retired in 2000 with Boston and had a career batting average of .255 with 360 homers and 1,341 RBI.

Trainer Mike Freer also returns for his eighth season with the club. The 49-year-old joined the organization in 1990 and has worked his way through the system over the 15-year span. He is a graduate of Baylor University where he also earned his masters degree.

The Zephyrs 2004 home opener is on Friday April 16th against the Iowa Cubs. Season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. For more information contact John Mooney with the Zephyrs at (504) 734-5155 ext 219.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from December 9, 2003


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