NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Welcome New Broadcaster

Published on December 9, 2004 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


Gary, Ind. – The Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club announced today the addition of Victory Sports Group Executive Director Tom Nichols as the club's broadcaster and Director of Media Relations. Alan Garrett, the RailCats Director of Media & Broadcasting over the past two seasons, has announced his resignation to pursue other opportunities.

Nichols, an Indiana native, has broadcast over 2,000 minor league baseball games over his 17 year career that began in 1988. He has spent the last eight years as Radio/Television Broadcaster and Director of Baseball Operations for the Mobile BayBears (Mobile, Ala.), the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, where he earned Southern League Broadcaster of the Year honors.

Since 2002, Nichols has also served as Executive Director of Victory Sports Group, the professional sports ownership and management company whose members, along with select local investors, own and operate the RailCats. On behalf of Victory Sports Group, he has focused on research of possible new franchise opportunities as well as the development of a corporate game plan for efficient franchise operation. Roger Wexelberg, RailCats Vice-President and General Manager, expressed appreciation for the efforts of Alan Garrett and welcomed the addition of Nichols.

"The RailCats have been well-served over the past two years by the efforts of Alan Garrett," Wexelberg said. "Alan played a key role in our first two seasons at U. S. Steel Yard and we wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Garrett had performed the play-by-play of RailCats games on the two-station RailCats Radio Network each of the last two seasons, and had directed the club's media relations activities, including the re-design of www.railcatsbaseball.com, the club's popular Internet web site.

"The RailCats are very excited with the addition of Tom Nichols," said Wexelberg. "Members of our company have a long association with Tom with other clubs and through his off-season work out of our office. He brings tremendous experience as a broadcaster to our team, and his experience in baseball operations will be an asset to our organization."

Nichols began his career in minor league baseball as a broadcaster for the Indianapolis Indians in 1988 (Montreal Expos' Triple-A affiliate). In 1990, he was named Director of Broadcasting with the Kinston (N.C.) Indians (Cleveland Indians' Single-A affiliate) before taking a similar position with the Peoria (Ill.) Chiefs (Chicago Cubs' Single-A affiliate) in 1991. In 1993, Nichols joined the Fort Wayne Wizards (Minnesota Twins' Single-A affiliate) as Director of Broadcasting and remained there for four seasons before moving to Mobile in 1997.

In both Fort Wayne and Mobile, Nichols worked under the direction of Victory Sports Group Chief Executive Officer Michael Tatoian, who held key management roles with both clubs.

In his 17 years in the minor leagues, Nichols' experience has extended beyond broadcasting and into franchise operations and market research. In Mobile, Nichols served as the BayBears baseball operations liaison to the Padres and oversaw baseball operations for three major league exhibition games and two all-star games played in Mobile. He also oversaw the BayBears media relations department, player roster management, team publications, and travel coordination. In 2001, The BayBears earned the prestigious "Freitas Award," an honor given to one Double-A franchise each year based on professionalism in operations, stability, and community support.

Nichols, 40, is a graduate of Ball State University and a native of Muncie, Indiana. During his career in minor league baseball, his "hometown" players have included future major league stars Randy Johnson, Jim Thome, Torii Hunter, Jake Peavy, and LaTroy Hawkins among many others.

---

The Gary SouthShore RailCats are the professional minor league baseball team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The RailCats' 96-game Northern League schedule in 2005 will include 48 home games at U. S. Steel Yard, a charming, state-of-the-art ballpark, conveniently located next to the Indiana Toll Road (I-90), with easy access from I-65, I-80/94 and the Chicago Skyway. The Northern League All-Star Game will be played at U. S. Steel Yard on July 19, 2005. For information about season tickets, mini-season ticket plans, group outings, and creative sponsorship packages, call the RailCats at (219) 882-BALL, or visit the RailCats web site at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Check out the Gary SouthShore Railcats Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Northern League Stories from December 9, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central