Riverhawks Sign Former Major-Leaguer Simon
January 27, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford RiverHawks will have big-league experience in the clubhouse this season.
The team announced Wednesday that it has signed eight-year major-league veteran Randall Simon to a contract. Simon, a first baseman, has played in the majors for six different teams, including the Chicago Cubs. Simon represented the Netherlands in both World Baseball Classics, 2006 and 2009.
"The first reason I signed him was identity, because he gives instant identity to our franchise," RiverHawks co-owner and director of baseball operations Dave Ciarrachi said. "There are a lot of people in Rockford, even though we've been here for eight years, who had no idea who we were. They know now that we are a Double-A, Triple-A level professional baseball team, with high-level ballplayers playing at a high-level stadium.
"No. 2, he will give us the ability to have recognition in the baseball community outside Rockford.
"Third, I have checked with a lot of my sources on this. ... Everybody I have talked to has told me quality things about him, as a clubhouse guy and as a guy who likes to mentor young players. Along with (player-coach) Richie Austin and another guy we plan on obtaining, we are going to have three guys in our clubhouse with a combined 40 years in professional."
2010 will be the 19th season of professional baseball for the 34-year-old Simon.
Simon signed out of Curacao, in the Netherlands Antilles, with the Atlanta Braves in 1992. Cubs fans probably best remember Simon as a mid-August acquisition in 2003, when Chicago reached the National League Championship Series. Simon hit .282 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 33 games after Pittsburgh traded him to the Cubs for outfielder Ray Sadler. He hit .333 in the postseason.
Northern League Stories from January 27, 2010
- Riverhawks Sign Former Major-Leaguer Simon - Rockford RiverHawks
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- Townsend, Kerber, Bennett Added To Fan Fest Lineup - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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