Round Rock Announces Manager, Field Staff for 2009
December 3, 2008 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK - As one of the most successful free agents on the market, Marc Bombard didn't last long.
The Houston Astros announced Wednesday that the veteran manager will be taking over as the third skipper of the Triple-A Round Rock Express when Spring Training opens up in Kissimmee, Fla. in February. Pitching coach Burt Hooton, hitting coach Ron Jackson and trainer Mike Freer will return for Round Rock.
Bombard brings with him more than 37 years of professional baseball experience, including seven years as a pitcher, more than 24 years as a manager and multiple Major League coaching stints.
"Marc will do a wonderful job for us in Round Rock," said Houston Astros Assistant General Manager Ricky Bennett. "His experience, knowledge of the game and baseball awareness will be very beneficial as he prepares our players for the Major Leagues."
Bombard, 59, has walked an extensive and remarkable road since his playing days at the University of Texas at El Paso. His professional baseball career began in 1971 with the Cincinnati Reds organization. A roommate of pro-wrestler Randy "The Macho Man" Savage, he earned a 39-29 record with a 2.72 ERA in 152 games in the Cincinnati organization. He also is one of the very few professional pitchers in baseball history to record a no-hitter and a perfect game in the same season. He did so in the Florida State League in 1975.
He began his coaching career as a player/coach in the Reds' organization in 1974 before taking on his first managerial duties with the Pioneer League Billings Mustangs in 1982. Bombard led the Mustangs to the league championship in 1983, Cedar Rapids to a Midwest League title in 1988 and Indianapolis to an American Association crown six years later.
Over the last 26 years, Bombard has managed 10 teams in five different organizations, including Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and most recently, the Chicago White Sox. Six times he's guided teams to first-place finishes, including the 1994-1995 Indianapolis Indians who won 194 games. Fourteen of his teams have finished at or above .500 - 11 of those appeared in the post-season.
"He brings a welcome and winning tradition to the Express," said Round Rock founder and CEO Reid Ryan. "Marc is a manager who has been around the game longer than most. His relationship with general managers, coaches, players and fans has always been a lasting one and we're excited to have him here."
Bombard - named Minor League and Triple-A Manager of the Year in 1994, 1995 and 2002 - carries a Minor League managerial record of 1,709 wins to 1,543 losses (0.525). He has made three Major League coaching appearances with Cincinnati and Philadelphia, most recently taking over as first base coach for the Phillies in for parts of three seasons between 2004-2006.
Bombard posted 126 wins with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights between 2007 and 2008. His appointment marks the third manager for Round Rock in the team's 10-year history.
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