Steve Shirley - American Association Manager of the Year
Published on August 23, 2008 under American Association (AA) News Release
DURHAM, NC - The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball announced today that Sioux Falls Canaries manager Steve Shirley has been tabbed as the Manager of the Year, as voted upon by the ten field managers and media representatives.
Shirley in his second season as manager guided the Canaries to their second playoff appearance in club history and their first since 2001. He has also led them to a North Division best record of 59-36. The current 59 wins are the most wins Sioux Falls has had in a season. Shirley also had nine Canaries selected to the American Association All-Star Game and two players sold to MLB organizations (Javier Garcia and Josh Kite) during the season.
The New Mexico resident spent 15 years as a player, including pitching 11 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers and has worked as both a pitching coach and manager in independent baseball for five seasons.
Drafted in the second round by the Dodgers in 1974, Shirley's 15 years of professional baseball playing experience also include time in the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Montreal Expos organizations. Shirley made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 21, 1982. In 11 relief appearances for the Dodgers, he was 1-1 with a 4.76 earned run average.
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- Steve Shirley - American Association Manager of the Year - AA
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