Sveum leaves to become Red Sox third base coach, Beasley named new Curve manager
Published on February 4, 2004 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
(ALTOONA, PA) â The Boston Red Sox announced today that Curve manager Dale Sveum, who was scheduled to lead Altoona for a fourth consecutive season in 2004, has been hired as the major league club's new third base coach.
Sveum joins Boston's major league coaching staff, which is led by Terry Francona, who was hired on December 4th to replace Grady Little as the Red Sox' manager. The 40-year old Sveum posted a 213-211 (.502) record in his three seasons as Curve manager and last season led the club to a franchise-best 78-63 record and a first-ever Eastern League playoff appearance. During the 2003 season, he was named by Baseball America as the Eastern League's "Best Managerial Prospect".
"On a personal level the Curve family is very happy for Dale to have this opportunity with the Red Sox," said Curve General Manager Todd Parnell. "Sveumer is a great friend, a tribute to baseball and someone we have all learned a great deal from."
"He is the hardest-working manager that I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with and not only did a terrific job working with his players, but was very helpful in our efforts to reach out to our great fans and make their experience here at Blair County Ballpark as special as possible," Parnell added.
To fill the Curve's managerial opening, Pirates' Director of Player Development Brian Graham has announced that 37-year old Tony Beasley, who was slated to lead the Pirates' high Class-A affiliate in Lynchburg this coming season, will be the club's new manager. Beasley, a rising managerial prospect in the Pirates' minor league system, has produced a .608 winning % (211-136) in his first three seasons as a manager and has led his clubs to three consecutive playoff appearances, including league championships in 2001 with short-season Williamsport (New York-Penn) and 2002 with low Class-A Hickory (South Atlantic).
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to make the jump from Low-A ball to manage at the Double-A level in Altoona", said Beasley from his home in Bowling Green, VA. "I've heard nothing but good things about the ballpark, the front office and the fans in Altoona and I'm already excited about heading to spring training to get ready for the season."
Beasley will be joined in the Curve dugout by bench coach John Wehner and pitching coach Jeff Andrews, both of whom return for their second consecutive season as part of Altoona's coaching staff.
The Curve will open the 2004 season on Thursday, April 8th at 6:35 p.m. against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) at Blair County Ballpark.
TONY BEASLEY
2004 Altoona Curve Manager
Tony Beasley, 37, enters his fourth season as a minor league manager in the Pirates' organization and his first as the skipper of the Altoona Curve. He was originally slated to spend the 2004 season leading high Class-A Lynchburg (Carolina League), but was named the Pirates' Double-A manager on February 3rd, when former Curve manager Dale Sveum accepted a position on the Boston Red Sox major league coaching staff.
Beasley has had nothing but success since starting his managerial career with the Williamsport Crosscutters (SS-A) in 2001, leading his troops to the post-season in each of his three seasons. As a rookie skipper, Beasley guided the Crosscutters to a 46-26 record and a New York-Penn League Co-Championship. Promoted to Hickory (A) in 2002, he helped the Crawdads to an 83-56 record (fifth best in all the minors) and a South Atlantic League title. Not only was Beasley selected as manager for the 2002 SAL Postseason All-Star Team, he was honored as Baseball America's Low Class-A Manager of the Year.
Last season, his second straight campaign with Hickory, Beasley and the Crawdads finished 82-54 with a first-half Southern Division crown before losing in the semi-final round of the SAL playoffs to eventual league champion Rome. Overall, he has a 211-136 record (.608) in his first three seasons as a manager. This past off-season, he was chosen to manage Mesa in the prestigious Arizona Fall League and led the Desert Dogs to the league's championship game.
Originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round of the 1989 June draft, Beasley joined the Pirates' organization following the 1991 season when he was acquired in a minor league deal. He went on to finish his eight-year playing career in the Pirates' organization, ending as a player/coach with Carolina (AA) in 1998. For his career, the middle infielder hit .260 with 10 home runs and 242 RBIs in 854 games. After retiring as a player following the 1998 season, Beasley spent two seasons as a hitting coach in the Pirates' chain (Bradenton, 1999; Lynchburg, 2000) before becoming a manager.
The Virginia native graduated from Caroline High School in Bowling Green, VA in 1985 and went on to play two seasons each at Louisburg (NC) J.C. (1986-87) and Liberty University (1988-89).
Beasley currently resides in Bowling Green, VA with his wife Stacy and their son Anthony, Jr. (9).
Eastern League Stories from February 4, 2004
- Sveum leaves to become Red Sox third base coach, Beasley named new Curve manager - Altoona Curve
- Radio Announcer to Leave - Harrisburg Senators
- Gabe Kapler to Visit Portland - Portland Sea Dogs
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.
