Tagert named Northern League Manager of the Year
September 7, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - After guiding his team to the league's best regular season record and a fifth straight berth in the Northern League Championship Series, Gary SouthShore RailCats skipper Greg Tagert has been named the league's Manager of the Year for the second time.
The all-time winningest manager in club history, Tagert successfully rebuilt the 2009 RailCats into a championship contender despite losing the league's Player of the Year (Tanner Townsend) and Pitcher of the Year (Jeremy Plexico) from the 2008 squad. The 2009 RailCats went 57-39 to post the second-best record in club history, bested only by the 2007 team that went 58-38 and won the Northern League Championship. The 2007 season is the only other time the âCats finished with the league's top regular season record and was also the last year Tagert was named Manager of the Year.
"It's an honor," Tagert said of receiving the award. "The key to any success or winning any kind of award is surrounding yourself with great people. I'm fortunate to be a part of the finest organization in our industry and have the support of tremendous ownership and a great front office, plus the best coaching staff in independent baseball and a very talented and extremely high-character group of players."
The 2009 RailCats started slowly, sitting 8.5 games out of first place and four games under .500 on June 25. The RailCats finished the season on a tear the last two months, however, going 40-18 to close out the year and finishing two games ahead of second place Winnipeg to earn the top seed in the Northern League Playoffs. The RailCats then knocked off the defending league champion Kansas City T-Bones in a five-game series that ended Sunday at U. S. Steel Yard.
Also the RailCats Director of Player Procurement, Tagert built on an established core of veterans - infielders Jay Pecci, Eric McNamee and Steve Haake along with pitcher Tony Cogan - by bringing in several key pieces this year. Leadoff man Mike Massaro hit over .300 and set a franchise record with 27 doubles after Tagert scooped him up following his release from the Oakland Athletics, and hard-throwing closer Andy Shipman went on to win the league's Relief Pitcher of the Year award after being released by the T-Bones early in the season. Midway through the year, Tagert also picked up veteran starter Derell McCall who went 6-0 in eight regular season starts, then won Game Three of the Semifinals last week.
The all-time winningest manager in Frontier League history, Tagert took over the RailCats before the start of the 2005 season and immediately transformed the club into a winner. After the 2004 RailCats set a Northern League record for single-season losses, Tagert's 2005 RailCats made the playoffs for the first time then came from behind to win back-to-back series and claim their first Northern League Championship. The RailCats have now advanced to the league finals five years in a row and are the only team in league history to make the finals more than three straight seasons.
Tagert is 276-205 (.574) in five season at the helm of the RailCats and 688-540 (.560) in a 14-year managerial career. The RailCats have won at least 51 games each of Tagert's four season and the California native has guided his clubs to a better than .500 record in each of his 14 years as a skipper. Known as much for their character as their play on the field, Tagert's RailCats have been at their best when faced with adversity and are now 6-0 all-time in Game Five after their Sunday win over the T-Bones.
A former scout for the Detroit Tigers, Tagert is originally from Vacaville, California and began his coaching career as an assistant at the University of New Mexico. Tagert and his family now reside in Northwest Indiana.
Tagert and the RailCats begin their drive for a third Northern League title Tuesday night in Game One of the Championship Series against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at 7:02 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field. The âCats will send right-hander Garret Holleran (0-1, 12.46 ERA) to the mound in Game One against Fargo left-hander Scott Fogelson (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Northern League Stories from September 7, 2009
- Tagert named Northern League Manager of the Year - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- RedHawks to Face Gary in N.L. Finals - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- RailCats Present Championship Baseball & Great Giveaways Friday at Steel Yard - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Collier Joins Players As Northern League Honourees - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Northern League Names 2009 Manager of the Year - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Northern League Names 2009 Executive of the Year - NL
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