Terry Kennedy named GBL Manager of the Year
Published on September 12, 2005 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
San Diego Surf Dawgs News Release
SAN DIEGO, CALIF September 12, 2005- The Golden Baseball League announced today that San Diego Surf Dawgs Manager Terry Kennedy has been selected as Manager of the Year for the GBL's inaugural season. He led his team to the California Division title and then to victory at the GBL Championship Series. He was followed in the voting by Mesa Miner's manager Les Lancaster and Chico Outlaw's manager Mark Parent. Kennedy was supported throughout the season by his pitching coach Larry Owens, as the Surf Dawgs led the GBL in E.R.A., and hitting coach Dan Cholowsky.
"As an independent league manager, Terry not only had the day-to-day game management responsibilities, but also ran all of the baseball operations for his team, including building his coaching staff, sourcing players and making trades," said GBL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt. "Terry probably had the most balanced team as he recruited and developed the best group of rookies in the league, had outstanding performance from his experienced minor leaguers, and brought in major league experienced players who provided top flight playing and leadership skills. He's a tremendous asset for the league and we greatly appreciate his involvement and belief in the GBL during our inaugural season."
Terry Kennedy, 49, began managing professional baseball clubs after a superb playing career that spanned 14 seasons and four All-Star selections as he caught for St. Louis, San Diego, Baltimore, and San Francisco. He began managing in 1993 spending six years at the helm of minor league team's affiliated with MLB organizations, including the Triple-A level with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was named Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year as well as Pacific Coast League (PCL) Manager of the Year for his efforts with the Iowa Cubs in 1998. He went on to serve as the Chicago Cubs Minor League Field Coordinator for two years before jumping back into uniform to pilot the Las Vegas 51s (PCL) in 2004 and then moving to the San Diego Surf Dawgs in the Golden Baseball League for 2005. After leading his San Diego team to an overall record of 55-39, leading the league wire-to-wire, he is now 423-361 lifetime as a professional manager for a stellar .540 winning percentage.
2005 San Diego Surf Dawgs highlights under Kennedy's stewardship included:
- GBL Championship
- California Division Championship
- Best Regular Season Record
- Best Overall Record
- Only GBL Player to be sold to Triple-A: Adam Johnson to Sacramento
- GBL Rookie of the Year: Nick Guerra (3B/C)
- GBL Championship Series MVP: Cody Clark (C)
- Nine Surf Dawgs selected for GBL mid-season All-Star Team
- Four ex-major leaguers: Rickey Henderson, Adam Johnson, Paul Abbott, Steve Smyth
- Pitching staff led the GBL in E.R.A. by 21 points at 3.63
- Was first team in GBL to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wins
"Terry Kennedy has been incredible to work with throughout this fantastic inaugural season," said Juliana Paoli Surf Dawgs General Manager. "Using his 14 years of Major League experience and extensive knowledge, Terry was able to build an incredible team. He deserves this honor and I couldn't be happier that he received this recognition."
Act Now as Season Ticket Packages are now on sale for the 2006 season at 2005 prices. Prices start at $360 for Full Season and $200 for Half Season. Ten and five game packages will be sold once the new season schedule comes out. For more information please contact Joe McMackin, Director of Ticket Sales at (619) 282-HITS (4487) or email JMcMackin@goldenbaseball.com.
About the Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, Presented by Safeway Inc./VONS, is a professional baseball league operating under a single-entity ownership model, with the League owning all the individual teams. Charter Golden Baseball League teams include the Chico Outlaws in Chico; CA, the Fullerton Flyers in Fullerton; CA, the Long Beach Armada in Long Beach; CA, the 2005 GBL Champions San Diego Surf Dawgs in San Diego; CA, the Mesa Miners in Mesa; AZ, the Surprise Fightin' Falcons in Surprise; AZ, the Yuma Scorpions in Yuma; AZ and the Japan Samurai Bears which was a traveling team. The season consisted of 90 games per team and began in late May and ended in early September.
For general information, please visit our League web site at www.goldenbaseball.com or for the Surf Dawgs visit www.sdsurfdawgs.com or call (619) 282-HITS (4487).
Golden Baseball League Stories from September 12, 2005
- Terry Kennedy named GBL Manager of the Year - San Diego Surf Dawgs
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