The Springfield Cardinals Report
with John Brayfield
Chris Maloney, former Minor League manager of the year named as the first manager of the Springfield Cardinals Photo By John Brayfield, BH
December 16, 2004
Maloney named as new field boss
By John Brayfield
The Springfield Cardnals announced on Wednesday that they have a new
field boss, and the boss is glad to be home.
"I am very pleased to introduce to you the first manager of the new
Springfield Cardinals Double-A baseball team, Chris Maloney,"
Springfield Cardinals' vice-president and general manager Matt Gibson told a
group of area sports writers and announcers at an afternoon press
conference.
Maloney, 43, spent 13 seasons as a minor league manager and coach
for the St. Louis Cardinal organization, from 1988 until 2001. He left
the Cardinals to manage the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs in the Houston
Astros organization. He achieved a first place finish in 2002 with the
Zephyrs.
"I am so excited to be with the Cardinals again," said Maloney. "To
be manager for the inaugural season here in Springfield is just a whale
of an honor. I promise you some great baseball. There may be nights
when you think we aren't playing baseball, that's true of all teams. But
we are going to do our best to give you a winning season. There are
just a whole lot of things I enjoy doing more that losing."
Maloney's previous tenure with the Cardinals included Manager of the
Year honors in three different leagues: The New York Penn League while
leading Hamilton to a 56-20 record in 1992; the South Atlantic League
with Savannah in 1993; and the Texas League with Arkansas in 1998. His
1993 Savannah squad posted a 94-48 record and captured the league title
as Maloney was named "Baseball Weekly's" Minor League Manager of the
Year. In his 10 seasons as a manager in the Cardinals system, Maloney
compiled a 635-538 (.541) record.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Maloney graduated from Mississippi
State University in 1983 and was later signed as a non-drafted free
agent by the New York Mets, where he played first base and outfield.
"I was the only guy who ever benched Will Clark," Maloney quipped.
Maloney was purchased by the Cardinals in 1986 and played one minor
league season at Springfield, Illinois.
"We're happy to have Chris back in the fold," St. Louis Cardinals
Director of Player Development Bruce Manno told the group. "He has a
proven background of success and will be a great fit again for our young
players and for the Springfield organization and community."
Manno called Maloney a no-nonsense type of manager who has good
control of his team, a teacher and a person who wants to do the right things
the right way.
"These guys who are coming to play in Springfield are getting ready
to be big-league ballplayers," Maloney said, "I guarantee you that they
are going to give you their best effort every day, and we're going to
work to try to make them the best ballplayers they can become.
"If we do this thing right, it's going to be a great, great situation
for years and years to come."
The Cardinals also announced Wednesday that the Springfield Cardinals
hitting coach will be Dallas Williams. Williams last worked as a first
base coach for the Boston Red Sox in 2003 after serving in the same
capacity for the Colorado Rockies from 2000 until 2002. Blake Ilsley will
return for his fourth season as a Cardinals Double-A pitching coach
with the Springfield affiliate. Brad LaRosa, formerly with the Florida
Marlin organization, was named Springfield's athletic trainer.
Ticket update: Season Ticket sales have been brisk along with
inquiries regarding the sale of individual game tickets. Season Tickets can
still be reserved in all ticket packages (full or quarter season) and in
all seating sections except the Dugout Boxes. New Season Ticket
inquiries should call (417) 863-2143 for more information or stop by Hammons
Field for a ticket packet. Individual game tickets, including the two
exhibition games with the parent team, will go on sale Saturday, Feb. 26,
at 9 a.m.
Also, this week the Springfield Cardinals will offer, for the first
time ever, authentic merchandise for the 2005 Inaugural season in a
two-day Holiday Sale. On Friday, Dec. 17, and Saturday, December 18, the
Cardinals will host this exclusive Holiday Sale at Hammons Field from 10
a.m. until 6 p.m. each day. Special items for the sale will include
team branded caps, shirts, jerseys, T-shirts and novelties. Season
Tickets will be available for purchase both days during the Holiday Sale.
The Springfield Cardinals open the regular season at home against the
Tulsa Drillers on Tuesday, April 12 at Hammons Field.
"
