Skeeters Name First Manager Former Major League All-Star Gary Gaetti To Manage Sugar Land Team
Gary Gaetti
T
he Sugar Land Skeeters today announced the hiring of former Major League All-Star Gary Gaetti as the first manager in franchise history. The Skeeters – with Gaetti at the helm – will play its first game at StarTex Power Field in Sugar Land in April, 2012. Entering his 30th season associated with professional baseball as either a player or coach, Gaetti and his baseball operations staff will build the expansion Skeeters baseball squad from the ground up. With Opening Day at the state-of-theart StarTex Power Field fewer than nine months away, Gaetti begins his managerial role immediately. The Atlantic League will hold an expansion draft for the Skeeters in early 2012, and details to be announced at a later date. “We are thrilled to have Gary lead this ball club,” said Matt O’Brien, President of the Sugar Land Skeeters. “We are confident that his leadership, Major League experience and impeccable knowledge of the game will represent the club and the community very well. “As a full-time Houston resident, Gary also will play a major role in the ball club’s community outreach.” A veteran of 20 Major League seasons, Gaetti welcomes this opportunity.
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity,” Gaetti said. “I have always enjoyed the teaching and coaching aspect of the game. There is no better place to do that than right here in Fort Bend County. I’m excited about building winning tradition from day one. “This will be a tremendous platform for minor league baseball. This is going to be something new and fresh, and the Skeeters will bring a level of excitement to Sugar Land and the Houston area. This will be a real positive for baseball everywhere.” During his Major League career, Gaetti played for six different teams: the Minnesota Twins (1981-90), California Angels (1991-93), Kansas City Royals (1993-95), St. Louis Cardinals (1996-98), Chicago Cubs (1998-99), and Boston Red Sox (2000). The two-time All-Star infielder (1988-89) won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards (1986-89) and earned a spot on The Sporting News’ Silver Slugger Team (1995). In 1987, he was named the American League Championship Series MVP, batting .300 with two home runs and five RBI, as he helped the Twins win their first-ever World Series championship.
Gaetti ranks sixth all-time among third basemen with 360 career home runs, and he is one of 38 players all-time to record 2,200 hits (2,280) and 360 homers. He also moved into the Major League record books on July 17, 1990, when he initiated two triple plays for the Twins vs. Boston at Fenway Park. Following both the 1989 and 1990 seasons, he was named the league’s best defensive third baseman by Baseball America. Gaetti found success in debuts. On Sept. 20, 1981, he became the 47th player to hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat. He also hit two home runs in the first game ever played in the Metrodome (April 6, 1982), and he was the first player ever to hit two home runs in his first two at-bats of postseason play in the 1987 ALCS vs. Detroit. From July, 2004 to July, 2006, Gaetti served as the Astros full-time hitting
Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson and Sugar Land Skeeters’ President Matt O’Brien.
ABOUT THE SUGAR LAND SKEETERS Set to debut in April 2012, the Skeeters will play in the $35 million-dollar StarTex Power Field, which is being constructed by the City of Sugar Land and the Skeeters at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A. The Sugar Land Skeeters will play 70 regular season home games annually, starting with the 2012 season. Season tickets start at $575 per seating, an average of $8 per game. StarTex Power Field will play host to a multitude of other events, including football, soccer, lacrosse, cheerleading and band competitions, as well as concerts, group outings and scout sleep overs. Total stadium capacity will be approximately 7,500 for baseball (expandable to 10,000) and 10,000-plus in concert configuration. The Sugar Land Skeeters offices will be located at the new ballpark but are temporarily located at 16160 City Walk in Sugar Land Town Square, Sugar Land, TX 77479. Get your season ticket priority number today at www. SugarLandSkeeters.com or call 281.240.HITS (4487). fort bend
magazine • September 2011
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