| Veteran Minor League manager Dave Huppert, who guided Phillies’ affiliates to league championships each of the last two seasons, was named inaugural manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Huppert’s field staff is rounded out by a pair of former Major Leaguers, hitting coach Greg Gross and pitching coach Rod Nichols. The announcement was made by the IronPigs, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday at Copperhead Grille in Allentown. |
| “We’re very proud of the staff that we will be sending to the Lehigh Valley and feel they will do a tremendous job for our farm system,” said Steve Noworyta, Philadelphia Phillies Director, Minor Leagues. “We wanted to find a manager experienced to take on the challenge. I have seen Dave grow in player development and he’s the type of manager that can take players and make them believe; the type of manager to get the best out of them and get them ready for Philadelphia.” |
| Dave Huppert, 50, is entering his twenty-first season as a minor league manager and his third year in the Phillies’ farm system. Prior to being named manager of the IronPigs, he led the 2007 Clearwater Threshers (Advanced A) to an 83-57 record and the club’s first Florida State League title since 1993. That followed his first season in the system when he piloted the 2006 Lakewood BlueClaws to a South Atlantic League championship (Low A). In all, he has posted a combined managerial record of 1,425-1,214 (.540). |
| “I can’t ask for a better situation. This is a brand new affiliate and I can’t ask for a better ballpark and a better place to develop talent,” said Huppert, who was also the skipper of the 2001 Florida State League Co-Champion Brevard County Manatees. “I have three goals for this team: first, that the team plays fundamentally sound baseball; second, that we win a division; third, that we win the International League. I put pressure on myself to win because the players put pressure on themselves to improve.” |
| Before joining the Phillies, Huppert worked alongside the legendary Frank Robinson as third base coach for the Washington Nationals during their inaugural season in 2005. He also managed in the Washington (formerly Montreal) organization from 2002-2004, including two years with the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers. |
| The South Gate, Calif., native has posted many accolades as a manager -- recording winning records 14 times in 20 seasons, earning playoff berths 11 times and capturing three league titles. Since commencing his managerial career with the Helena Gold Sox in 1986 at the age of 29, he has managed in the farm systems of Milwaukee (1986-91), Chicago-AL (1993-1998), Florida (1999-2001), Montreal (2002-2004) and Philadelphia (2006-present). |
| He has been honored as Manager of the Year in 1988 with Stockton in the California League and most recently with Brevard County in 2001. |
| In his playing career, Huppert reached the Major Leagues as a catcher with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983 and again with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1985. He appeared in a combined 15 games and collected one hit – a single off Hall-of-Famer Phil Niekro. |
| Originally signed by Baltimore in 1977, Huppert caught 31 of 33 innings in the longest professional baseball game ever played, 4/18/81, an International League contest featuring Rochester and Pawtucket. |
| Huppert replaces 2007 Ottawa Lynx manager John Russell, who was named manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 5. |
| Greg Gross, 55, played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues, including 10 with the Phillies (1979-88) and was a key member of Philadelphia’s lone World Championship team in 1980. In the 1980 National League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, Gross delivered a trio of pinch-hits that helped the Phillies capture the series in a decisive fifth game. |
| A native of nearby York, Pa., Gross broke into the Majors with Houston in 1973 and captured The Sporting News National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1974 after batting .314 (third in the N.L.). Traded to Chicago in the winter of 1976, the outfielder came to the Phillies alongside Manny Trillo in an eight-player deal in 1979. A lifetime .287 hitter, Gross collected 143 career pinch-hits – a mark that ranks fourth all-time behind Lenny Harris, Manny Mota and Smoky Burgess. |
| Gross began his post-playing career as a coach for Malvern Prep High School near Philadelphia before joining the Rockies organization as a coach for New Haven (AA, Eastern League) from 1995-96 and then as the roving hitting instructor from 1997-2000. He re-joined the Phillies as bench coach in 2001 for manager Larry Bowa and then served as hitting coach from 2002-04. He was added to the Phillies’ player development staff in 2005 and most recently served as hitting coach for the Reading Phillies (AA, Eastern League) last season. |
| Gross replaces 2007 Ottawa Lynx hitting coach Sal Rende, who was named minor league hitting coordinator. |
| Rod Nichols, 42, has been at the helm of the pitching staff of Philadelphia’s top farm club since 2005 and enters his ninth consecutive season as a coach in the system. Under his tutelage in 2006, Scranton’s hurlers posted the best ERA in the International League (3.28) on their way to a league-best 84 win campaign. |
| The former Major League pitcher began his coaching career in 2000 as pitching coach for Piedmont (Low A, South Atlantic League) and quickly advanced through the system, moving to Lakewood in 2001 and to Reading (AA) from 2002-04. His advancement to the Triple-A level in 2005 coincided with Rich Dubee’s promotion to Charlie Manuel’s staff in Philadelphia. |
| Originally drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 1987 draft, Nichols made his Major League debut with the Indians in 1988. Throughout a 12-year professional career, Nichols appeared at the highest level with Cleveland (1988-93), Los Angeles (1993) and Atlanta (1995) and compiled a career record of 11-31 with a 4.43 ERA in 100 games and 48 starts. |
| The Burlington, Iowa, native concluded his professional playing career overseas in Japan -- pitching for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1997. |
| The newly announced field staff will lead the IronPigs into action for the first time in their season-opening contest April 3 at PNC Field against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The IronPigs home opener at Coca-Cola Park is set for April 11 at 7:05 p.m. against the reigning International League champion Richmond Braves. |
