In the News

Prospect League Taps Baseball Veteran to Lead Circuit

Prospect League Taps Baseball Veteran to Lead Circuit
Dave Chase brings 30 plus seasons of baseball experience to League

March 17, 2010
Chillicothe, OH

Prospect League President Bryan Wickline announced today that Dave Chase of Bartlett, Tennessee has been selected as the Commissioner after an extensive national search. Chase most recently served as President/General Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League, the Memphis Redbirds. Along the way Dave has also worked in various roles for Baseball America magazine including a stint as Publisher and President. Chase’s professional baseball career began in 1978 as Assistant General Manager of the then Double-A Savannah Braves. An outline of Dave’s career is presented below.

“Dave brings years of experience to the League, we are fortunate to have attracted him to the Prospect League. The 2009-2010 off-season has shown tremendous growth for the League with new franchises in Nashville, Terre Haute, Beckley and DeKalb. Now, with today’s announcement, we have completed an ambitious off-season by placing Dave at the helm.”

Chase commented, “The Prospect League opportunity allows me to continue my life-long ambition of serving the game of Baseball. Throughout my career the game has always been number one. I’m eager to get started as we work to make the 15-member Prospect League one of the premier college summer leagues.”

“I’m looking forward to working with each of our club operators, the loyal fans across the League, our umpires and our ballplayers. We will continue to provide a quality baseball experience for the young men who work so hard to develop their baseball skills. Of course the fans make it all happen; I look forward to hearing from them as I visit each ballpark this summer. Together we all make the Prospect League awesome for everyone.”

While with Memphis, Dave and the Redbirds organization worked extensively with Major League Baseball to create MLB’s Annual Civil Rights Game; the first two years of the CRG were played in Memphis’ AutoZone Park. Chase was selected as Mid-South Sportsman of the Year by the Memphis Commercial Appeal in December 2006 for his work on the game. Dave was also a candidate for President of Minor League Baseball the fall of 2007.

1978 Assistant General Manager, Savannah Braves, Double-A Southern League
1979, Office Manager, Memphis Chicks, Double-A, Southern League
1980-81, General Manager, Anderson Braves, Class A, South Atlantic League
1982-99, Various Assignments, Baseball America
1999-2002, President/Executive Director, The National Pastime Museum of Minor League Baseball
2002-2009, President/General Manager, Memphis Redbirds, Triple-A, Pacific Coast League

Dave is available for media interviews by calling (901) 218-3386.

The 2010 Prospect League season gets underway June 3 and runs through August 7. The 2010 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Quincy Gems, July 5-7.

WV Baseball Team Announces GM

WEST VIRGINIA BASEBALL TEAM ANNOUNCES GENERAL MANAGER

The Epling family has moved one step closer to their fulfilling their family dream by naming Michael Gilligan as their General Manager for their Prospect League Baseball Club and play out of their newly constructed, state-of-the-art Linda K. Epling Stadium located in Beckley, West Virginia. "Michael Gilligan brings an extensive range of marketing, communications and management to his leadership role with our baseball team," said Doug Epling, Owner. "He revolutionized the concept of corporate hospitality at major sporting events as Director of Operations for the Professional Golfers' Association of America where he designed and implemented the tournament operations program for the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup Matches and Senior PGA Championship. In addition to developing marketing plans, strategies and pricing for each event, Gilligan also directed overall site production and construction as well as "Tournament Operations Manual" to which the PGA of America uses today to operate their Major Championships."

They Said It

For those involved in NCAA Baseball and Major League Baseball as well as those who could not be in attendance today, they offer the following comments:

"Go to any Prospect League game and you will likely see 4-6 future Major Leaguers, two to three from each team. I look forward to visiting southern West Virginia to scout future Houston Astros."

Nick Vinuto,
Player Scout
Houston Astros

"On behalf of Ohio State University, we look forward to our relationship with the West Virginia Miners and watching OSU players prepare for the Major Leagues through the West Virginia Miners Baseball Club and the professional experience/coaching credentials Tim Epling and Jeff Wallace have to offer our players."

Bob Todd
Head Coach
The Ohio State University

GM Press Release

Season ticket success could lead to more seats

By Gary Fauber
Assistant Sports Editor
The Register-Herald