Pinto back in baseball; More on Hobson
November 14, 2007 by Jason Guarente
Former Barnstormers general manager Joe Pinto is the new GM for Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. It’s the spring training home of the Marlins and Cardinals. Pinto will oversee operations of the ballpark, which also houses the Florida State League’s Jupiter and Palm Beach clubs.
“It’s the perfect opportunity,” Pinto said in this article in the Palm Beach Post. “I really wasn’t looking to get back in, necessarily. I was waiting for the perfect opportunity.”
Pinto left the Barnstormers after their championship season in 2006. He established a local sports marketing company along with Jason Jesberger and Jeff Bertoni, who also worked in the Barnstormers’ front office.
The FSL is known for having poor attendance. Jupiter and Palm Beach combined to average 1,213 fans a game last season. Pinto was extremely successful during his two-year run in Lancaster. He was named the Atlantic League’s executive of the year shortly before leaving the franchise one year ago.
HOBSON NEWS: I talked with Butch Hobson today. He said he hasn’t been assigned to either the Barnstormers or Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. He said both openings are appealing to him for different reasons.
“I know Lancaster because their first year in the league was (Nashua’s) last year in 2005,” Hobson said. “I love the ballpark. I love the people there, the atmosphere. They’re Philly fans, so they love baseball. That’s for sure. It’s a really classy place to be and I really enjoyed my time there.”
And Southern Maryland?
“Being able to be part of something new from the beginning is also interesting. That’s what we did in Nashua. If I was fortunate enough to be that guy, I’d be very happy with that situation also.”
I’ll transcribe some of the interview here in the near future. Hobson talked about his passion to return to the big leagues, how he gets players to believe in him as a manager and what causes some of those Youtube blowups with umpires. Some interesting stuff from a man who has enjoyed a lifetime in the game.
Is this mean that IM Fun could be returning?
I saw I.M.Fun in the paper over the weekend. Hope this is a sign of things to come… Miss ya Jeff
For what it’s worth, there is a current job opening on the Barnstormers website …..
Marketing: Event Management/Promotions
Manager, Promotions & Entertainment - Lancaster Barnstomers (Lancaster, PA)
Are you a performer? Are you an entertainer? Like to be the center of attention?
IF YES to all…please continue.
The Lancaster Barnstormers are looking for a performer/entertainer that is also a dynamic, creative and off-the-wall promotions and entertainment professional to fill the position of Manager, Promotions & Entertainment. The Barnstormers play at the state-of-the-art Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, PA, with a seating capacity of 6000+, 22 Luxury Boxes, 5 Party Suites and 2 video boards.
Duties to include:
Marketing Plan
Lead all grassroots marketing efforts
Perfect avenue to express our ENERGY & PASSION…get out to the people and spread the gospel of Barnstormers Baseball!
Where we should we be? Where aren’t we? What’s the message when we get there? Are we creating excitement and compelling people to attend ballgames?
Street Team
develop & direct this group
Always be on the lookout for the next non-traditional promotional opportunity.
Podcasts or YouTube, texting, etc.
Promotional Schedule
Be the creative force & energy behind the development and implementation of the nightly promotions (giveaways, theme nights, entertainment)
Create new promotions…take every thought & idea and apply the “Why Not?” mentality to every idea.
Game Presentation – the fun starts here!
Entertainment…this is who we are and what we do!
Develop new ideas, new performers, characters and water-cooler fodder.
Bring Creativity to the fan experience…the ballpark needs to be alive every night!
Direct/develop/supervise all game scripts, in game entertainment.
This includes music, video, skits, performers, mascots & fans!
Community Relations
Lead the charge to make sure we are EVERYWHERE and conveying our ENERGY & PASSION EVERYWHERE in the community.
Develop plan for active participation in the community by staff, players & mascots (drag us out there if you have to).
Develop new charitable events annually.
Requirements:
Background in radio, TV, standup comedy, movies, voiceover work, improv, theatre, music, the performing arts, or as a Mascot are a HUGE PLUS! NO CLOWNS PLEASE!
Prior experience in baseball preferred but not required as long as you can find home plate.
Not afraid of crowds…Will be expected to do lots of public speaking & performing.
Strong time management skills required, but prefer candidates that don’t wear a watch.
Familiarity with the Central PA market a plus.
Note: When you apply for this job online, you will be required to answer the following questions:
1. Yes/No: I have previous promotions experience.
Apply for this position | Go back job listings
BUTCH HOBSON!
WOW.
I have been wondering what happened to that guy for a while now.
I’m a Sox fan, and all of us remember Butch.
Quite a character…
-Eric Palmieri
http://www.ericpalmieri.com
Just want to do a bit of spamming for a second…
I was contacted by Francis Rose the owner of APBAcards.com about a recent set of gaming cards. APBAcards.com makes cards for the baseball board game APBA. Recently released was a set of 2007 Atlantic League Cards, the first time any independent cards were released for the game. Francis sent me a set of the cards, and they are quite impressive. It includes every player from every team in the Atlantic League from 2007. (Yes, even the Road Warriors! :-D) So if you’re like me and you’re already counting down to Opening Day 2008, check APBAcards.com out to simulate some games…
APBA for the AL is Awwwwwwwwesome!!!
I actually considered contacting the company and seeing if they’d consider doing a special set. Glad to see someone didn’t procrastinate that like I did.
Is the AL set on their site or should we call?
Just in case anyone didn’t know, ABPA is considered the most statistally accurate baseball sim, has been around for a half a cenutry (I think) and it’s worldwide HQ is in Millersville.
Awesome
Awesome
Awesome
I was going to advertise this set once the manager search was over. It’s available at APBAcards.com. The set is very thorough. It even includes guys like Manny Vazquez-Santiago and Lance Odom.
Roll call to see who has APBA (or 66, as it’s currently called)?
I have just the 2007 set. But played as a kid with some neighbors. 1982-1988 cards are around here somewhere.
I have APBA (along with some other similar games). It’s a great way to pass those winter months.
Mike
I started to play APBA back in the 1960’s. I grew up in a neighborhood of friends who all played this fantastic board game. Some continued to play into adulthood and even played in leagues… I never got that fanatical about it.
I still have my game from “back in the day”, but I’m not sure which additional team cards I own. I know I have the 1924 Yankees and some others. I also kept my own stats for each game I played in the season I set up.
I haven’t tossed the dice in years and I can pretty much guess that my wrist is out of shape!