One of the better hot stove meetings Wednesday night, featuring special guest Adam English, the new general manager of the Gwinnett Stripers. Host Johnny took Adam and several newcomers on a tour of the Tallant Baseball Museum. Adam sat across from me, and we got to chat before the meeting started.
Born in Corpus Christi Texas to two physical therapists, the family then moved to Lexington Kentucky a few years later. Adam played Little League and eventually high school baseball. The University of Kentucky asked him to walk on to their baseball team, but English wanted lots of playing time, so he took the scholarship to pitch and play second base at Translyvania College. As a junior he felt his elbow pop as he delivered a pitch. The trainer thought it was just a strain, but his dad came down from the stands and knew: Adam needed Tommy John surgery.
English graduated with a business degree, and landed an internship with his hometown Lexington Legends in 2005. He did it all that season: selling tickets, working in the parking lot before the game, even working as the mascot. Cody Clemens was on the Legends that season, and his father Roger chose Lexington to get tuned up for the Astros playoff run. Adam picked up Roger at the airport, and later picked up Clemen’s trainer – who later testified before Congress about steroids.
After the season Adam sent out resumes to every minor league team within an eight hour radius. He landed an interview with the Asheville Tourists, but there the staff donned gloves to pick up trash after games.
Instead he landed a job with the Augusta Greenjackets, where he enjoyed the Masters and learned from the experienced staff at Ripken Baseball, who owned the team. English was there when 18 year-old Madison Bumgarner racked up a 1.60 era, then in the playoffs walked a batter, picked him off, walked another batter, picked him off, then walked a third batter – and picked him off to end the inning.
After two and a half years in Augusta, English took a job with the Rays in Port Charlotte Florida. He was 25-26 years old, and Port Charlotte had the oldest demographic in the country. In 2009 he returned to the Legends as assistant GM. He became reacquainted with a girl he’d gone to elementary school with, and they got married.
Wanting to continue his move up the ladder, Adam took a job with the Sacramento River Cats, a family owned team in the Pacific Coast League. The Cats were named the best minor league franchise in the country, averaging almost 8500 per game. Sacramento was able to boost attendance by switching from an Oakland affiliate to the Giants.
Adam’s motivation and passion for baseball was evident in everything he said. When Barry Bonds was the Marlins hitting coach he tutored back to back NL MVPs Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelish. Bonds taught them to not focus on improving weaknesses, but instead concentrate on making strengths more excellent. From Joe Dimaggio, Adam borrowed the quote “You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen – you just don’t know what it will be.” English quoted Bull Durham as well.
He mentioned the Stripers name change, glad it happened and glad it wasn’t during his watch. Several agreed. Adam made it clear that the Stripers were “the PROUD triple A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.”
English loves the logo and unique colors (as do I). When I told him who much I liked the Aaron-era feather-inspired fish uniforms, Adam told me they were developing a matching cap for this season (perhaps with a white front).
The Stripers 2019 promotions schedule came out earlier in the day. He was happy there were four wearable giveaways (one cap and three t-shirts) that will no doubt increase the Stripers presence in the area. He wanted to add more promotions to increase weekday attendance, including Monday giveaways, Tuesday food discounts, bring your pet Wet-Nosed Wednesdays, Friday Fireworks, and – if Gwinnett relaxes their prohibitions – discounted beer on Thirsty Thursdays. For years local laws have prevented that popular promotion, unlike at most other minor league teams.
When Bobby Cox learned he’d made the International League Hall of Fame, he had the choice of where the induction ceremony would be. He’s played for the Syracuse Chiefs, but Adam insisted it be held at Gwinnett. On April 6 the Stripers give out green Bobby Cox hall of fame t-shirts.
On the three bobbleheads, all copies of those being given out across town at SunTrust Park, English said fans wouldn’t have to fight 285 traffic to be one of the first 15000 to get a bobble. That led to a discussion on how attending a game at SunTrust can be a much larger time commitment than most locals have to commit in Gwinnett.
The team is expanding their marketing focus. Tickets reps will specialize in different areas: school groups, businesses, churches, townships, etc. A million people live in a twenty mile radius of CoolRay Field. Each of the thirteen townships in Gwinnett (Snellville, Norcross, Buford, Suwanee, Duluth, Peachtree Corners, etc.) will be contacted and given the chance to have their own “night” at the ballpark.
Upgrades are underway at CoolRay Field. Niekro’s, the upscale eatery, is losing their glass front single door and large garage doors are being installed, opening up the space, making it more inviting.
Looking forward to seeing Adam out at the ballpark this year, and seeing if he can increase attendance in a tough market.
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