To advertise click here.
MLN Newswire-www.mlntherawfeed.com-PORTLAND , MAINE – The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce that one team and two executives from the league secured top honors as Minor League Baseball announced the winners of their major postseason awards for the 2006 season. The Altoona Curve have been announced as the winner of the 2006 John H. Johnson President’s Trophy, Reading Phillies Assistant General Manager Ashley Folini has been selected as the 2006 Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year and Eastern League President Joe McEacharn has been named the recipient of the 2006 Warren Giles Award. The recipients of each award will be honored at by Minor League Baseball at the 2006 Baseball Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida from December 4th through December 7th.
The John H. Johnson President’s Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding franchise in Minor League Baseball which best exemplifies the complete Minor League Baseball organization. The categories that are taken into consideration when selecting a winner for this award include contributions to the baseball industry, contributions to the community, long-term franchise stability, the financial success of the operation and overall promotion of the baseball industry. The Altoona franchise exceeds expectations in all of those categories and is a very deserving selection for this award.
Since their inception in 1999 the Curve has been one of the top organizations in all of Minor League Baseball. The team has drawn nearly 3,000,000 fans during their eight seasons at Blair County Ballpark, is continually recognized as one of the best promotional teams in all of Minor League Baseball and has built a strong presence within the Altoona community, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and making numerous player and mascot appearances for local charities.
“On behalf of our ownership group, our hard-working and dedicated front office staff, our passionate fans from throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania, and everyone who has had a role in shaping the success of the Altoona Curve, both at the ballpark and in the community, I would like to thank Minor League Baseball for choosing to award our franchise the prestigious John H. Johnson President’s Trophy,” said Altoona Curve President and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg.
In addition to winning the John H. Johnson President’s Trophy, the Curve was also chosen by Baseball America as the winner of the Bob Freitas Award at the Double-A level for the 2006 season. By winning the John H. Johnson President’s Trophy and the Bob Freitas Award, the Curve become just the 11th franchise in the history of Minor League Baseball to win the three major team awards in Minor League Baseball, the Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy, the Freitas Award and the Johnson Trophy. Altoona won these awards in a span of just three years after taking home the Larry MacPhail Trophy in 2004. Recent Eastern League franchises that were also selected as winners of the John H. Johnson Award include the Trenton Thunder (2005), the Reading Phillies (2003) and the Portland Sea Dogs (2000).
“The Altoona Curve organization being honored with the John H. Johnson President's trophy is a true testament to its status as a leading community asset in the western and central Pennsylvania marketplace,” said Eastern League President Joe McEacharn. “The level to which the Curve commits itself to excellence speaks volumes to its dedicated purpose and stature as an industry leader. Eastern League members have been fortunate to have been honored with this award three of the last four years and four of the last seven. This record reflects the commitment of all Eastern League members to make a difference in their community. Our congratulations and thanks goes to the entire Curve family and its partners for being recognized as the best at making their community a better place.”
The Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year Award is presented annually to one woman who made an outstanding contribution to her club, league or to baseball. Reading Phillies Assistant General Manager Ashley Forlini certainly meets that criteria, as her duties with the franchise include but are not limited to implementing and supervising the Reading internship program, coordinating the R-Phils between inning entertainment, which is continually recognized as one of the best in all of Minor League Baseball, and overseeing the Phillies group ticket sales department which established an all-time high sales mark during the 2006 season.
After serving as an intern with the Reading franchise in 2000, Ashley became a part of the Phillies full-time staff. Prior to being named the Assistant General Manager at the conclusion of the 2006 season, Forlini has served a number of roles with the R-Phils front office, including: Group Sales Assistant, Director of Fan Development, Director of Group Sales and Fan Development and Director of Group Sales and Game Presentation. Forlini graduated from the University of Delaware in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Fitness Management.
“Ashley’s contributions to the Phillies organization and the Reading community are numerous,” said Eastern League President Joe McEacharn. “She is a role model not only in the baseball industry, but equally importantly outside the baseball industry. Her excellence, commitment and impact to the Reading Phillies, to the local community, and to the baseball industry make her a most deserving winner of this award.”
The Warren Giles Award is presented annually to a league president in one of the leagues in Minor League Baseball for outstanding service. Since taking over as Eastern League President prior to the 2003 season, Joe McEacharn has made a commitment to keeping the lines of communication open and developing strong relationships with the members and partners of the league. Under the leadership of President McEacharn, the Eastern League has seen great stability, with numerous attendance records being set and only one franchise relocating during his tenure. Joe started working for the Eastern League in 1997 as a member of then President Bill Troubh’s staff and eventually served as the Vice President of the league for three seasons prior to becoming the 11th President in the history of the Eastern League on January 1, 2003.
Joining the Eastern League selections as Minor League Baseball’s award winners for the 2006 season is the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League who was selected as the winner of the Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy.