spikes general information

8/9/2019 Spikes General Information

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State College Spikes DirectorySTATE COLLEGE SPIKES BASEBALL CLUB

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park

112 Medlar Field at Lubrano Park

Phone: (814) 272-1711 or (877) 99-SPIKES

Fax: (814) 272-1718

www.statecollegespikes.comMANAGED BY GREENBERG SPORTS GROUP

Chairman ........................................................................................... Chuck GreenbergExecutive Vice President ............................................................................. Rick JanacVice Pres ident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jef f Garner

SPIKES FRONT OFFICEGeneral Manager................................................................................. Jason DambachAssistant General Manager, Ticketing ......................................................................... Chris PhillipsDirector of Group Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Scott Walker

Director of Promotions & Community Relations ....................................... Jennifer CrispellDirector of Ballpark Operations ................................................................ Dan PetrazzoloAccounting Manager ............................................................................. Karen MahonConcessions Manager .................................................................................. Cody BeggAccounting Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rani PoaguePremium Seating Manager .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg HuffGroup Sales Manager .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon MusselmanProducer, In-Game Entertainment ....................................................... Zach PetersonMedia Relations Manager/Radio Broadcaster ..................................... Joe PutnamBox Office Manager ..........................................................................................Nick ColonnaDirector of Sports Turf Management .............................................................................. Matt Neri

Assistant Director of Sports Turf Management ................................................. Chuck RomanOff the Rack Outtters Store Manager ..................................................................... Julie HenryTicket Sales Associate .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Colonna

TEAM PERSONNELManager .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Gary RobinsonPitching Coach ................................................................................................ Mike SteeleHitting Coach ......................................................................................... Brandon MooreTrainer ................................................................................................................ Mike ZalnoStrength & Conditioning Coach ................................................... James Staffaroni

Head Ushers .......................................................................... John Olsen, Terree Michel,Public Address Announcer .............................................................................. Jeff BrownOfcial Scorers ............................................................. Dave Baker, John Dixon, Justin Fraker

TEAM INFORMATIONYear Established .......................................................................................................................................... 2006Major League Afliation ..................................................................................................Pittsburgh Pirates

Team Colors...................................................PSU Navy, Cardinal, Old Gold, Moonlight Yellow

OWNERSHIP, SPIKES BASEBALL LPJerome Bettis Barry J. Gordon Jim & Margot MurrayThe Robert Brooks Family Chuck Greenberg Todd ParnellDonald Devorris Marc H. Klee Steve & Nancy SheetzGaru Investments, Ltd. Mr. & Mrs. Steven M. Massaro

Frank Garu Michigan Baseball Ventures, LLC

Richard & JoAnn Shore


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Executive Biographies

CHUCK GREENBERGChairman & Managing Partner

Chuck Greenbergs extraordinary vision, hard work and collaboration with Penn

State University led to the birth of State College and Centre Countys rst-everprofessional sports franchise, the State College Spikes, and the building of beautifulMedlar Field at Lubrano Park.

In addition to his role as Spikes Chairman & Managing Partner, on January 23, 2010, Chuck and hisgroup of investors (Rangers Baseball Express, LLC), which includes Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher NolanRyan, nalized an agreement to purchase Major League Baseballs Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks andHicks Sports Group. Following MLB approval, Chuck will become the Rangers Managing Partner andChief Executive Ofcer.

Greenberg also holds the title of Chairman & Managing Partner for the Myrtle Beach (SC) Pelicans, theAdvanced-A Carolina League afliate of the Atlanta Braves. In November 2008, Chuck announced theformation of Greenberg Sports Group (GSG), which provides management, consulting and marketingservices to the sports industry across the country. GSG also manages the overall operations of both theSpikes and Pelicans.

Highly respected in the baseball industry, Chuck has the distinguished honor of serving as a memberof the Minor League Baseball Board of Trustees, a position he was elected to in December 2007. Heis also on the Board of Directors of the recently-formed Baseball Internet Rights Company (BIRCO),which holds the digital rights of its member Minor League Baseball clubs and leagues. Chuck alsoserves as the Chair of Minor League Baseballs newly formed Diversity Committee, where he wastapped for a leadership position by Minor League Baseball President Pat OConner in part for his suc-cess in attracting substantial minority investment to his ownership groups.

Chuck is very instrumental in growing the very strong relationship between the Spikes and their majorleague afliate, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and in working with Penn State University on the nancing,construction and Operating Agreement for Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, which is now the home toboth the Spikes and Penn States NCAA baseball program. The unique relationship between the Spikesand the University has become a model in the industry among baseball facilities shared by a majoruniversity and a professional sports franchise.

Chucks professional baseball tenure began in October 2001, when he led an ownership group whichpurchased the Double-A Eastern Leagues Altoona Curve. During his time as the Curves President& Managing Partner (2002-08), the club set numerous single-game and season attendance records,continually re-invested private money into capital improvement projects at Blair County Ballpark, andhelped the franchise gain national stature as one of the most creative and innovative teams in profes-sional sports. The Curve won the prestigious Larry MacPhail Promotional Award in 2004, the 2006Baseball America Freitas Award as the top Double-A franchise and added the highest honor bestowedannually upon a Minor League Baseball club, the John H. Johnson Presidents Trophy, in 2006. Altoonabecame only the 11th franchise to receive all three major awards, and was the rst team to accomplishthe feat in less than three years.

The 48-year old Pittsburgh native is a practicing corporate and sports attorney and a Partner in the

Pennsylvania-based law rm Pepper Hamilton, LLP, where hes worked since 1998. He also heads therms sports practice and is a former member of its Executive Committee.

Among his work in the sports industry, Chuck was instrumental in helping put together the deal thatlanded National Hockey League Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux ownership of the bankrupt PittsburghPenguins in 1999 and saved the franchise for Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. In 2007, he repre-sented Lemieux and the Penguins in successful negotations with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County which resulted in a deal to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art arena in downtown Pittsburgh and secure the future of the Penguins in Pittsburgh for at leastanother 30 years. Additionally, in 2001, Chuck represented the purchasers of the Florida Panthers intheir acquisition of the NHL franchise.

He also lent his expertise in the acquisition and sale of Minor League Baseball franchises to the sameinvestor group that purchased the Class-A Midwest Leagues Fort Wayne (IN) Wizards and the Class-A

Advanced Carolina Leagues Salem (VA) Avalanche in 2006. When the group subsequently sold theSalem franchise, Chuck successfully negotiated with Fenway Sports Group, a wholly owned subsidiaryof New England Sports Ventures, owners of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park. Throughout thecourse of his career, Chuck has advised on the purchase of more than two dozen franchises in baseball,football, basketball, hockey, soccer and lacrosse.

Greenberg graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in 1978 and four years later received his B.A.from Tufts University in Massachusetts. In 1985, he graduated from the University of Michigan LawSchool. Chuck and his wife Jennifer have been married for 25 years and have three boys; Jeff (24),Jack (22) and Benny (20). Jeff graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2008 and iscurrently attending Columbia University Law School. Jack attends Penn State and is a member of theNittany Lions baseball team. Benny attends Ohio University, where he is studying sports management.


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Jason Dambach enters his second season as State College Spikes GeneralManager in 2010. He was ofcially named to his post on January 12, 2009,becoming just the second GM in club history.

In his rst season at the helm of the Spikes in 2009, the club set numerous single-game totaland walk-up attendances and hosted the successful 2009 New York-Penn League All-StarGame at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

In his role as General Manager, JD is responsible for the Spikes day-to-day business andbaseball operations and oversees the clubs front ofce staff. He also works closely with

Greenberg Sports Group (GSG), the ownership group which manages the Spikes and MyrtleBeach (SC) Pelicans, and with Penn State University on matters related to operating agree-ment between the club and university for Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Dambach is a member of the New York-Penn Leagues Scheduling Committee and alsoserves on the BIRCO Content Committee, which is charged with representing the on-linecontent interests of all Minor League Baseball clubs who are members of the Major LeagueBaseball Advanced Media (BAM) Network. In December 2009, he was named as the Execu-tive Director of the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation.

JD spent 10 seasons working in broadcasting and public relations with the Double-AEastern Leagues Altoona Curve from 1999 through the 2008 campaign. Prior to joining theSpikes, the 33-year old most recently served as Altoonas radio play-by-play broadcasterand Director of Communications. In addition to his primary role with the Curve, Dambach

has also worked closely with the Spikes since the inception of the franchise, overseeing theteams broadcasting, media relations, publications and on-line efforts.

A native of Punxsutawney, PA, Dambach is a 1999 graduate of Clarion University of Pennsyl-vania, where he earned a degree in Communication.

Jason is very committed to the ght against cancer in memory of his late ance, KerriMcEachern, who lost her courageous battle with the disease in May 2009.

Despite calling Happy Valley his home, JD is a diehard University of Pittsburgh football andbasketball fan, while also being a lifelong fan of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. He cur-rently resides in Zion.

Executive Biographies

JASON DAMBACHGeneral Manager

RICK JANACExecutive Vice President

Janac, the Spikes General Manager for the rst three years of franchisehistory, was named the clubs Executive Vice President on January 6,2009. In his new role, Janac continues to be involved in all major clubdecisions and will also remain the clubs primary liason with Penn StateUniversity. He will take on an additional role in the franchises strategic planning, while alsocontinuing to lead the Spikes business development and corporate sales efforts. Rick is alsothe Executive VP of Greenberg Sports Group, which provides management, consulting andmarketing services to the sports industry across the country.

The 38-year old Janac has overseen a Spikes franchise which has increased single-game andseason attendance totals in each of its rst three seasons and successfully landed the 2009New York-Penn League All-Star Game, which the club hosted in August 2009.

Rick has been involved in professional baseball since 1997, when he started as a ticket ac-

count executive with the Triple-A Phoenix Firebirds. From 1998-2001, he worked for theClass-A High Desert Mavericks of the California League, spending his nal two seasons thereas Vice President and General Manager. Janac moved to Central Pennsylvania in 2002 toaccept the position of Assistant General Manager with the Altoona Curve, a role he held untilhe was named the Spikes rst general manager in May 2005.

Rick and his wife Cathy reside in State College with their two young children, daughter Cate-lyn and son Luke.


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Ike the SpikeIke the Spike

Height: 6 feet 2 inches

Weight: A Buck Fifty

Throws: T-Shirts Bats: Scared of em

Home: Medlar Field at Lubrano Park

First Appearance: May 6, 2006 - State College LittleLeague

Favorite Food: Anything He Can Get His Hoofs On

Hobbies: Dancing, Making People Laugh for a Few Bucks

Favorite Singer: Penn State Blue Band

Favorite Major Leaguer: Rob Deer, Buck ONeil

Favorite Broadcasters: Jack Buck, Steve Jones

Favorite Teams: State College Spikes, Pittsburgh Pirates

Friends: The Nittany Lion, the Nookie Monster and Bob

On May 6, 2006 Ike the Spike jumped out of the State College Little LeaguePress Box, rapelled down the backstop, came charging through a welcome

sign, did a series of cartwheels and ended in a split to announce that the

State College Spikes now had their ofcial mascot.

Since his introduction, Ike has been the ambassador for the Spikes all over

Central and Western Pennsylvania. From birthday parties, to charity func-

tions, to school programs, Ike has seen alot in his rst four years.

The mascot was designed by Alinco Costumes, based out of Murray, Utah.

Over the past 35 years, the company has designed some of the most

popular mascots in the sports industry, including the San Diego Chicken,

the Phoenix Gorilla and Chicagos Benny the Bull, as well as dozens of other

popular characters on both the professional and college levels.


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The Nookie Monster and Bob

The Nittany Bank Nookie Monsteris Ikes mascot pal at Medlar Fieldat Lubrano Park. Every time the

Spikes score a run, the NookieMonster comes out of his home inthe Nittany Bank Nook to celebrateby dancing for the folks at the park.Nook also comes out of his hometo visit all the great Spikes fans onthe concourse before each game,and with his friends Ike and Bob,makes appearances in the commu-

nity throughout the year.

To bring the Nittany Bank NookieMonster to your next event, call theSpikes Promotions and Commu-nity Relations Department at (814)272-1711.

At SpikesFest on February 15, 2009, it was announced that the Spikeshad completed the acquisition of Bob the Baseball Dog. The lovableYellow Labrador Retriever had entertained fans at Blair County Ballparkin Altoona in 2008, and will continue to make new friends at MedlarField at Lubrano Park in his second year with the club. Bob is also ex-cited that hell be able to see his best canine buddies at Bark in the ParkNight, presented by Metzger Animal Hospital, on Monday, July 12.

Bob the Baseball Dog

Position: Live Spikes Mascot - Yellow LabHeight: Dont know yet - Im still growing intomy feet!Weight: 75 poundsFirst Appearance: Altoona Curve Hot StoveDinner on January 25, 2008Birthplace: Barnes Puppy Love Kennel in Roar-ing SpringsHobbies: Eating vanilla wafers, barking, playing,pilfering garbage cans and running with kidsaround the basesFavorite TV Show: The Dog WhispererFavorite Movie: What About Bob?Friends: Ike, the Nookie Monster, the Spikes

staff, and anyone who pets me!

The Nittany Bank Nookie Monster


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Spikes on the World Wide Web

StateCollegeSpikes.com

Check out the newly redesigned StateCollegeSpikes.com, the online home ofthe State College Spikes. StateCollegeSpikes.com has all the latest Spikes news,along with up-to-the-minute standings, statistics, scores and more. Fans can gettheir tickets and nd out more about the Spikes Daily Fan Value Promotionswith an interactive calendar.

Plus, Spikes merchandise is available around the world via the Spikes new on-line store. The store carries a wide variety of Spikes apparel and souvenirs for allbaseball fans to enjoy. To access the new store directly, log on to http://spikes.milbstore.com.

The site was redesigned in May in partnership with Major League Baseball Ad-vanced Media (MLBAM). MLBAM coordinates the statistics for Major League andMinor League Baseball and hosts all 30 Major League Baseball team websites.

Follow the Spikes on Facebook, Twitter & Text

State College Spikes fans now have two more ways to follow the team onlinewith the Spikes new pages on the popular social networking sites Facebookand Twitter.

The Spikes Facebook page allows fans to follow the team on the World WideWeb. Become a fan of the Spikes at www.Facebook.com/statecollegespikes toget updates on all the latest Spikes news and events! Fans can also sign up for

the Spikes Twitter feed by following the handle SCSpikes.

Plus, stay in touch with the Spikes 24/7 by joining the Spikes VIP Text Club!Sign up to receive the latest Spikes updates and inside scoops straight to yourmobile phone. Looking to check when the team plays at home again, pore overthe stats of your favorite player, or gauge the weather status of the game? TheSpikes VIP Text Club brings it all into the palm of your hand!


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Penn State PartnershipPenn State and the State College Spikes collaborated for a unique, but mutuallybenecial working relationship with the building of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.Believed to be one of the rst of its kind in the country, this unique partnership notonly benets Penn State Athletics and the State College Spikes, but also the univer-sity as a whole, the State College community and all of Centre County.

Penn States baseball team began playing in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for the

2007 season, with their inaugural game being played on March 23rd against CentralConnecticut State with PSU winning by the score of 8-1. The rst game was sched-uled to be against Pittsburgh on March 21st, however it was snowed out.

Organized baseball began at Penn State in 1893, but the rst team was elded in1875 with future Hall of Famer and Bellefonte native John Montgomery Ward as thedriving force behind the formation of the team. Ward, enrolled in PSU at the age of13 and was eventually expelled from the school for stealing chickens. Ward went onto have a Hall of Fame career primarily with the NY Giants.

Ward hit .371 twice during his career, and also posted two 40-plus win seasons. Healso tossed the second perfect game in professional baseball history, and was theoriginal manager of the New York Giants. He also pitched the longest complete-game shut out in history; an 18-inning marathon in 1882. But probably the biggestimpact that Ward had on the game is throwing one of the rst curveballs. In thespring on 1875, Ward tossed a baseball around three stakes that he had driven intoOld Mains lawn, putting himself at the forefront of one of baseballs most crucial in-novations. Ward struggled to perfect this pitch, losing a game 40-0 during the earlystages at Penn State, but he went on to win 158 games in the major leagues. Ward isalso thought to be the rst pitcher to ever intentionally walk a player and also devel-oped the defense for a double steal that is used from Little League to the pros.

Since 1990, Penn State has had 32 players selected in the MLB Draft, includingformer Florida Marlins hurler Nate Bump, and a star who made his career in anothersport. O.J McDufe was drafted by the Angels in 1991, but made a name for himselfon the gridiron as a member of the Miami Dolphins.

Men For All SeasonsTwo players have taken the eld for both Penn State and the Spikes at Medlar Field

at Lubrano Park. Matt Cavagnaro was the rst, playing in 2007 for the Spikes afterbeing drafted in the21st round by the Pittsburgh Pirates that year. Cavagnaro hit.262 with four homers in 68 games for the Spikes. Pitcher Gary Amato also enteredthe Pittsburgh organization in 2007, and took the mound for the Spikes during the2007 and 2008 seasons.

Former PSU catcher Joe Blackburn also played at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park inthe pros, but occupied the visitors dugout when doing so. Blackburn played withthe Williamsport Crosscutters, the Philadelphia Phillies afliate, and went 1-for-4with an RBI triple on August 17, 2008 against the Spikes.

H.O.F & Former Penn StaterJohn Montgomery Ward

Penn State Alum & 2007 SpikeMatt Cavagnaro


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Daily Fan Value PromotionsThe State College Spikes have always been committed to providing fans withthe best family value in Central Pennsylvania, and in 2010 the Spikes are goingthe extra mile once again to give fans even more value with Daily Fan ValuePromotions. Every day of the week, Spikes fans will have the opportunity to in-crease the value they enjoy at the ballpark. Heres the list of the returning DailyFan Value Promotions for each home game in the 2010 season:

MondayDollar Dog Mondays presented by 3WZFans can enjoy $1 Hot Dogs all game long, presented bythe radio home of the Spikes, 95.3 FM 3WZ!

TuesdayBuck Bleacher and Going Green TuesdaysPay only $1 for an Outeld Bleacher ticket for each Tues-day regular season home game! Also, each Tuesday willfeature a different giveaway made of recyclable materi-

als on Going Green Tuesday!

WednesdayHalf-Price WednesdaysGet into the ballpark with a half-price Outeld Bleacherticket, then satisfy your palate with half-price 16 oz. beer,small sodas, hamburgers and other select menu itemsfrom one hour prior to the game to one hour into thegame!

ThursdayKids Eat Free ThursdaysAll kids 12 & under will receive a voucher for a free hotdog, chips and soda, presented by FOX 8 and ABC 23!

FridayFour for $44 FridaysFans can purchase four Diamond Club seats, 4 smallsodas and 4 hot dogs for only $44 (a $63 value)! Anyadditional packages can be purchased for just $11 apiece!

SaturdayScratch n Win SaturdaysEvery fan entering the ballpark will receive a scratch-offcard with great deals and prizes--every card is a winner!

SundaySummer Blast-Off SundaysFans will be wowed by the post-game reworks show

after every Spikes home game! Also, fans are invited toparticipate in a pre-game catch each Sunday!

Friday, Saturday and SundayKids Run the BasesEvery Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, kids will get the op-portunity to run the bases following the game!

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