CAMDEN, New Jersey -- Lancaster Barnstormers manager Butch Hobson earned the 1,500th victory of his professional baseball career Thursday in Lancaster's 5-2 win over the Camden Riversharks.
“I feel really good right now,” said Hobson, following the game, according to the team. “I’ve been able to surround myself with quality people, and I’m just thankful to the guys who have helped me achieve this milestone.”
Beginning in 2000, Hobson piloted the Nashua Pride for six seasons in the Atlantic League and two years in the Can-Am League. He returned to the Atlantic League with Southern Maryland in 2008 and moved to his current position with Lancaster in 2011.
Seven of his ten Atlantic League teams, including last season’s Lancaster squad, have reached the playoffs. He has won one title and three Manager of the Year honors.
The former major league third baseman has accumulated 734 wins in the Atlantic League.
Lancaster is cuurently in first place in the Freedom Division with a 12-8 record.
Of Hobson’s 1,500 wins, 207 came as manager of the Boston Red Sox, whom Hobson managed from 1992 thru the strike-shortened season of 1994. The native of Tuscaloosa, AL began his managerial career with the Class A Columbia Mets in 1987 and moved over to the Red Sox organization in 1989.
He has also managed in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and went back to the Red Sox in 1999.
The manager currently in minor league baseball with the highest win total is Dave Miley of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The former Cincinnati Reds skipper had 1,889 victories altogether entering this season.
“We are very proud and happy for Butch,” said Jon Danos, CEO of Opening Day Partners, in a statement. “There are not many who have reached this milestone and it really only begins to tell the story of his commitment to baseball, the Barnstormers community, and his players. He is one of the best in the business.”
Earlier this month, Reds manager Dusty Baker become just the 20th manager in major league history to reach the 1,500 win plateau.
Information used in this story was provided by the Lancaster Barnstormers.
