Gary Allenson
Encyclopedia
Gary Martin Allenson is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
and the current manager of the Norfolk Tides
, the AAA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
.
in the 9th round of the 1976 amateur draft
.
Allenson served as a backup catcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Red Sox (1979–1984) and Toronto Blue Jays
(1985). He batted and threw right-handed. In a seven-season career, Allenson posted a .221 batting average
with 19 home run
s and 131 RBI in 416 games played
.
managerial career in 1987 with the Oneonta Yankees
of the New York Yankees
farm system
. Compiling an 89–62 record in two years, he led the team to the New York – Penn League championship in 1988. He returned to the Red Sox organization in 1989, first managing at Lynchburg
for two seasons (128–146) and then New Britain
for one (47–93). He was promoted to Boston, serving as bullpen coach
in 1992
and 1993
and third-base coach in 1994
.
He returned to the minors in 1996, managing the Charleston RiverDogs
, then a Texas Rangers
affiliate, to a 63–78 record. He moved on to the Houston Astros
farm system the following year to pilot the Jackson Generals
to a 66–73 mark. He spent the next five campaigns in the Milwaukee Brewers
organization, the first two leading Louisville, known as the Redbirds in 1998 and the RiverBats
in 1999, to a combined 140–148. He was brought up to Milwaukee, where he was the first-base coach in 2000
and the third-base coach in 2001
and 2002
.
A 77–57 campaign in 2005 at the helm of the Carolina Mudcats
, then a Florida Marlins
affiliate, was sandwiched in between two stints in the Baltimore Orioles
organization. He piloted the Ottawa Lynx
to a 79–65 finish in 2003. After a 31–37 year as skipper of the Bluefield Orioles
in 2006, he returned to the International League
to manage the Norfolk Tides
to a combined 228–254 in a little over 3⅓ seasons. Allenson was promoted to Baltimore as its third-base coach on June 4, 2010, when Juan Samuel
was promoted to interim manager
upon the firing of Dave Trembley
. On November 23, 2010, it was announced that Allenson would return to manage The Tides in the 2011 season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and the current manager of the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
, the AAA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
Playing career
Nicknamed "Muggsy," Allenson played for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team in college. He was drafted by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in the 9th round of the 1976 amateur draft
1976 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
.
Allenson served as a backup catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Red Sox (1979–1984) and Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(1985). He batted and threw right-handed. In a seven-season career, Allenson posted a .221 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 19 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 131 RBI in 416 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Coaching/managing career
Allenson began his minor leagueMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
managerial career in 1987 with the Oneonta Yankees
Oneonta Tigers
The Oneonta Tigers were a minor league baseball team located in Oneonta, New York. They were members of the New York - Penn League. The Tigers were the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and played their home games at Damaschke Field...
of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
farm system
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
. Compiling an 89–62 record in two years, he led the team to the New York – Penn League championship in 1988. He returned to the Red Sox organization in 1989, first managing at Lynchburg
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
for two seasons (128–146) and then New Britain
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
for one (47–93). He was promoted to Boston, serving as bullpen coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in 1992
1992 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing seventh in the American League East with a record of 73 wins and 89 losses.-Opening Day Line Up:-Roster:-Notable transactions:...
and 1993
1993 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing fifth in the American League East with a record of 80 wins and 82 losses.-Offseason:...
and third-base coach in 1994
1994 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing 4th in the American League East with a record of 54 wins and 61 losses...
.
He returned to the minors in 1996, managing the Charleston RiverDogs
Charleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Charleston, South Carolina. They play in the class A South Atlantic League and are an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Their home stadium is at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park...
, then a Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
affiliate, to a 63–78 record. He moved on to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
farm system the following year to pilot the Jackson Generals
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
to a 66–73 mark. He spent the next five campaigns in the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organization, the first two leading Louisville, known as the Redbirds in 1998 and the RiverBats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
in 1999, to a combined 140–148. He was brought up to Milwaukee, where he was the first-base coach in 2000
2000 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers' 2000 season involved the Brewers' finishing 3rd in the National League Central with a record of 73 wins and 89 losses.-Offseason:* November 19, 1999: Jason Bere was signed as a free agent by the Brewers....
and the third-base coach in 2001
2001 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers' 2001 season involved the Brewers' finishing 4th in the National League Central with a record of 68 wins and 94 losses.-Offseason:*December 20, 2000: Brian Lesher was signed as a Free Agent with the Milwaukee Brewers....
and 2002
2002 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 2002 Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing 6th in the National League Central with a record of 56 wins and 106 losses.-Offseason:...
.
A 77–57 campaign in 2005 at the helm of the Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
, then a Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
affiliate, was sandwiched in between two stints in the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization. He piloted the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
to a 79–65 finish in 2003. After a 31–37 year as skipper of the Bluefield Orioles
Bluefield Orioles
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a...
in 2006, he returned to the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
to manage the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
to a combined 228–254 in a little over 3⅓ seasons. Allenson was promoted to Baltimore as its third-base coach on June 4, 2010, when Juan Samuel
Juan Samuel
Juan Milton Samuel is a retired second baseman who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies , New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , Kansas City Royals , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays...
was promoted to interim manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
upon the firing of Dave Trembley
Dave Trembley
David Michael Trembley is a former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Before managing the Orioles Trembley was a minor league manager for twenty seasons compiling a 1369–1413 record. He won two league titles and earned Manager of the Year awards in three leagues...
. On November 23, 2010, it was announced that Allenson would return to manage The Tides in the 2011 season.