From the Desk of the GM - Feb. 23, 2009

Way to go George! For those that haven’t heard, George Sherrill (Goldeyes pitcher 2002-2003) avoided arbitration with the Orioles and received a one-year, $2.75 million contract for 2009. The Northern League could use George as the poster boy of how, if you work hard, not just during the season but in the off-season as well, good things can happen.

George wasn’t a #1 draft pick out of Austin Peay State in Tennessee that was using the Northern League as somewhere to stay in shape while he waited to re-enter the draft so he could get drafted by a team that could pay him more. He was a guy who loved baseball and loved to pitch. In fact, George wasn’t drafted at all and thus turned to independent baseball as a way to get noticed by those that overlooked him in college.

He started out in Evansville of the Frontier League for a couple seasons, then on to Sioux Falls for one season and then to Winnipeg to begin the 2002 season. He had a good year in ’02 with 61 strikeouts in 41 innings and a respectable 3.07 ERA, but he knew he could do better than that. He came back in 2003 and was virtually unhittable. He had lost about 25 pounds and gained about five miles an hour on his fastball. After only 16 appearances that season with the Goldeyes (16 innings, 30 strikeouts, four walks, eight hits), his contract was purchased by the Seattle Mariners, and the rest they say, is history.

Following a trade last off-season from Seattle to Baltimore, George was given the opportunity to be the Orioles closer. And close he did. George saved 31 games and was rewarded at the midway mark by being named to the American League All-Star Team. Not only did George get the opportunity to suit up and take in the festivities at Yankee Stadium, he played a pivotal role in the game. Entering the game in the top of the twelfth inning , he proceeded to pitch two-and-one-third innings, striking out two, walking none, allowing one hit and didn’t allow a run. There were some (namely John Kruk of ESPN) who said after the game that it should have been George that was awarded the MVP trophy, and not former St. Paul Saint J.D. Drew.

Good for you George, you’ve made us proud and given every player that wears a Northern League uniform hope that, with hard work and dedication, anything can happen.

One parting note… Congratulations and good luck from everyone in the Goldeyes organization to Milt Stegall as he runs off into the sunset. #85 had quite a career. What will always stick out in my mind about Milt was not just his play on the field, but even more so was the way he conducted himself off the field. He is a class act. I will always remember Milt throwing an opening pitch to Kevin Glenn at our game, two days after he set the all-time CFL touchdown record. Thanks to Milt and Kevin for doing that and to Brendan Taman for setting it up. Milt’s long catch-and run-plays will be missed. I look forward to seeing him on TSN broadcasts this summer.

Until next time…

-- Andrew