Pat O'Conner

Last updated
Pat O’Conner
Born
James Patrick O'Conner [1]

1958 (age 66–67)
Grove City, Ohio
Alma mater Ohio University
Wittenberg University
Known for Minor League Baseball president (2008–2020)
Awards
  • South Atlantic League Hall of Fame (2000)
  • Ohio University Distinguished Alumni Award (1997)
  • Friends of Baseball Chapel Award (2005)
  • Florida State League Hall of Fame (2014)

James Patrick O'Conner (born 1958) is a professional baseball executive who served as president of Minor League Baseball for the 2008 through 2020 baseball seasons.

Contents

Early life

Born in Grove City, Ohio, O'Conner attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, where he earned a degree in economics and finance, and later graduated with a masters in sports administration from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. [2]

Professional career

O'Conner started his baseball career working as administrative assistant for the Vero Beach Dodgers of the Florida State League in 1981. After that, he spent 1982 as general manager for the Greenwood Pirates of the South Atlantic League, and followed with two seasons as assistant general manager for the Beaumont Golden Gators of the Texas League. In 1986, he headed the Florida Operations for the Houston Astros, as well as serving as general manager of the Osceola Astros of the Florida State League from 1986 to 1993. [2] He was named Florida State League Executive of the Year in his last season. [3]

Minor League Baseball

O'Conner joined the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) staff as chief operating officer under president Mike Moore in 1993. [4] He then was promoted to the vice president and administration office in 1995, and was elected the 11th president of the organization during the Winter Meeting held in December 2007. He later was re-elected for a second term in 2011. [4]

Highlights of his tenure include the extension of the Professional Baseball Agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) through the 2020 season, as well as a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Association of Minor League Umpires through 2016. This agreement signed by O'Conner contributed to end a 67-day Minor League umpires' strike, which lasted from April 6 to June 12, 2006. [2] Additionally, O'Conner promoted the realignment of two Class A leagues, the organization-wide bundling of internet rights for the first time, an industry-wide health care program, and a "green team" initiative to make MiLB clubs and stadiums more eco-friendly and cost effective. [2]

In advance of the expiration of the Professional Baseball Agreement at the end of the 2020 season (which would lead to the restructuring of MiLB by MLB) O'Connor announced his retirement in September 2020, effective at the end of the baseball season. [5] [6]

Awards and recognition

During his career, O'Conner has received numerous recognitions for his dedication to baseball. In 1997, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Ohio University Sports Administration Program, as he continued to be involved with the program since his graduation. [3] In 2004, O'Conner made the announcement of his gift to create the J. Patrick O'Conner Sports Administration Scholarship. O'Conner said that the Sport Administration and Facility Management program had provided outstanding opportunity for him and he would not want a lack of resources to stand between an excellent student and similar opportunity in the future. [3] He later received the College of Health and Human Services Award of Distinction from Ohio University in 2005. [2] O'Conner was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame in 2000, was honored with the Friends of Baseball Chapel Award in 2005, and gained induction into the Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2014. [2]

Sources

  1. ↑ Jiao, Isabella (August 20, 2019). "How Minor League Baseball Sets Fan Engagement Records with Pat O'Conner". Gameday Playbook presented by FanFood.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Minor League Baseball Presidents".MiLB.com. Retrieved on December 5, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Outlook".Ohio University News. Retrieved on December 7, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Minor League Baseball History".MiLB.com. Retrieved on December 6, 2015.
  5. ↑ Karraker, Patrick (September 9, 2020). "MLB trade rumors and news: Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner retires". mlbdailydish.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  6. ↑ Levy, Art (January 27, 2021). "Former president of Minor League Baseball Pat O'Conner". floridatrend.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida State League</span> Baseball league in Florida, US

The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The league temporarily operated for the 2021 season as the Low-A Southeast before reassuming its original moniker in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pioneer League (baseball)</span> Baseball league in the Western United States

The Pioneer Baseball League is a professional baseball league based in the Western United States. It operates as one of four Major League Baseball (MLB) Partner Leagues in the American independent baseball league system without MLB team affiliations. The league is contested by twelve teams from the Northern California and Rocky Mountains regions, who play a regular season split into two halves. The top two teams at the end of each half qualify for a postseason tournament that determines the overall champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Complex League</span> American minor baseball league

The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the lowest rung on the North American minor-league ladder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umpire (baseball)</span> Person charged with officiating a baseball game

In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump. They are also sometimes nicknamed blue due to the traditional color of the uniform worn by umpires. Although games were often officiated by a sole umpire in the formative years of the sport, since the turn of the 20th century, officiating has been commonly divided among several umpires, who form the umpiring crew. The position is analogous to that of a referee in many other sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresno Grizzlies</span> Minor league baseball team

The Fresno Grizzlies are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They are located in Fresno, California, and play their home games at Chukchansi Park, which was opened in 2002 in downtown Fresno. They previously played at Fresno State's Pete Beiden Field from 1998 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimy Williams</span> American baseball player and manager (1943–2024)

James Francis Williams was an American professional baseball infielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966 and 1967 and managed the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Complex League Nationals</span> Minor league baseball team

The Florida Complex League Nationals are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Washington Nationals, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to the 2021 season, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Nationals. The team plays its home games in West Palm Beach, Florida, at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The team previously played at Space Coast Stadium from their inaugural 2005 season through the end of the 2016 season. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Murphy (baseball manager)</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1958)

Patrick Thomas Murphy is an American baseball coach and manager who is the manager for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously served as the interim manager of the San Diego Padres and head coach for college baseball teams including Arizona State University and the University of Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick T. Powers</span> American baseball executive and manager

Patrick T. Powers was an American baseball executive who served as president of the Eastern League and founding president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL). Already president of the Eastern League, he was elected by several minor league presidents on September 5, 1901, at the Leland Hotel in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Collins</span> American baseball manager

Terry Lee Collins is an American former professional baseball manager. He managed the Houston Astros, the Anaheim Angels and New York Mets in Major League Baseball and the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball. He currently serves as a baseball analyst for Mets programming on SNY.

The most recent umpire strike in Minor League Baseball history was the strike of 2006. It involved primarily a monetary dispute between the Association of Minor League Umpires (AMLU), a trade union, and the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC), a management company. The dispute resulted in the hiring of replacement umpires for a number of games, followed by minor concessions by both parties, resulting in a slight wage increase for umpires employed in Minor League Baseball.

This a partial list of Minor League Baseball players in the Houston Astros system and the rosters of their minor league affiliates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Land Space Cowboys</span> Minor league baseball team

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club. They are located in Sugar Land, Texas, part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, and play their home games at Constellation Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pensacola Blue Wahoos</span> Minor league baseball team

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are based in Pensacola, Florida, and play their home games at Admiral Fetterman Field. In 2012, the team relocated to Pensacola from Zebulon, North Carolina, where they were known as the Carolina Mudcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Appel</span> American baseball player (born 1991)

Mark Stewart Appel is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Houston Astros with the first overall pick of the 2013 MLB draft. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Storey</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

Mickey Charles Storey is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current manager of the Houston Astros' Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. He has pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historic Dodgertown</span> Sports facility in Florida, United States

Historic Dodgertown is a multi-sport facility in Vero Beach, Florida where athletes of all ages and skill levels have the opportunity to train, play, and stay together. The facility which includes the historic Holman Stadium was originally created as a Navy housing base, and was transformed into the home of spring training for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, as well as the Vero Beach Dodgers from 1980 to 2006, and the Vero Beach Devil Rays from 2007 to 2008. It has since evolved into a multi-sport destination that includes an option of room and board via their on-site villas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minor League Baseball</span> Hierarchy of professional baseball leagues affiliated with Major League Baseball

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), including teams affiliated with MLB clubs.

Charles Forrest Whitley is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Deetz</span> American baseball player (born 1993)

Dean Arthur Deetz is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 11th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. Deetz made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2018.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.