VETERAN MANAGER MARK MASON TO LEAD EMPIRE STATE IN 2023
The Empire State Greys announced Mark Mason as the club's new manager today, hiring the 4th most winningest manager in Atlantic League history.
Mark Mason was the head coach at Washington & Jefferson College through 2002. He was pitching coach and bullpen coach of the Washington Wild Things from 2002-2004. Mason was the Frontier League's Manager of the Year when he managed the Ohio Valley Redcoats in 2005. He later guided the Chillicothe Paints in 2007-2008 and the Wild Things in 2009.
"We are very excited to bring legendary indy ball manager Mark Mason to lead the Greys in 2023," said Empire State GM/Director of Baseball Operations Eddie Gonzalez. "Serving as the 16th team in the MLB Partner Frontier League is a great honor for us. After our first season being predominantly for proving young players an opportunity, this season we want to step it up and give more experienced free agents that same opportunity. Mark Mason has the leadership qualities that we need to be more productive on and off the field. It is a great honor to have Mark on board."
Mason most recently guided the Revs during their return to the field in 2021. The skipper steered the team through a season filled with roster turnover to a late-second half playoff push that saw them in contention all the way until the next-to-last day of the season. Some of the turnover came for good reason as York saw six players' contracts purchased by MLB organizations, tied for the most in franchise history (2007, 2011).
Mason recruited a club record eight mid-season All-Stars, three post-season All-Stars, and the Atlantic League Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons. It was all part of leading the franchise to its eighth postseason berth and fourth under his guidance. Mason also managed the Freedom Division to victory at the Atlantic League All-Star Game for the second consecutive season, this time in York at PeoplesBank Park.
Mason guided the Revolution to a 76-win season in 2016. Mason's squad became one of the most exciting in the league, setting a club record with 11 walk-off wins and nine extra-inning wins, while leading the league with 29 home runs in the month of September. The Revs' 34 comeback wins fell just short of matching a then-club record of 36, tied the season before. York finished the season ranking second in the league in batting average and homers, and tied for second in stolen bases in 2015.
His first stint in Washington began in 2002 as pitching coach, where he remained for three seasons. In 2005, he became manager of the Ohio Valley Red Coats and was named Frontier League Manager of the Year in his lone season as skipper of the team. In 2006, Mason returned to Washington as pitching coach, before taking the managerial reins of the Chillicothe Paints, also of the Frontier League. He managed the Paints for two seasons before joining the Wild Things for a third stint, this time as manager. Mason's pitching staffs led the Frontier League in wins in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006.
He will take over the managerial duties for the Greys for the 2023 season.
"I'm excited to work with Eddie and Jerry because of our relationship. I've known them for a very long time and we have done great work together", commented Mason. "This is a great opportunity for all of us and I'm excited for the opportunity to return to the Frontier League and build a competitive ball club."
Empire State opens spring training in late April at Tupper Lake Municipal Park in Tupper Lake, New York. They open the 2023 regular season at the Ottawa Titans on Friday, May 12.
