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PCL's Rickey wins second Giles Award

Prize recognizes outstanding service as a Minor League president
November 6, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Minor League Baseball announced today that it has selected Pacific Coast League President Branch B. Rickey as the recipient of the 31st annual Warren Giles Award, which honors outstanding service as a league president. The Warren Giles Award has been presented annually since 1984 and is named for the long-time baseball executive who served as National League president from 1951 to 1969. This is the second time Rickey has earned the prestigious honor, the first being in 1998, his first year as PCL president. Rickey will receive his award at the Baseball Winter Meetings Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California.

"To be recognized as this year's recipient of the Giles Award is an honor that resonates warmly for me and for a number of reasons," said Rickey. "Not the least of these is because it reflects the success of the PCL and the overall achievements of our clubs. In turn, it is a tribute to our respective ownerships, operators and dedicated team staffs. I get the wonderful privilege of being the target of the recognition for what has been collectively accomplished."

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Rickey's involvement in baseball began in high school working for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Upon graduation, he was named business manager of the Kingsport Pirates, a Minor League Baseball team in the Appalachian (Rookie) League in Kingsport, Tennessee. He entered Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall of 1963, where he pursued a degree in philosophy but continued running the Pirates' Rookie league team during his summers.

Rickey has served as a league president in Triple-A baseball leagues for more than 20 years, with the American Association (1991 to 1997) and the Pacific Coast League (1998 to present). This follows several decades of involvement at the Major League level with the Pittsburgh Pirates, followed by a year with the Cincinnati Reds, serving each of these clubs as Director of Player Development. He started with Pittsburgh as a scout and became Assistant Scouting Director and Assistant Director of Player Development prior to taking over the lead role in development.

Under Rickey's guidance, the PCL remained at the forefront in player development, with 114 players making their Major League Baseball debuts during the 2014 season, the highest total for the league in the past four years. During his tenure, the PCL has built 10 new ballparks, with another opening in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2015. Next season, the PCL will host Triple-A Baseball's two most prestigious events, the Triple-A All-Star Game in Omaha, Nebraska (July 15), and the Triple-A National Championship Game in El Paso, Texas (Sept. 22).

"Branch's contributions to professional baseball have spanned several decades, and under his leadership, the Pacific Coast League has thrived, becoming one of Minor League Baseball's most successful and prosperous leagues," said Pat O'Conner, Minor League Baseball President & CEO. "As a league president, he exemplifies the characteristics we look for when selecting the Warren Giles Award winner, and it is my pleasure to award Branch this honor on behalf of Minor League Baseball."

About Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2014, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.4 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information about Minor League Baseball, visit www.MiLB.com.