Turner Ward Named to Southern League Hall of Fame

MOBILE, AL -- In conjunction with The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs, the Mobile BayBears announced that Turner Ward was named to the Southern League's 2015 Hall of Fame class earlier this offseason. The 2015 class consists of 12 members as elected by a panel of 30 voters.
 
Mobile native and the 2011 Southern League Manager of the Year, Turner Ward spent five years on the coaching staff of the BayBears, three as hitting coach and the final two as manager. Winning 143 games over his two-year tenure at the helm, Ward guided the BayBears to consecutive Southern League championships in both seasons.
 
After clinching a postseason berth with the second half title in 2011,
Ward carried that momentum into the 2012 season where he guided Mobile to the South Division's first half title. After the 2012 season, Ward received his well-earned promotion to Phoenix as the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ward's accomplishments in the game do not rest solely from the dugout, as the former outfielder also won consecutive World Series rings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993.

In '93, while in the Jays organization, Ward spent a week with the Southern League's Knoxville Smokies, where he batted .261 with six hits in seven games. The New York Yankees selected Ward with their 18th round pick of the 1986 draft, before he began a 12-year MLB career. In 2007, the city of Mobile inducted Turner Ward into its Sports Hall of Fame.
 
SOUTHERN LEAGUE COACHING CAREER
 
Year   G      W L      W-L%
2011   137   84-53   .613
2012   140   69-71   .493
 
The Southern League Hall of Fame was created last season. Similar to the inaugural class, an inductee from each club (or its clubs from prior franchise history) was selected for the second inductee class. All member clubs will honor inductees throughout the 2015 season.
 
2015 Southern League Hall of Fame Class
 
Biloxi: Scott Brosius (Huntsville Stars, 1989-90)
 
*Birmingham: Frank Thomas (Birmingham Barons, 1990) & Rollie Fingers (Birmingham A's, 1967-68)
 
Chattanooga: Trevor Hoffman (Chattanooga Lookouts, 1991-92)
 
Jackson: Razor Shines (Memphis Chicks, 1981-83; Birmingham (MGR), 2004-05; Chattanooga (MGR), 2014)
 
Jacksonville: Randy Johnson (Jacksonville Expos, 1987)
 
Mississippi: Chipper Jones (Greenville Braves, 1992)
 
Mobile: Turner Ward (Mobile BayBears, 2011-12)
 
Montgomery: Lou Whitaker (Montgomery Rebels, 1977)
 
Pensacola: Jason Kendall (Carolina Mudcats, 1995)
 
Tennessee: Carlos Delgado (Knoxville Smokies, 1993)
 
Special Consideration Ballot: Harmon Killebrew (Chattanooga Lookouts, 1957-58)
 
*Tie. Both elected according to SL HOF policies.
 
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2015 SOUTHERN LEAGUE HOF RELEASE

The BayBears season begins on the road April 9, with a five game series against the Birmingham Barons. Mobile will return to Hank Aaron Stadium for the BayBears home opener against the Biloxi Shuckers on April 15 at 6:35pm.
 
For more information on the BayBears, or for more information on purchasing tickets, call 251-479-BEAR (2327) or visit the official team website at www.MobileBayBears.com. You can also "Like" the Mobile BayBears on Facebook and follow the team on both Instagram and Twitter using the handle @Mobile_BayBears.