Gersbacher Named President

SYRACUSE (NY) - The Syracuse SkyChiefs are pleased to announce that Ron Gersbacher has been named President of the Community Owned Baseball Club of Central New York, taking over for Don Waful who had served in the role since November of 1969.

Gersbacher becomes the sixth president of the Community Owned Baseball Club of Central New York. Frank Barry was the first ever president in 1961 and was succeeded by Don Potter (1961-62), Al Deisseroth (1962-64), Kenneth Leach (1964-69) and Don Waful (1969-2006).

Gersbacher has served as the Team Historian since 1985, was elected to the Board of Directors in 1997 and in 2005 was appointed to the SkyChiefs Executive Committee. In 2005 he was selected to serve on the International League's 125th Anniversary Committee.

In 1994 he was awarded the "Great Guy Award" given annually by the team to an individual who devotes a good deal of their time to further enhance professional baseball in Central New York.

Gersbacher was influential in the establishment of the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame in 1998 and has served as the Chairman of the selection committee since its inception. Under his direction the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame has honored former Syracuse baseball greats such as Hank Sauer, Mack Jones, Willie Horton, Thurman Munson and Tony Fernandez; local products Dave Giusti and Dave Lemanczyk and contributors to the game such as Anthony Henninger and Tom Higgins.

In 2001 to honor the 70th anniversary of Women's Softball in Central New York he formed the Lady SkyChiefs softball team. The team is made up of girls under the age of 18 who not only excel on the field but who also contribute to the community. The Lady SkyChiefs have helped assist in the SkyChiefs annual visit to Upstate Medical University and the Challenger Little League's annual game at Alliance Bank Stadium.

Gersbacher has been employed by the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. (3M) for 22 years. He was named as "Northeast Regional Salesmen of the Year" in 1997 and 1999 and in 2000 was promoted by 3M to Account Executive. Before joining 3M, he spent 19 years as Parts and Operations Manager with Morris Electronics in Syracuse.

He is a Central Technical High School graduate and attended Onondaga Community College. Mr. Gersbacher resides in Liverpool with his wife Nancy, and has three children, Jason, Jeffrey and Jenna.