Basso tabbed 51s new skipper
He is the 19th manager in the history of the Las Vegas franchise (1983 - 2008, 26 seasons).
The 51s coaching staff was also announced as Ken Joyce will serve as hitting instructor and Dave LaRoche will serve as pitching coach. Last season, Joyce and LaRoche both served in the same capacity with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Blue Jays. Jon Woodworth was named Athletic Trainer of the 51s.
Basso played in parts of four seasons for the Las Vegas Stars (1988, 1990, '92-93), then Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. He joined the Toronto organization in 2003 as manager in Single-A Dunedin. In 2006, he was the Triple-A manager at Syracuse of the International League. He served the last two seasons (2007-08) as Coordinator of Instruction for the clubs minor league system.
"I look forward in returning to Las Vegas," Basso said. "The franchise has been there for a long time. I both played and coached there (1995, hitting coach for the first half of season) and now I will have the opportunity to manage there. Las Vegas is a great place to play and the Blue Jays and the 51s will have a great relationship.
"Las Vegas has a great staff in place with Don Logan and I'm looking forward to working with everyone and to also see again some of the longtime season ticket holders."
Basso, 44, has compiled a 10-year managerial record of 692-644 (.518) and a post-season record of 18-14 (.563). He began his managerial career in 1995 with Idaho Falls. In 2004, New Hampshire captured the league championship and compiled a regular season record of 85-57 (.596). He was named the 2003 recipient of the Blue Jays' Bobby Mattick Player Development Award, recognizing the top manager or coach within the Club's minor league player development system.
"We are excited to have Mike as our manager," 51s President and General Manager Don Logan said. "This is a great first step to build a strong bond between the Blue Jays and 51s. He has a solid baseball reputation and has done a fine job as a member of the Toronto organization. He was a member of the Las Vegas Stars for four seasons and was a great asset to the organization and participated in numerous community and charitable appearances.
Mike and his wife, Kathy, are great people and it will be tremendous to have them back in Las Vegas with their three children (Tyler, Brady and Ryan)."
He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 18th round of the 1986 draft. He spent nine years in the Padres organization as a player, another six seasons as a manager and coach in the team's minor league system and two years as an advance scout for the Major League Club.
He played a total of nine seasons in the minor leagues and progressed as far as Triple-A Las Vegas as a catcher in the Padres organization (1986-94). His career was slowed by a series of back and knee injuries and, in 1993, he batted .253 with the Stars. He spent the 1994 season as a player-coach with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga of the California League. He appeared in 537 career minor league games and batted a career-best .298 with Spokane in 1986.
Basso is a 1982 graduate of Pearland (Texas) High School and a 2002 inductee to the school's Hall of Fame and attended the University of Houston.