Gwinnett Braves GM Bruce Baldwin Stepping Down

Gwinnett Braves General Manager, Bruce Baldwin announced today that he will step down from his position once a replacement is named, but he will remain with the Braves as a special minor league consultant.

"I love this organization, but I love my family more and they're back in Richmond," said Baldwin. "I'm thrilled I will be back with my family full time and that I can remain working with the Braves. I'm deeply grateful and appreciative of everyone in Gwinnett, especially the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the county government and all the fans."

After 23 seasons as general manager of the Braves Class AAA franchise, he was most recently responsible for overseeing the team's transition from Richmond to Gwinnett. He tried for six years to get a new ballpark built in the city of Richmond, and when those plans collapsed he made the move with the team during last year's off season.

"Bruce has been such a valuable member of our organization," said Mike Plant, Braves Executive Vice President of Operations. "He's been a part of the Braves since 1982 and we're pleased he will continue to lend his vast experience to assist our organization."

Baldwin started with the Braves in 1982 in Pulaski, Virginia with the Appalachian League and spent a short time with the Braves AA minor league team in Savannah before moving with that team to Greenville, SC and helping them open their stadium in 1984.

He then moved on to Richmond where he was part of four Governors' Cup Championships. After 22 years with the team in Richmond, both he and the team moved to Gwinnett and into a brand new state-of-the-art stadium to start the 2009 season.

Baldwin, has been awarded many prestigious baseball awards, including Baseball America's Freitas Award (symbolic of best overall run franchise), Minor League Baseball's Larry MacPhail Promotional Award (recognizing him for many creative promotional contributions that have been adopted as standards in the industry), the Southern League Executive of the Year, the International League Executive of the Year, Sporting News Minor League Executive of the Year and the John H. Johnson President's Award (twice) as an industry leader.

Baldwin also serves on the Chamber Board, and the Gwinnett Clean and Safe Board.

The search for a new general manager will begin immediately.