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Winston-Salem's baseball team to get name today
New manager, mascot will be introduced at downtown ceremony
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Published: December 4, 2008
The team formerly known as the Winston-Salem Warthogs will announce its new name and mascot today and introduce its new manager, former major-leaguer Joe McEwing.
The Warthogs also will introduce the team's new in-game host, Winston-Salem native and local performer Sarah Barnhardt, and its new pitching coach, former major-league relief pitcher Bobby Thigpen.
The announcements are scheduled as part of the team's "Baseball New Year" today at the Millennium Center downtown. The ceremony is free to the public, and doors open at 11:30 a.m.
Team owner Billy Prim, the local entrepreneur who started Blue Rhino Corp. and now owns Primo Water, said in April that when the team moved from Ernie Shore Field to the new $22.6 million stadium downtown, it would have a new name. The team held a communitywide contest to pick the name and narrowed the field to five possible mascots: the Rhinos, Aviators, Wallbangers, Racers and Dash.
Sources close to the team have been secretive about the new name.
Prim also plans to explain in more detail the ownership shake-up that has recently slowed construction on the new ballpark. The team announced last week that Prim would take full ownership of the team from his partner and brother-in-law, Andrew J. "Flip" Filipowski, who owns SilkRoad Technologies Inc.
Team officials have said that they do not expect the slowdown in construction to prevent the stadium from being ready to open on time for the 2009 season in April.
The city contributed $12 million to start construction on the stadium, with the agreement that the team would finish the stadium by March 2010 or pay the city back. The team has sold season-ticket packages for its 5,500 seats.
The team is a high-A minor-league team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, which last month announced McEwing as the new manager. McEwing replaces Tim Blackwell, who managed the team for two years.
McEwing, who spent last season as the hitting coach for the Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League, played nine seasons in the major leagues. He hit .251 in 1,767 at-bats for the St. Louis Cardinals (1998-99), New York Mets (2000-04), Kansas City Royals (2005) and Houston Astros (2006). He was known for his versatility and played every position except pitcher in the majors.
McEwing was born Oct. 19, 1972, in Bristol, Pa., and made his major-league debut against the Florida Marlins on Sept. 2, 1998.
Thigpen played nine seasons in the major leagues with the White Sox (1986-93), Philadelphia Phillies (1993) and Seattle Mariners (1994). Thigpen, one of best relievers in baseball with the White Sox, set a major-league record with 57 saves in 1990 that was broken this past season by Francisco Rodriquez of the Los Angeles Angels.
Robert Sasser will return for a second-straight season as Winston-Salem's hitting coach.
■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
■ Laura Graff can be reached at 727-7279 or at lgraff@wsjournal.com.
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