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CLEVELAND
-- The Cleveland Indians and Executive Vice President & General Manager
MARK SHAPIRO today announced a 3-year contract extension for Manager ERIC WEDGE
thru the 2010 season.
Wedge has led the club to
a record of 54-37 (.593) in his 5th season as Manager of the Cleveland Indians.
Under Eric's guidance and leadership, the Indians have spent 63 days in first
place in the American League Central and currently occupy 2nd place, just 0.5
game in back of the Detroit Tigers. The Indians and Tigers currently share the
3rd most wins in Major League Baseball with 54, trailing only the Boston Red
Sox (55) and Los Angeles Angels (55). The 54-37 record is the club's best mark
after 91 games since the 1999 season (57-34).
The Ft. Wayne, Indiana
native owns a Major League managerial mark of 373-366 (.505) since becoming the
Manager of the Cleveland Indians prior to the 2003 season. His 376 managerial
wins are the 7th most victories in the 107-year history of the franchise and
trail Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie (397 wins) for 6th place. He led the club to
double-digit win increases over three consecutive seasons from 2003 thru 2005,
becoming the first Indians Manager since Lou Boudreau (1946-48) to accomplish
the feat. Eric placed in the BBWAA American League Manager of the Year voting
over each of those three seasons from 2003-05, earning a 2nd place finish in
2005 after leading the club to a record of 93-69 mark (8th highest win total in
club history).
Eric began his
professional managerial career in 1998 in the Indians Player Development
System. He was named the 39th Manager of the Cleveland Indians on October 29,
2002.
"Eric has clearly
defined his leadership and vision during his tenure as Manager of the Cleveland
Indians," said Indians Executive Vice President & General Manager MARK
SHAPIRO. "He has consistently demonstrated a relentless work ethic and
strong belief in his players and has placed us among the best records in baseball
two of the past three seasons. I am confident that Eric is the right man to
finish what's ahead of us and lead us to a championship."
WEDGE'S
CAREER MANAGERIAL RECORD
|
YEAR |
TEAM |
LEAGUE |
POSITION |
W |
L |
PCT. |
NOTABLE |
|
2003 |
|
American |
4th |
68 |
94 |
.420 |
55-56
from 5/1-9/1 |
|
2004 |
|
American |
3rd |
80 |
82 |
.494 |
6th
best improvement in MLB |
|
2005 |
|
American |
2nd |
93 |
69 |
.574 |
8th
most wins in club history |
|
2006 |
|
American |
4th |
78 |
84 |
.481 |
31-20
from 8/9 thru end of season |
|
2007 |
|
American |
2nd,
0.5GB |
54 |
37 |
.593 |
63
days in |
|
|
373 |
366 |
.505 |
7th most wins in club history |
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