Tony Beasley
Encyclopedia
Tony Beasley is a baseball coach currently serving as the Manager of the Harrisburg Senators
of the Double-A Eastern League.
The 2008
season marked Beasley's 16th with the Pittsburgh organization. He spent the 2007 campaign as the clubs Minor League
Infield Coordinator and was instrumental in prospect Neil Walker
's transition from catcher
to third base
during spring training. This is Beasley's second stint as a Major League
Third Base Coach as he worked in the same capacity for the Washington Nationals
under manager Frank Robinson
in 2006.
Beasley spent five seasons as a manager in the Pirates' farm system, guiding his club to the post-season in all five years and a combined record of 372-258 (.590 winning pct.) during the regular season. He was tabbed by Baseball America
as the Double-A Manager-of-the-Year in 2004 after guiding Altoona
to the Eastern League Championship Series (his team lost to New Hampshire). Beasley also served the United States
National Team as a coach at the MLB Futures Game in Houston during All-Star week in 2004.
Beasley began his managerial career with the Williamsport Crosscutters
in 2001 and led the club to a 46-26 regular season record and a first-place finish; the club was declared co-champions of the New York-Penn League along with Brooklyn. He was named Low Class-A Manager of-the-Year by Baseball America in consecutive seasons with the Hickory Crawdads
in 2002-03 and to the South Atlantic League
's mid-season All-Star squad in 2003. Beasley guided the Crawdads to the SAL championship and the fifth-best record in the minors in 2002 and was also selected to the leagues post-season All-Star Team.
In addition to his regular season managerial duties, Beasley also managed the Mesa Desert Dogs during the Arizona Fall League
in 2004 and guided the club to an 18-13 record and a first-place finish in the National Division (his club lost to the Mesa Solar Sox
in the Championship Series). After serving as a player/coach for the AA Carolina Mudcats
and the Class A Lynchburg Hillcats
in 1998, Beasley began his full-time coaching career as the Hitting Coach with the GCL Pirates in 1999. He worked in the same capacity with Lynchburg in 2000.
Primarily a middle infielder, Beasley spent nine seasons as a player in the minor leagues and batted .260 with 22 homers and 242 RBI in 854 games. He was originally selected by the Baltimore Orioles
in the 19th round of the 1989
June draft before being acquired by Pittsburgh in a deal for infielder Tommy Shields
in September 1991
. In his minor league career, Beasley was named to the Carolina League
All-Star team in both 1990 and 1991. He also garnered Southern League
All-Star laurels in 1996.
On Wednesday, July 30, 2008 before the game against the Colorado Rockies, Tony Beasley performed an excellent rendition of the national anthem in front of the hometown crowd.
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
of the Double-A Eastern League.
The 2008
2008 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* Regular Season Champions* World Series Champions – Philadelphia Phillies** American League Champions – Tampa Bay Rays** National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies* Postseason – October 1 to October 29...
season marked Beasley's 16th with the Pittsburgh organization. He spent the 2007 campaign as the clubs Minor League
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Infield Coordinator and was instrumental in prospect Neil Walker
Neil Walker (baseball)
Neil Martin Walker is an American professional baseball second and third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball...
's transition from catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
to third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
during spring training. This is Beasley's second stint as a Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Third Base Coach as he worked in the same capacity for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
under manager Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
in 2006.
Beasley spent five seasons as a manager in the Pirates' farm system, guiding his club to the post-season in all five years and a combined record of 372-258 (.590 winning pct.) during the regular season. He was tabbed by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the Double-A Manager-of-the-Year in 2004 after guiding Altoona
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
to the Eastern League Championship Series (his team lost to New Hampshire). Beasley also served the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Team as a coach at the MLB Futures Game in Houston during All-Star week in 2004.
Beasley began his managerial career with the Williamsport Crosscutters
Williamsport Crosscutters
The Williamsport Crosscutters are a Short-Season A classification minor league baseball team based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in 2001 and led the club to a 46-26 regular season record and a first-place finish; the club was declared co-champions of the New York-Penn League along with Brooklyn. He was named Low Class-A Manager of-the-Year by Baseball America in consecutive seasons with the Hickory Crawdads
Hickory Crawdads
The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball team in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Crawdads play home games...
in 2002-03 and to the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
's mid-season All-Star squad in 2003. Beasley guided the Crawdads to the SAL championship and the fifth-best record in the minors in 2002 and was also selected to the leagues post-season All-Star Team.
In addition to his regular season managerial duties, Beasley also managed the Mesa Desert Dogs during the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
in 2004 and guided the club to an 18-13 record and a first-place finish in the National Division (his club lost to the Mesa Solar Sox
Mesa Solar Sox
The Mesa Solar Sox are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Mesa, Arizona at HoHoKam Stadium, which is also the spring training facility of the Chicago Cubs....
in the Championship Series). After serving as a player/coach for the AA Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
and the Class A Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
in 1998, Beasley began his full-time coaching career as the Hitting Coach with the GCL Pirates in 1999. He worked in the same capacity with Lynchburg in 2000.
Primarily a middle infielder, Beasley spent nine seasons as a player in the minor leagues and batted .260 with 22 homers and 242 RBI in 854 games. He was originally selected by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 19th round of the 1989
1989 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants ; Dave Stewart, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Rickey Henderson*National League Championship Series MVP: Will Clark...
June draft before being acquired by Pittsburgh in a deal for infielder Tommy Shields
Tommy Shields
Thomas Charles Shields is an American baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from 1992-1993 for the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs.-References:...
in September 1991
1991 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves ; Jack Morris, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirby Puckett*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Avery...
. In his minor league career, Beasley was named to the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
All-Star team in both 1990 and 1991. He also garnered Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
All-Star laurels in 1996.
Teams
As Third Base Coach- Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(20082008 in baseball-Major League Baseball:* Regular Season Champions* World Series Champions – Philadelphia Phillies** American League Champions – Tampa Bay Rays** National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies* Postseason – October 1 to October 29...
- 2009) - Washington NationalsWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
(20062006 in baseball-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
)
On Wednesday, July 30, 2008 before the game against the Colorado Rockies, Tony Beasley performed an excellent rendition of the national anthem in front of the hometown crowd.