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10/22/2009 9:03 AM ET
ValleyCats Win Three New York-Penn League Awards
Tri-City ValleyCats
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TROY, N.Y. -- The Tri-City ValleyCats have won three of the six awards given by the New York-Penn League. The ValleyCats were recipients of the Leo Pinckney Promotional Award for promotional excellence in the league. Two members of the ValleyCats front office were also honored on Wednesday. Ticket and Merchandise Manager Heather LaVine received the JoAnn Weber Female Executive of the Year Award and Assistant General Manager Vic Christopher received the Sam Nader Executive / Staff Member of the Year. The ValleyCats have won a League award each of the past four years.
"To be recognized by the NYPL is an honor," said ValleyCats Vice President and General Manager Rick Murphy. "Winning the Leo Pinckney Promotional Award is a testament to our dedicated staff. For four consecutive years, our organization has been selected for NYPL honors. Congratulations to Heather LaVine and Vic Christopher for being recognized for NYPL honors. Their dedication and commitment to our organization and the NYPL makes both worthy of their selection."
The ValleyCats set an all-time attendance record for the sixth consecutive season in 2009. Promotional highlights from the season included a record 15 fireworks displays, four bobbleheads and industry themed nights throughout the season. The ValleyCats "Weatherman Bobblehead" promotion was a finalist at the 2009 Promotional Seminar for "Best Theme Night". The ValleyCats are the league's nominee for the national Larry MacPhail Trophy for promotional excellence, awarded at the Baseball Winter Meetings.
In 2009, LaVine significantly surpassed her corporate and group sales goal while leading Tri-City's Ticket and Merchandise operations to record breaking seasons. A firm believer of building communities through Minor League Baseball, she conceived of the ValleyCats' inaugural Leading Women in Business and Community Night as well as the Get Fit, Eat Right Campaign. LaVine is a finalist for the national Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year Award at the Baseball Winter Meetings.
"I am honored and humbled," said LaVine. "This award should be as much about the Tri-City organization, my co-workers and ValleyCats supporters as it is about me."
A tireless promoter of Minor League Baseball throughout nine seasons in the New York-Penn League, Vic Christopher is the first recipient of the Sam Nader Executive / Staff Member of the Year Award. Christopher has been a part of five attendance record-breaking seasons with Tri-City, since joining the organization in November of 2004. In 2009, Vic negotiated several multi-team corporate sponsorship deals, resulting in significant revenue for teams in the northeast.
"The ValleyCats front office deserves all of the credit for making the 2009 season a success through their hard work," said Christopher. "I'd like to specifically thank ValleyCats President Bill Gladstone and Vice President/General Manager Rick Murphy for giving me the opportunity to represent the ValleyCats and for providing me with the tools to succeed."
The Brooklyn Cyclones won the Vince McNamara Outstanding Club Award and will represent the League for the national John H. Johnson Trophy. Lowell Spinners' General Manager Tim Bawmann received the Robert Stedler Executive of the Year Award and Mahoning Valley Scrappers' Dave Smith won the Robert Julian Community and Baseball Service Award.
The ValleyCats have received league awards each of the past four seasons. In 2006, President Bill Gladstone won the Robert Julian Community and Baseball Service Award. The ValleyCats organization was recognized in both 2007 and 2008 as the League's nominees for the Larry MacPhail Trophy (2007) and John H. Johnson Trophy (2008). Vice President and General Manager Rick Murphy won NYPL Executive of the Year in 2008.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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