Mason named 2012 IL Exec of the Year
Rochester Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason has been named
the 2012 International League Executive of the Year. Each of the 14 teams in
the league cast one vote at the Triple-A Fall Meetings in Durham, NC, site of
the Gildan Triple-A Championship Game.
"I don't consider this an individual award but rather an award that
everyone in our organization can share - our board of directors, front office,
food and beverage department, grounds crew, part-time employees, and the
Frontier Field staff," Mason said. "The other organizations in the
league appreciate the extraordinary efforts that everyone in our organization
put into this unique and historic season. It's also a testament to and
reflection of our tremendous fan support that made this a season to remember."
"Dan's tireless work ethic shined bright once again during this
challenging yet exciting season," said Red Wings President/CEO Naomi
Silver. "The entire Red Wings staff joins me in congratulating him on this
prestigious honor. It is much deserved and we are all very proud of him. We are
lucky to have Dan as our GM."
The Red Wings and Frontier Field in 2012 hosted 110 regular-season games,
including 38 "home" contests for the Empire State Yankees, whose
ballpark in Moosic, Pa., is undergoing major renovations. The Yankees also
played two post-season games at the downtown ballpark.
Under Mason's leadership, a third clubhouse was constructed at Frontier
Field to accommodate Yankees players, coaches, and staff. In addition, Mason
and the Red Wings staff coordinated the switch of the May 6 Yankees game
featuring Andy Pettitte from Dwyer Stadium in nearby Batavia to downtown
Rochester. The game drew 13,584 fans to establish a Frontier Field record for a
regular-season baseball game. The attendance figure ranks second to only a Red
Wings exhibition game with the Baltimore Orioles on July 10, 1997, when 13,723
came through the turnstiles to see Cal Ripken Jr.
The total attendance figure for the 110 regular-season games was 510,643.
Also in 2012, Mason joined Silver and Chairman of the Board Gary Larder in
working to extend the club's Player Development Contract with the Minnesota
Twins for two years through the 2014 season. The 2012 season was the Red Wings'
10th as the Triple-A affiliate of the Twins, which is the seventh-longest
ongoing partnership in the IL.
Mason joined the Red Wings in 1990 and became the general manager in 1995.
The 45-year-old is one of four Red Wings executives to earn IL Executive of the
Year honors, joining George Sisler Jr. (1964), Carl Steinfeldt Jr. (1971), and
Bob Goughan (1986). He is one of only six executives to garner the award three
or more times, joining Joe Napoli, Dave Rosenfield, Anthony Simone, Sisler Jr.,
and Mike Tamburro. Mason also won the award in 1996 and 1997.