Eric just concluded his 6th season as the Manager of the Cleveland Indians after guiding the Indians to a record
of 81-81 (.500), third place finish in 2008Indians showed a lot of resolve in going 44-28 (.611) from July 10
thru the end of the seasonIs in 5th place in club history with 496 managerial winsHis 2007 club posted
a Major League-best 96-66 record (tied with Boston) and brought
home its first Division Championship since 2001, finishing 8.0 games
ahead of DetroitThe 96 wins marked the 7th-highest total in franchise
-history, going 26-9 over the final 35 gamesFor his efforts he was
named the American League Manager of the Year by the BBWAA ,
The Sporting News and Negro League Baseball Museum Also,
he was the first Indians Manager ever to take home the BBWAA
AL Manager of the Year AwardThe Indians now own the 7th-best
record in the Majors since 2005 (348-300;.537) and have posted a
.500 record or better in 3 of the last 4 seasons since 2005One of
just 4 Managers in Indians franchise history to win a playoff series
(Speaker, Boudreau & Hargrove)Led the Indians to the 9th highest win total in franchise history in 2005,
posting a record of 93-69 (.574), the 6th best record in MLB and narrowly missing out of the playoffs on the
seasons final dayThat season the Indians posted the best record in MLB from July 31st thru the end of the
season (39-18) and following the season Wedge was the runner-up in the AL BBWAA Manager of the Year
voting, registering votes in each of his three years of service with
the Indians (2003-05)During the first three years of his tenure the
Indians posted consecutive seasons of double-digit win increase
totals from 2003-05 (68 wins, 80 wins, 93 wins)The last time the
Indians enjoyed that type of improvement was from 1946-48The
25-game two-year win improvement total from 2003-05 was 2nd in
MLB over the spanIn 2006 the Indians went 78-84 (.481), finished
in 4th place in the AL Central and were 31-20 from August 9th thru
the end of the season with a team that finished up the season with 17
rookiesWedge now owns a 6-year Major League managerial record
of 496-476 (.510)His career managerial record at the professional
level is 887-791 (.529)Managed his second full season for the Tribe
in 2004 as he led the club to their biggest single season improvement
in terms of wins since 1991 and 1992Finished 6th in the 2004 AL
Manager of the Year voting (80-82, 3rd place, 6th best improvement over previous year in MLB)Was named
39th manager of the Cleveland Indians on October 29, 2002Compiled a record 68-94 (.420) in his first
season managing in the big leagues (managed 25 rookies in all during the 2003 season)Guided the Indians
to a record of 55-56 (.495) from May 1 to September 1For his
efforts Wedge received votes in the 2003 BBWAA AL Manager of
the Year voting (8th place)Managed in the Cleveland Indians
Player Development system for five seasons from 1998-2002,
compiling a record of 391-315 (.554) over the spanHe managed
the AAA Buffalo Bisons for two seasons in 2001-02, guiding the
Bisons to consecutive appearances in the International League
playoffs as his .622 After the season he was named The Sporting
News Minor League Manager of the YearIn 2001 he piloted the
Bisons to a modern-day franchise record 91 wins (91-51, .644)
and was later named International League Manager of the Year and Baseball America Triple A Manager of the Year in 2001He began his managerial career in 1998 at Class
A Columbus (59-81) of the South Atlantic League after concluding his playing career in 1997He guided the
A Kinston Indians in 1999 (79-58) to a spot in the Carolina League playoffs and after the season was named
Carolina League Manager of the YearManaged the Akron Aeros to a record of 75-68 in 2000, just missing
the playoffs after forcing a one game playoff at the end of the season before being promoted to Buffalo in
2001His teams qualified for post-season play in three of his five seasons at the helmAt 35 years and 64
days old on opening day of 2003, Wedge became the youngest Indians manager since Lou Boudreau was named
player/manager in 1942 at the age of 24.
Playing Career
Began his professional career in 1989 after being selected in the 3rd round of the amateur draft by the Boston
Red Sox coming off a National Championship at Wichita StateMade his major league debut on October 5,
1991 with Boston and in 1992 he belted all 5 of his major league homers in 27 games for the Red SoxWas
drafted by the Rockies in the November, 1992 expansion draft in the 2nd round and spent most of the 1993
season on the major league disabled list with elbow problemsAppeared in 9 games at catcher for the Rockies
during their inaugural season in 1993 before signing back with the Red Sox in 1994. Made it back to the big
leagues for the final time with the Red Sox in 1994Overall he spent parts of 4 seasons in the major leagues
and played professionally for 9 seasonsEmbarked on his managerial career in 1998 after undergoing eight
surgeries over the course his playing career that ended his career after the 1997 season.
Personal/Miscellaneous
Full name ER IC MICHAE L WEDGE ...Resides in Richfield, OH...Eric and his wife, Kate, have a daughter, Ava Catherine
(4/17/2006) and a son, Dalton Cash (2/18/2008)Attended Northrop High School in Ft. Wayne, Indiana
and was a member of their state championship baseball team in 1983Was inducted into the Indiana High
School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2007Inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall
of Fame in October of 2008His parents, Tim and Nina, still reside in Ft. WayneWas a first-team All-America
catcher at Wichita State University where he was a member of the Shockers 1989 National Championship
team and was runner-up for college player of the yearCo-owner of
Strike One Sports Complex, a 40,000 square ft. indoor sports facility
featuring baseball, girls softball and soccer instruction and leagues
along with other sports instruction and entertainment in Danvers,
MAAlso owns Motivated Sports, a non-profit company that benefits
youth in the New England areaHe and his wife, Kate, are very
active in the Cleveland Community, participating and donating their
time at the First Energy Grand Slam Summer Literacy Program, the
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, The Multiple Myeloma Research
Foundation, The Providence House, The Womans Center of Greater
Cleveland, the Cleveland YWCA & the CIC Celebrity Golf Classic, along
with their other charitable endeavors. Kate and the Indians Wives are
also active with the Domestic Violence Center and Until the Violence
Stops: North East Ohio.
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