BOMBARD NAMED TO IL HALL

Bombard Named to IL Hall of Fame

Red Barons Legend Gets Call to the Hall

Moosic, Pa. – The International League announced today that former Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Charlotte manager Marc Bombard will be inducted into the circuit's Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2015. He will be joined by 1980 IL MVP Marshall Brant, and former Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester general manager Don Labbruzzo. The three men were elected by a vote of living IL Hall of Famers, longtime executives, broadcasters, and members of the media.

All three inductees have been added to the International League Hall of Fame plaque display. The inductees or their families will be presented with “The Curtain Call” statue during individual enshrinement ceremonies to take place during the coming season. That includes a to-be-announced date for Bombard’s recognition at PNC Field before a 2015 RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) game. The IL Hall of Fame plaque display does not have a permanent home, but rather serves as a traveling testament to the storied legacy of the International League.

Bombard piloted the then-Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons to four consecutive playoff appearances from 1999-2002, a run which concluded with a franchise-record 91 wins and honors as the IL Manager of the Year and the Sports Weekly Minor League Manager of the Year. He won 700 games in the IL, including a then-franchise-record 574 victories over eight seasons with SWB from 1997-2004. That record was broken last season by fellow IL Hall of Famer Dave Miley. Bombard, who managed the IL All-Stars in both 2000 and 2003, is the last IL skipper to lead a team to 90 wins in a single season. His 91 wins in 2002 are the equivalent of winning 102 games in a 162-game big league campaign.

“It’s a great honor,” Bombard said of his induction. “It came as a shock. It was the furthest thing from my mind when (IL president) Randy (Mobley) called and let me know the news. It was a great eight years in Scranton, a truly great ride. There were some outstanding players, great front office people and coaches, and of course the fans are outstanding. You looked forward to coming to the park. We had such an atmosphere there. It was such an advantage to play at home. Those were the best eight years in my baseball life.”

The RailRiders open their 2015 season at home on April 9 against the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals). For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.