Lynchburg Hillcats General Manager Ronnie Roberts will retire after the 2018 baseball season.
Roberts caps a 28-year career in Minor League Baseball — all with the Hillcats. He was hired in 1991 to be the Head Groundskeeper, following a tenure in the insurance and banking industries. He served as Assistant General Manager for the Hillcats from 1993-2015, and has been the General Manager of the club since 2016.
“When I came to Lynchburg in 1991 I had no idea how much fun, and how rewarding, working for the Lynchburg Baseball Corp and the Lynchburg Red Sox was going to be,” Roberts said. “I can honestly say that when Paul Sunwall (former GM) hired me in 1991, it was one of the greatest days of my life and it was a life changing event for me. Twenty eight years have flown by and I have enjoyed every minute of every day I have been here.”
Roberts, 69, has worked with five different Major League affiliations during his time with the Hillcats, including the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and now the Cleveland Indians.
Roberts added, “Working for Paul Sunwall and the previous owners, and now Chris Jones and the Elmore Sports Group has been a wonderful experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything or for any other job. I have met some fantastic people, including my fiancée, at City Stadium and in Lynchburg, and have made lots of friends whom I will never forget.”
The Bahama, N.C. native has been active in the Lynchburg community since joining the Hillcats. He has been a member of the 7 Hills Lions Club, Lynchburg Sports Club, The Miller Home for Girls Advisory Board, and a Lynchburg City School Partners in Education Board Member.
“Over the past three decades, nobody has meant more to the Lynchburg Hillcats organization than Ronnie,” said Hillcats President Chris Jones. “He embodies what Hillcats baseball is all about: Presenting a fun and entertaining, family friendly atmosphere at an affordable price, and he has worked diligently and enthusiastically over the past 28 years to succeed in that mission. His upbeat attitude and work ethic is well documented not just in the Hillcats community, but also throughout the Carolina League and all of Minor League Baseball. I wish him and his family all the best in his retirement as he moves on to this next phase in his life.”
Former Hillcats Manager Mark Budzinski, who led the team during the 2015-2016 seasons, also has fond memories of working with Roberts.
“Working alongside Ronnie reminded me how lucky we are to be around the game of baseball every day,” said Budzinski, who is now a coach at the Major League level for the Cleveland Indians. “He truly exemplifies how we should all go about our daily lives by demonstrating love, passion, care, and devotion in all that we do. Just being around him, you can’t help but feed off of his positive energy. I feel blessed to have spent time with Ronnie and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement!”
Luis Salazar, who managed the Hillcats from 2011-2014, developed a strong friendship with Roberts and has stayed in contact with him through the years.
“He is an unbelievable person. We’ve stayed in touch the entire time,” said Salazar. “I spent a lot of time with him in the clubhouse. He has a great personality, good character and he gets along with the players and tries to help everyone out. I wish him the best and I’m always thinking of him in so many ways, especially on holidays. I’m very grateful to have a great friend like Ronnie.”
Throughout retirement, Roberts plans to stay active in the Lynchburg area.
“Living and working in Lynchburg has been a blessing,” Roberts said. “I am proud of, and thankful for, our fans, sponsors, owners, staff members, co-workers, the City of Lynchburg, and all the coaching staffs and players who have been such a huge part of the success of the Lynchburg Baseball Corporation and the Lynchburg Hillcats.”
The Lynchburg Hillcats are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The Hillcats are eight-time Carolina League Champions, having most recently won the Mills Cup Championship in 2017. The Hillcats play their home games at City Stadium, which has been home to Minor League Baseball in Lynchburg since 1963.
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Chris Graham
