For Immediate Release
RE: Generals hire hitting coach.
(Victoria, Texas) The Victoria Generals of The Texas Collegiate League are pleased to announce that Joseph (Joe) Charboneau will assist Head Coach Chris Clemons as hitting coach for the onset of The Generals inaugural season. Joe will help the players transition from aluminum bats to wooden bats.
Both coaches have The Major Leagues on their resume.
"Having someone the caliber of Joe Charboneau come to town to help these young men is a tremendous asset for us," said Clemons. "He's experienced all that baseball life can offer from the ups to the down, and he can help me prepare these guys, in the event they do get offered a professional contract." Clemons went on to say that "....hitting with an aluminum bat and with a wood bat requires two different approaches and Joe will work on that."
"Super Joe" Charboneau made his debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1980, splitting time between left field and designated hitter. His 23 home runs led the team and he captured the city's imagination. By mid-season, Charboneau was the subject of a song--"Go Joe Charboneau"--that reached #3 on the local charts.
He finished the season with 87 runs batted in and a .289 batting average while winning the American League Rookie of the year award--all in spite of being stabbed with a ball-point pen by a crazed fan as he waited for the team bus on March 8th. The pen penetrated an inch and hit a rib, but Charboneau played his first regular-season game just over a month later. He missed the final six weeks of his rookie season with a pelvis injury.
Joe injured his back in a headfirst slide in spring training the following year. He underwent back surgery twice but never fully recovered.
The Generals open the season June 5th. More information can be obtained at the team's website: www.victoriagenerals.com
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