Waldorf, MD – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball has named Southern Maryland Blue Crabs President/General Manager Patrick Day as 2015 Executive of the Year. Day just completed his third season as General Manager with the Blue Crabs having joined the club in December of 2013.
“In a League that has the finest executives in all of Baseball, we are honored that Pat Day has been selected as the 2015 Executive of the Year,” said Blue Crabs chairman Peter Kirk. “Pat’s dedication and leadership has made him a respected member of our Southern Maryland community and his results speak for themselves. We also congratulate all of the other executives in the Atlantic League for making this season so successful,” added Kirk.
Under Day’s leadership, the Blue Crabs were Freedom Division Champions led by field manager Stan Cliburn, his first season with the team. Cliburn was runner up for Manager of the Year honors to Somerset Patriots’ manager Brett Jodie. Somerset defeated the Blue Crabs for the Atlantic League Championship in a dramatic, rain dampened series.
During 2015, the Blue Crabs had several sell-out games, growing their attendance average to its highest level since 2010. Day also helped spearhead innovative promotions that were recognized nationally, including the $300,000 Home Sweet, Homers house giveaway, opening day hermit crab giveaway, and the clever rival team giveaway series. Day also pioneered launching fireworks after the 7th inning every Friday and Saturday night instead of after the game – an innovation much appreciated by fans with young children. In addition, Day also forged a relationship with the Charles County Chapter of the NAACP, creating a youth initiative plan to help provide a safe place for kids to spend their time during the summer.
“This award can be directly credited to the hard work and dedication of our talented staff, I could not accomplish anything without them,” said Day. “This type of award isn’t possible without the amazing fan support and we are so thankful for this special bond between the Blue Crabs and the Southern Maryland Community.”
Day, 40, began his career with the Charleston Alley Cats, overseeing sales and marketing as the assistant general manager. He then moved into a similar role with the Montgomery Biscuits, a franchise that twice claimed Baseball America’s Class “AA” franchise of the year award while he was there. Day then moved to the Lansing Lugnuts where he spent six years as the team’s general manager. While in Lansing, Day oversaw the entire Lugnuts operation after his 2007 arrival to the team. Under Day’s direction, the Lugnuts ranked among the attendance leaders in minor-league baseball. Pat Day lives in Waldorf, minutes from Regency Furniture Stadium with his wife Erica and their two children