Texas Rangers Manager Elected to App League Hall of Fame

Bruce Bochy started his minor league career in the 1970s with the Covington Astros in the Appalachian League.

Texas Rangers manager will be one of four new members of the Appalachian League Hall of Fame, the league announced on Friday.

The Appalachian League was founded in 1911 and was a long-time part of the MLB minor-league baseball system, primarily as a rookie league affiliate. When MLB reorganized its minor-league system, the Appalachian League was left out. But it resurrected as a collegiate summer baseball league for freshmen and sophomores.

Bochy is being honored for his time as a player during the league’s affiliation with MLB.

Per the league, Bochy played with the Covington Astros of the Appalachian League in 1975, hitting .338 with four home runs and 34 RBIs.

He later went on to play nine Major League seasons with the Houston Astros (1978-80), New York Mets (1982) and San Diego Padres (1984-87).

After his playing career ended, Bochy went into coaching and eventually became a manager. He won the 1996 National League Manager of the Year Award after leading the San Diego Padres to a division-best 91-71 record.

He guided the San Diego Padres to a World Series appearance, and eventually led the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

He is the only manager in Major League history to win 900 games for two teams.

"I am honored to be selected for the Appalachian League Hall of Fame's Class of 2023,” Bochy said via the release. “I have many great memories from that season in Covington, where I enjoyed getting my first taste of professional baseball. I will always be grateful for my time in the league and the mentorship of manager Billy Smith. It is truly a privilege to join such a distinguished group of inductees."

The other 2023 inductees are Darryl Strawberry, Charlie Manuel and Boog Powell.

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