T-Bones Lock Up Championship Manager Credit John Ellis KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City T-Bones announced today that 2018 American Association Manger of the Year Joe Calfapietra and the club have agreed on a multi-year extension through the 2020 season. As per club policy, terms were not disclosed. Joe Calfapietra (pronounced Cal-fa-pee-eh-tra), has led the T-Bones to back-to-back 57-win seasons in 2017 and in 2018, and he guided Kansas City this past season to the franchise’s third league title in the team’s history and first as a member of the American Association. The T-Bones won a franchise record 62 games in 2018 and went 6-3 in the post season to claim the league crown. The T-Bones also tied a franchise record nine game winning streak from June 18th to 28th and reached a club record 26 games above .500 on September 1st. The Pennsylvania native has guided the franchise to two of the four seasons above .500 since the team moved to Kansas City in 2002 from Duluth, Minnesota. “I am very appreciative to John and Adam Ehlert along with Chris Browne to have the confidence in me to run their baseball operations for the next two years. My family and I love the T-Bones organization, fans and surrounding area. We consider this our second home,” said Joe Calfapietra. In Calfapietra’s first season at the helm of KC in 2017, the club finished in a three-way tie for the Wild Card playoff spot but would not advance to the playoffs because of a tie breaker. Calfapietra guided Kansas City to the second-best overall record in the club’s history (57-43), turning over the 2017 roster with only one hold over from the 2016 and helping the club reach a then franchise high of 84 days above .500 out of a 109-day season. Despite a 1-5 start to begin the season, his 2017 club reached .500 at 7-7 at Sioux Falls on June 2nd and stayed at or above for 93 days, 83 in a row. With the win on August 26th, 2017 at Gary, Calfapietra won his 900th career game. He hit the 50-win mark for the seventh straight season on August 23rd at home against Cleburne. "We are proud that Joe Calfapietra returns as our league-champion manager. In two short years, he built a powerhouse team. Joe is a gentleman who managed his team well through the final winning out this past September, and he out worked everyone else in order to get us to that Championship series. Additionally, it's a testament to T-Bones fans that Joe enjoys his time in KC so much,” added Adam Ehlert President of the T-Bones. Calfapietra was named the T-Bones sixth manager in the club’s history on November 30, 2016, after a successful 14-year run with the New Jersey Jackals in the Can Am League. In 18 seasons in the independent league dugout, he has compiled a 967-820 record. Calfapietra currently boasts 964 wins in his career going into the 2019 season. With 36 more wins, he is set to join St. Paul Manager George Tsamis, former Fargo boss Doug Simunic, current Gary Manager Greg Tagert and second-year Chicago Dogs Manager Butch Hobson in the 1,000-win club in indy ball. Calfapietra has instilled a philosophy of building his teams through helping his players seek positions back in affiliated baseball. In 2018, Calfapietra led the club to the league title despite a regular season where Kansas City had 8 players’ contracts sold to affiliated clubs and another pair of players signed with AAA Mexico, all en route to winning the American Association Championship. During 2018, the T-Bones promoted a total of 14 players, adding to the four players sold to affiliated ball in 2017. Calfapietra’s efforts have been historic in KCK as he is the first manager in franchise history to guide the club to records above .500 for two seasons, and he became the first to guide the club at or above .500 in back-to-back years. “We’re thrilled to have Joe as our manager. He’s an excellent leader, and we share his passion and respect for the game. I am looking forward to seeing #44 in the T-Bones dugout for years to come! I can’t wait for Joe to hoist the Miles Wolff Trophy and celebrate the championship again on Opening Day and all season long with our fans,” said T-Bones Vice President and General Manager Chris Browne. Calfapietra was named American Association Manager of the Year this past season with the T-Bones, his fifth time in his career to earn the honor. Calfapietra was the first manager of the Gary SouthShore RailCats in 2002, going 35-55, a feat that may seem not too monumental at first glance, but considering the team played their entire schedule on the road because of construction delays with their home ballpark, the numbers are impressive. For his efforts, he was named Manager of the Year. He was also awarded the honor in the Can Am League in 2004, 2009 and 2012.
Joe Calfapietra’s Managerial Career
2000 — Allentown 42 43 .494 No Postseason 2001 — Allentown 43 47 .478 Postseason 2002 — Gary 35 55 .389 No Postseason 2003 — New Jersey 52 37 .584 Postseason 2004 — New Jersey 54 39 .581 League Champions 2005 — New Jersey 48 44 .522 No Postseason 2006 — New Jersey 43 48 .473 No Postseason 2007 — New Jersey 49 44 .527 Postseason 2008 — New Jersey 43 51 .457 No Postseason 2009 — New Jersey 55 39 .585 No Postseason 2010 — New Jersey 42 50 .457 Postseason 2011 — New Jersey 57 36 .613 Lost League Finals 2012 — New Jersey 59 41 .590 Lost League Finals 2013 — New Jersey 55 44 .556 Lost League Finals 2014 — New Jersey 55 41 .573 Lost League Finals 2015 — New Jersey 54 43 .557 Lost League Finals 2016 — New Jersey 62 38 .620 Postseason 2017 — Kansas City 57 43 .570 No Postseason lost tie breaker 2018 — Kansas City 62 37 .626 League Champions Overall — 19 seasons 967 820 .541
2019 full and half-season ticket packages, as well as mini plans, are on sale now online or by calling (913) 328-5618 or visiting the T-Bones Stadium offices. Group ticket sales are also on sale now! For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the T-Bones Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to www.tbonesbaseball.com. and the T-Bones Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season. #FUNWELLDONE#
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