Erie Times-News names SeaWolves manager Gabe Alvarez its 2023 Sportsman of the Year
Gabe Alvarez accepted the Eastern League championship trophy and was handed the microphone to address the UPMC crowd.
“Thank you for the support all year long,” Alvarez told the crowd of 6,113 fans. “You made us go and this is for you.”
Alvarez, 49, became a baseball manager for the first time when he arrived in Erie in March of 2022. After two seasons, it was clear that not only does Alvarez have what it takes to win, he's the ideal ambassador for the Detroit Tigers and the SeaWolves, and he's a fan favorite as well.
Alvarez led the SeaWolves to their first-ever playoff series win in 2022 and followed it up by leading the 'Wolves to the first Eastern League championship in franchise history in 2023.
For his efforts, Alvarez has been named the Erie Times-News Sportsman of the Year.
“Since his first day at UPMC Park, Gabe has been a leader and a collaborator,” said SeaWolves president Greg Coleman. “We have been fortunate to have him in our dugout for the past two seasons.”
Alvarez has received several accolades since hoisting the Eastern League championship trophy in late September.
He was named the Eastern League manager of the year, the second in SeaWolves history, and he received a key to the city from Mayor Joe Schember on Sept. 28.
“This is incredible. I can't believe it's real,” Alvarez said after the ceremony. “It's such an honor and I'm very humbled by it. The support we received was tremendous and it has meant a lot to me. You almost don't realize how much winning a championship means to the fans and to the town until it happens and you appreciate it even more.”
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Unfinished business
Alvarez was proud of what the SeaWolves accomplished in 2022 with a playoff series win and a trip to the Eastern League Championship Series. But something was bugging him as he left Erie for the offseason.
The 'Wolves finished just one win from a championship after getting no-hit in the championship game.
“Last year was a whole lot of fun. It was a special group and we talked about how exciting the playoffs were and the support of the fans,” said Alvarez before the 2023 season. “The fans energized us and we're ready to do it again.”
The SeaWolves started slowly in April but caught fire in May. The 'Wolves dominated throughout the month and most of June to clinch the first-half playoff spot.
The message had been received by the players. Alvarez wanted a return trip to the playoffs to make another run at a league title.
The Alvarez effect
The second half of the season was a clinic in how Alvarez has the pulse of his team. With injuries stacking up and trades taking place in Detroit, the SeaWolves' roster was taken apart.
Every time a player was promoted from Triple-A Toledo to Detroit, the SeaWolves lost another player.
Every time a player suffered an injury in Toledo, the SeaWolves lost another player.
Erie wasn't losing the 25th or 26th man on the roster either as Top 30 prospects continued to move up to improve the big league and Toledo rosters.
It didn't change a thing for Alvarez.
He knew how to get the most out of each player to put on a SeaWolves uniform.
“You never know what you’re going to get with a manager entering his first year, especially at the Double-A level. We knew in year one there would probably be some growing pains, but those were few and far between with Gabe,” said SeaWolves assistant general manager Greg Gania. “It was amazing to see how the players and staff all gravitated to Gabe’s infectious attitude. That carried in through year one and having him back a second season, it gave him a great foundation to build upon as he grew as a manager.”
Alvarez's ability to connect to the team, especially in the dog days of summer when the length of the season starts to wear on players, kept Erie in the race for first place. The 'Wolves already won the first-half title and could have easily put the second half in cruise mode.
Not only did Erie compete for the second-half title until the final series of the season, the 'Wolves were red-hot going into the postseason.
The 'Wolves made the long trip to Richmond and dominated Game 1 of the division series 5-0 before clinching another playoff series win with a 7-3 win in Game 2.
In two years, Alvarez had led Erie to winning two of four halves, with close finishes in the other two halves, and two playoff series wins.
Alvarez had one thing left to accomplish with the 'Wolves.
Erie traveled to Binghamton and held off the Rumble Ponies 9-6 in Game 1 before the 'Wolves blew out their opponent 10-0 in Game 2 to win the Eastern League title.
The perfect ambassador
Alvarez went beyond success on the field with the SeaWolves. He spent time before games and after games meeting fans and signing autographs. He didn't hesitate when the front office asked him to do special season ticketholder events and he even planned his departure from Erie one week after the season so he could spend more time in town instead of leaving right away.
“From a relationship with the front office staff, he has made it his mission to have personal relationships with everyone on our full-time staff," Gania said. "From owner Fernando Aguirre, Greg Coleman, myself, our entertainment team, etc. Gabe focuses on relationships that are genuine and not transactional.”
Alvarez is also the first to give credit elsewhere. He said several times in 2022 that it was the fans that made the difference in the playoffs and he continued to give them credit this past year.
Even when he won manager of the year, Alvarez deflected credit once again.
“It's incredible and I wouldn't have this honor without our players and our phenomenal coaching staff,” Alvarez said about the award. “This award is more theirs than mine.”
Erie Times-News Sportsmen of the Year
2022: Greg Coleman, Erie SeaWolves team president
2021: Carter Starocci, NCAA Division I wrestling champion
2020: John Leisering, multi-sport contributor
2019: Joe Spano, Mercyhurst University baseball coach
2018: James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers running back
2017: Mike and Joe Mischler, Cathedral Prep football
2016: James Conner, University of Pittsburgh running back
2015: Connor McDavid, Erie Otters center
2014: James Conner, University of Pittsburgh running back
2013: Tyco Swick, Erie Lions Club Save-An-Eye Game manager
2012: Damion Terry, Cathedral Prep quarterback
2011: Ian Wild, Mercyhurst University football and lacrosse
2010: Cleve Wright, Gannon University women's basketball coach
2009: John Reilly, Gannon University men's basketball coach
2008: Ryan McLemore, Edinboro University basketball
2007: General McLane basketball team
2006: Award hiatus
2005: Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Colts safety
2004: (Sportspeople) Kahkwa Club staff and volunteers for USGA Women's Amateur
2003: Ron Coleman, Erie District Golf Association champion
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA Times-News Sportsman of Year: Gabe Alvarez, Erie SeaWolves
