Former Yankee Bobby Meacham tagged to manage Hartford Yard Goats
The Yard Goats will have a new manager in 2024. Bobby Meacham, who came up to the big leagues as a shortstop with the Yankees in 1984 and has had a long career in pro baseball, will take over in the Hartford dugout.
Chris Denorfia, from Southington, who had managed the Goats since 2020, will become coordinator of outfielding and baserunning instruction throughout the Rockies’ minor league system.
Dom Amore: Life in the NBA agreeing with UConn’s Jordan Hawkins
Meacham, 63, was in the Rockies’ organization as a coach at Triple-A Albuquerque last season. He has been a major-league coach with the Marlins, Padres, Astros, Yankees and Phillies, and has held a wide range of minor-league assignments with several organizations, including a stint as manager in the Blue Jays’ organization at Double-A New Hampshire in the Eastern League.
He played for the Yankees from 1983-88, hitting .236 in his career. Among his managers in New York were Billy Martin, Yogi Berra and Lou Piniella. Meacham is probably best known for a play at the plate on Aug. 2,1985, in which both he and Dale Berra were tagged out by White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk after crossed signals rounding third base in a nationally televised game. The play has become an iconic baseball “blooper.” Meacham played 155 games at short for the Yankees that season.
Meacham will be joined in Hartford by Dan Meyer, the new pitching coach, former Yard Goats player Zach Osborne, as hitting coach and bench coach Luis Lopez, who is returning. Coy Coker will return for his second season as athletic trainer and Ryan Hurston, physical performance coach.
“We welcome Bobby to Hartford, and look forward to working with him as well as Dan, Zach and Luis,” Yard Goats GM Mike Abramson said. “Many of our fans remember Bobby as a player and coach for the New York Yankees, and it will be exciting to watch him lead our club, and have him as part of the Hartford community.”
Meyer, 42, a resident of North Stonington, pitched in the majors for the Braves, A’s and Marlins and, most recently, was Triple-A pitching coach in the Cleveland organization.
Osborne, 33, is the first Yard Goats player to return to Hartford as a coach.
The Yard Goats open the season April 5 at Portland, the home opener is April 9 vs. Bowie.
