Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510260064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The restructuring of the Salem Avalanche business operation continued Thursday.
Sam Lazzaro, the general manager since 1986, was given the newly-created post of executive vice president for business operations and Dave Oster was hired away from the Wilmington Blue Rocks to succeed Lazzaro, Avalanche owner Kelvin Bowles announced Thursday.
Oster, believed to be about 30, comes to his second Carolina League team bringing experience as an assistant general manager for the Blue Rocks and as a general manager for Geneva, N.Y. of the short-season New York-Penn League.
``I think he has some real good ideas, and [Wilmington] owner Matt Minker spoke very highly of him,'' Bowles said. ``If we hadn't found just the right man for the job, we wouldn't have hired him.''
Oster, who will join the Avalanche Nov. 1, was out of Wilmington on Wednesday and believed to be back in his home area of Cleveland for the World Series. He could not be reached for comment.
Lazzaro, who ushered the Salem franchise through a period of unprecedented growth, will be concentrating on the business end of the operation. Oster will be more involved with marketing and stadium operations, Bowles said.
``This is a positive move for the franchise and I look forward to working with Dave,'' Lazzaro said. ``This will allow me to concentrate on the business side of the operation, but I do not anticipate getting completely away from working with the public and stadium operations.''
Day to day operations are more complex than ever now that additional staff has been hired and the team has moved into the new Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium, Bowles said.
``Being the general manager is more than one person can do any more,'' Bowles said. ``We have paperwork and reports that pile up just like in any business.''
Bowles is plucking an employee from one of the league's most successful franchises. After opening for business in a new ballpark in 1993, the Blue Rocks have capitalized on a big market and the enthusiasm of a customer base that had not enjoyed pro baseball in Wilmington for close to 40 years.
Bowles would like to bring some of that enthusiasm to Salem.
by CNB