North Johnson, successful during stints as a GM in the Carolina League and California League, is the new general manager of the Gwinnett Braves.
North Johnson, successful during stints as a GM in the Carolina League and California League, is the new general manager of the Gwinnett Braves (Class AAA; International League).
He replaced Bruce Baldwin, who was GM of the Richmond Braves/Gwinnett Braves for 23 seasons.
Johnson, general manager of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) since September 2006, marked his 32nd year in minor league baseball in 2009, the last 24 of which have been spent as a general manager.
“North has a proven track record of success everywhere he’s been and we think he is the perfect fit for the Gwinnett Braves,” said Mike Plant, Atlanta Braves Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “We look forward to his leadership with the team and in the community.”
In 2008 he was awarded his fourth Carolina League Executive of the Year Award, after guiding the Pelicans to a franchise attendance record and overseeing the highly successful California-Carolina League All-Star Game.
During his tenure in Myrtle Beach, Johnson oversaw a $2.5 million renovation project at BB&T Coastal Field, which included a new state of the art video board, left field bleachers and the only beach in minor league baseball. Johnson was instrumental in co-hosting the 2007 NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament at BB&T Coastal Field. The Pelicans have been honored by receiving numerous community and customer service awards by the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce over the past three years.
Prior to coming to the Grand Strand, he was the GM of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High Class A; California League) in the California League. For his outstanding work leading Rancho Cucamonga, he was selected as the California League's "Executive of the Year" in 2005.
Johnson was the President/General Manager of the Kinston Indians (High Class A; Carolina League) for 17 seasons from 1987 until 2003 and was tabbed as the “Executive of the Year” three different times during his tenure (1988, 1994 and 2000). Under his watchful eye the Indians received the Bob Freitas Award in 1994. In 2003, as a show of appreciation for his service, the city of Kinston handed Johnson the “Keys to the City.” In 2004, he became the first inductee into the Kinston Indians / Grainger Stadium Wall of Fame after his success with the franchise.
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