The only manager in Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (independent; American Association) history, Doug Simunic, will be with the team through the 2017 season, as a two-year contract extension was exercised.
Simunic signed a three-year extension in 2012, with the potential for a two-year extension. That extension is now in play.
“I would like to capture one more championship if possible in those three years,” Simunic told the Fargo Forum.
Simunic is one of the great characters of baseball and the winningest coach in independent baseball.
He began his coaching career with the Rochester Aces during the Northern League’s inaugural 1993 season, following the team north when it began play as the Winnipeg Goldeyes. He jumped ship to the RedHawks when the team began play in 1996. Since then he’s been the colorful face of the RedHawks, feuding with his former employer and umpires regularly. During one notable incident, he was run out of a game against the St. Paul Saints at Midway Stadium, along wth then-Saints coach Marty Scott. The two decided they wanted back in the action and donned the sumo uniforms for the between-innings wrestling bit. They went at it, but when the home-plate umpire realized who was participating, he booted them again, making Simmy one of the few players or coaches to be ejected twice from the same game.
Fans in Winnipeg are undoubtedly rejoicing.
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