This weekend, the Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will dedicate their administrative office and press box to honor the late longtime Omaha General Manager Bill Gorman and the late Omaha World-Herald beat writer Steve Pivovar. Permanent signage and plaques for both will be placed at their respective locations to memorialize Gorman and Pivovar.
On Saturday, May 5, the Storm Chasers’ administrative office will be renamed the Bill Gorman Administrative Office. Gorman was General Manager of the Omaha Royals for 31 seasons from 1971 until 2001. Under his direction, the franchise’s average attendance soared to over 4,000 fans. On the field, the franchise won two league championships and ten division titles.
He also helped guide the Royals in the 1998 transition from the American Association to the Pacific Coast League. Gorman was recognized as the American Association’s Executive of the Year in 1981. Gorman passed away on March 26, 2016 at the age of 66. His family will be in attendance for the ceremony, which will take place before the Storm Chasers’ contest on May 5 just after gates open at 6:00pm.
The Werner Park Press Box on Sunday, May 6 will be renamed the Steve Pivovar Press Box. “Piv” served as Omaha Royals beat writer with the Omaha World-Herald for close to 20 years, beginning in 1980. He would later return to the press box in another role as an official scorer beginning in 1999 through the 2016 campaign.
Pivovar was a leading authority on the history of baseball in Omaha, with extensive knowledge of the Omaha Royals, College World Series, and Rosenblatt Stadium. In total, he worked at more than 1,300 Omaha Royals and Omaha Storm Chasers contests. Pivovar passed away on August 10, 2016 due to complications with his battle with kidney cancer. His family is expected to be in attendance for the pre-game ceremony at Werner Park on May 6 just after gates open at 1:00pm.