Roger Wexelberg has been named President of the Class AA Southern League franchise that will move to a brand-new ballpark in Madison, AL in 2020.
The Mobile BayBears will relocate after the 2019 season to Madison, where the franchise will play at a new ballpark that is being constructed as part of the Town Madison development. Wexelberg is a veteran of more than 25 years in professional sports, including stints as General Manager for three minor league teams.
Wexelberg began his Minor League Baseball career in 1984 with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers, where he worked seven seasons, before moving to the Fort Myers Miracle, and later the Orlando Cubs, spending four years with each team as General Manager. From 2001-2010, he served as President, General Manager, and part owner of the Gary SouthShore RailCats, one of the most successful independent minor league teams in the country. In Gary, he was named Northern League Executive of the Year (2005); and, led the league’s Organization of the Year (2006).
Ralph Nelson, Managing Partner and CEO of BallCorps, LLC made the announcement today. “Roger’s resume perfectly fit the profile we created for the day-to-day leader of our organization. He has experience building a start-up minor league team, has been through the construction of a new ballpark, and has assembled some of the most productive staffs and sales and marketing teams in sports,” Nelson said. “You simply cannot find a more qualified individual to lead our new team in Madison than Roger Wexelberg.”
“I applaud the decision by Ralph Nelson and BallCorps to add Roger Wexelberg to the organization,” said Pat O’Conner, Minor League Baseball President & CEO. “Roger is a longtime Minor League Baseball executive with a proven record of success and he will be a tremendous asset to the ballclub, local partners and, most importantly, the fans of North Alabama.”
Wexelberg said, “I’m excited to be back in the Southern League and look forward to helping bring the fun, affordable, family experience that is minor league baseball back to Madison County and the surrounding area.”
Since 2015, Wexelberg has worked for Learfield, the leading multi-media rights holder in intercollegiate athletics. He most recently was General Manager of Bradley Sports Properties, charged with overseeing the sponsor partnerships for Bradley University Athletics in Peoria, Illinois.
Roger and his wife, Jodie, a former front office executive for the NBA’s Orlando Magic, have two children, Ryan (21) and Rachael (19) and will be relocating to the Madison area later this summer. Wexelberg begins work with BallCorps in Madison July 15 and will also take over as President of the Mobile Bay Bears on October 1.
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