Joe McEacharn, President of the Class AA Eastern League, was been named the recipient of Minor League Baseball‘s 36th annual Warren Giles Award, recognizing outstanding service as a league president.
The Warren Giles Award has been presented annually since 1984 and is named for the long-time baseball executive who served as the National League president from 1951 to 1969. McEacharn will receive the award at the Baseball Winter Meetings Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
“Joe McEacharn has done a tremendous job leading the Eastern League over the last 17 years and his clubs are leaders in their respective communities,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “The Eastern League continues to be one of the most stable leagues in Minor League Baseball in part due to Joe’s leadership, and on behalf of Minor League Baseball, it is my pleasure to present Joe with this honor.”
“Recognition amongst peers for contributing to success is both a humbling and appreciative experience,” said McEacharn. “I’m sure my peers agree that this award is really a group recognition earned by contributions from Eastern League owners, operators and staff members, as well as substantial support and guidance from the entire MiLB staff, and it is with gratitude to each, that I respectfully accept this award on behalf of all those contributors.”
McEacharn, who also claimed the honor in 2006, becomes the eighth league president in Minor League Baseball to win the Giles Award two or more times, joining John Hopkins, Randy Mobley (three-time winner), John Henry Moss, Charles K. Murphy, Branch Rickey III, Bob Richmond and George Spelius.
During McEacharn’s tenure as league president, the Eastern League has had four teams win Minor League Baseball’s Larry MacPhail Promotional Award (Trenton-2003, Altonona-2004, New Hampshire-2010 and Akron-2015), three clubs win the John H. Johnson President’s Award (Reading-2003, Trenton-2005 and Altoona-2006), two teams win the John Henry Moss Community Service Award (Reading-2018 and Hartford-2019) and one Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year Award (Reading’s Ashley Forlini-2006).
A native of West Springfield, Massachusetts, McEacharn joined the Eastern League staff in 1997, under President William B. “Bill” Troubh, after starting his professional career as an attorney. McEacharn and his wife, Mary, reside in Scarborough, Maine, with Addi, their golden retriever.
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