Rookie-League Skipper Will Direct Indians In 1996

The Spokane Indians have inherited two-thirds of the trio that led the Royals to this year’s Gulf Coast League baseball championship.

The Indians announced Thursday that the 1996 manager of their Northwest League team will be Bob Herold, the Florida rookie league’s 1995 manager of the year.

Herold will bring with him pitching coach Rickey “Buster” Keeton, his self-described “sidekick” for the last two years.

Spokane’s new batting/first base coach will be Jeff Garber, who played seven years in Kansas City’s minor-league system. Gulf Coast Royals batting coach Jose Tartabull asked to stay in Florida.

In four years as the organizations’s Gulf Coast manager, Herold compiled a 147-91 record. His ‘94 team had a league-record 47 wins (in 59 games) but fell short in the playoffs. This year’s 40-20 squad won the league playoffs.

“Believe me, I’m ready to go,” said Herold, who’s in Florida through October for instructional league. “(Rookie league) has provided me with a good base, but I’m ready to do something else.”

Herold, 47, played briefly in the Royals’ system. He coached semipro and collegiate teams, then joined the rookie league coaching staff in 1987.

An Omaha, Neb., native, Herold said he looks forward to working with older players and hearing a few cheers from the stands.

“We’re used to playing at noon with no fans,” Herold said.

Herold plans to spend the winter with wife Sondra and daughters Haley and Kiley. Another young Herold is on the way. Herold also will officiate Big Eight basketball games.

Spokane’s ‘95 manager, Al Pedrique, has been assigned to Herold’s old job. Herold said Pedrique, a native Venezuelan, would fit in perfectly with the team’s many Latin American players.

, DataTimes