Chicago, Ill. – The Chicago Dogs announced Butch Hobson as the club’s field manager for the team’s 2018 inaugural season on Wednesday. Hobson joins the Dogs with more than 30 years of experience in major and minor league baseball, including three seasons as manager of the Boston Red Sox.
Hobson most recently served as the manager of the Kane County Cougars, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Low-A affiliate. Previously, he spent 18 seasons managing in independent baseball with the Atlantic League’s Lancaster Barnstormers (2011-16) and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (2008-10), the Nashua Pride (Can-Am League 2006-07, Atlantic League 2000-05), and the Texas-Louisiana League’s Mobile BaySharks (1994), winning championships in 2014, 2007 and 2000.
The native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., also managed in affiliated baseball with the Boston, Philadelphia and New York Mets organizations.
Hobson played in the major leagues for Boston (1975-1980), California (1981) and the New York Yankees (1982), belting 30 home runs in 1977.
“Independent professional baseball has been a major part of my life for the past 16 years so this feels like the perfect next chapter,” said Hobson. “It offers opportunities for growth and development to players who may otherwise not receive those benefits, which is something I take a lot of pride in being a part of.”
The Dogs’ first campaign will begin Friday, May 18 at Sioux Falls.
Photo: Lancaster Barnstormers
