Hitting Coach Brian Dyer Also Set To Join Staff
The 2014 summer was Dyer's first experience coaching college athletes and he enjoyed a successful campaign during his first year in the Northwoods League. The team finished 41-30 overall, including a 25-14 second half, finishing just a half-game out of the playoffs. Dyer enjoyed playing at the newly renovated historic Simmons Field and is already looking forward to next year. “The atmosphere at Simmons Field was truly something special and I am so excited about coming back to Kenosha next summer,” said Dyer. “I am looking forward to next season and I am excited to say that I will see you at Simmons Field again in 2015.”
Out of 27 first year Northwoods League expansion teams, only the 2007 Green Bay Bullfrogs enjoyed more success, with 43 wins in their inaugural season. While Kingfish General Manager Jake McGhee is happy with the on-field success, he is even happier with the team’s community impact off the field. “A lot of the credit goes to our players for being such high character guys,” said McGhee. “However, our coaching staff was instrumental in making sure these guys performed equally well both off and on the field. I was proud with how our players interacted with young fans and how they became such great role models in the community.”
Joining Duffy Dyer on staff will be his son, Brian Dyer, who was the team’s Hitting Coach during the 2014 season. “Brian and I had a great summer working together and we thank all the fans for their kindness and support,” said Duffy Dyer. “It was a great experience for my entire family and I am happy we get to experience this for yet another summer.”
Brian Dyer also loved the Northwoods League experience and especially enjoyed working alongside his father. “It was truly an incredible experience to have the opportunity to coach with my father in front of such great crowds and in a town that has meant so much to our family,” said Dyer. “I would call it a once in a lifetime experience, but I am incredibly excited to come back and do it again next summer. I would like to personally thank all the Kingfish fans for their support of the team, myself and my family this past summer.”
Prior to his managerial experience with the Kenosha Kingfish, Duffy Dyer was selected 9th overall by the New York Mets in the 1966 amateur draft. He played in over 14 seasons in the major leagues with the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and Detroit Tigers. Dyer made his major league debut in 1968 and was a member of the Miracle Mets team that won the World Series in 1969. Dyer went on to play until the 1981 season and collected 441 hits, 30 home runs and 173 RBI over his 14-year career. Dyer was known for his expertise behind the plate and had a career .992 fielding percentage while making only 30 errors during his entire 14-year big league career. Other highlights include catching a young Nolan Ryan in 1971 and catching a no-hitter by John Candelaria in 1976.
After retiring as a player in 1981, Dyer was back in baseball in 1983 as the bullpen coach for the Chicago Cubs. Dyer went on to manage the Class-A Midwest League Kenosha Twins from 1984 until 1985 at Simmons Field. He led the team to a Midwest League Championship in 1985 and was named Manager of the Year. Dyer won a Texas League Championship the following year as the manager of Milwaukee Brewer affiliate El-Paso Diablos. The Milwaukee Brewers hired Dyer to serve as the team’s Third Base Coach from 1989 to 1995. Manager Phil Garner was suspended for three games in 1993 and Dyer managed the Brewers during the three-game series against the Cleveland Indians. Following his tenure with the Brewers, Dyer served as the Bench Coach for the Oakland Athletics and worked alongside Art Howe from 1996 to 1999.
Dyer, 69, currently resides with his wife Lynn in Phoenix, Arizona and has four children: Cami, Brian, Kevin and Megan. When he is not helping coach high school baseball, he enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.
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The Kenosha Kingfish are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.kingfishbaseball.com.