The Traverse City Pit Spitters today named Mickey Graham as the first General Manager of the new franchise.
“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity!” said Graham. “Northern Michigan is a wonderful part of the state and I’m looking forward to getting to know the Traverse City area and becoming a part of this community.”
Graham comes to the Pit Spitters after spending 19 years with the West Michigan Whitecaps, the last 14 as their Director of Marketing and Media. In 19 years with the Whitecaps, Graham has developed a track record of creating industry-leading promotions, a focus on the fan experience and a commitment to developing strong and sustainable relationships within the West Michigan community. Graham leaves a legacy in West Michigan that includes promotional highlights such as the Fifth Third Burger, Star Wars Night and Peanut Free Days just to name a few.
In his new role as General Manager, Graham will oversee all aspects of the Pit Spitters operation.
“Mickey is the right person at the right time to lead this franchise. I am confident that he has the experience to reinvigorate the market, creatively use that ballpark for outside events and to bring our organizational core values of providing fun and family-friendly entertainment to Traverse City and Northern Michigan,” said Whitecaps and Pit Spitters CEO Joe Chamberlin. “He has been a huge part of cementing the Whitecaps in the West Michigan community, which will translate well as we work to make Pit Spitters baseball a summertime staple in Northern Michigan for years to come.”
The Pit Spitters open the 2019 Northwoods League season at home on Tuesday, May 28 against the Green Bay Booyah. Tickets for this game and all other 2019 Pit Spitters games will go on sale later this year.
The Traverse City Pit Spitters are in their first year as a member of the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is a 22-team collegiate summer baseball league which plays from the end of May through mid-August. Last fall a group of investors led by the West Michigan Whitecaps purchased the stadium and started up the new franchise.
