MLB Former Catcher Jamie Burke Now Managing the Cedar Rapids Kernels:

One of my prized items is the baseball signed by one of my favorite MLB players, fellow Oregonian Jamie Burke.  The first part of this post was written last January, giving you a little background information.  The second part tells about the great news of Jamie being hired as the new head coach for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, with links to news articles. 

Congratulations, Jamie, Cary and I are very proud of you!  We would love to make a trip with Dobie and fly out to watch you guys soon, if we can.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Jamie Burke grew up in Roseburg, and played college ball for Oregon State University.  Cary and I met Jamie and his lovely wife Katrina at the funeral of a mutual friend several years ago.  Jamie was wearing his World Series ring that he received while playing for the Chicago White Sox.  The following season, Jamie became a Seattle Mariner, which is the team we follow the most.  After leaving the Mariners, Jamie played for The Washington Nationals and then retired as a player.  The following pictures were taken when he was a Mariner:

 Source:  Bing Images.  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

During hunting season a couple of years ago, Jamie was here in La Pine, and Cary and I were invited to go to pizza with the family friends.  That is when Jamie gave me the baseball above.  I love it!

Source:  Bing Images. Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Adrian Beltre and Jamie Burke

 Source:  Bing Images. Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Looking good, Jamie.

 Source:  Bing Images.  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Jamie giving Felix Hernandez a huge hug.

 Source:  Bing Images.  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

High fivin' Ichiro.
Man, I'm Jonesing for baseball season to begin.

Click here to read more about Jamie Burke.

Following are some news releases and articles about Jamie and The Cedar Rapids Kernels that I got off of the Kernels Facebook page and off of The Cedar Rapids Kernels website.  Here is the Wikipedia link about the team, which is affiliated with the LA Angels: just click here.

Article from The Gazette:

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jamie Burke was asked about his memories of playing professional baseball in Cedar Rapids.

“A championship, baby,” he said. “A long season, but it turned out to be a very good season.”
Burke played in a team-high 127 games at first and third base for the 1994 Cedar Rapids Kernels, a club that got hot in the second half and won the Midwest League title. That’s the last time the local nine has won it all, though if you believe in signs, that streak will finally end this summer. 
 
The 40-year-old Burke was announced as Kernels manager Friday. It’s the first coaching stint for the Oregon native, whose 18-year playing career ended in 2011.  He played bits and pieces of eight major league seasons as a backup catcher for the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals, a .277 hitter in 191 games. Burke spent last year away from the game before deciding to get back into it as an instructor.

“I took last year off to do some things with my family that I haven’t been able to do for 17 years,” Burke said. “I feel like I’ve got a master’s degree in this field. I’ve been through the ups and downs of a career, feel like I will be able to relate to my players.

“Everybody said they knew this was what I was going to do. I want to be a manager in the big leagues some day.”

Burke said he is still very good friends with former Kernels teammate Tony Moeder, who settled in Cedar Rapids after he quit playing. The rest of the Kernels 2012 field staff is Mike Eyward (hitting coach), Chris Gissell (pitching coach), Omar Uribe (trainer) and Joe Griffin (strength coach).
Eylward was last season’s hitting coach. Gissell played in the Chicago Cubs farm system and had a cup of coffee in the bigs with the Colorado Rockies.

The Kernels also announced this week they are seeking a home clubhouse manager to replace longtime clubbie Ron “Roady” Plein, who will tend to the visitor’s clubhouse this season.
The Kernels will hold their 16th-annual Hot Stove Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Cedar Rapids. The season opener is April 5 at Wisconsin, with the home opener April 9 against Clinton."

News Release from Cedar Rapids Kernels:

 Source: The Cedar Rapids Kernels website.

 
"Cedar Rapids, IA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, announce their field staff for the 2012 season.


Taking over as the Kernels Manager is Jamie Burke. The native of Roseburg, OR was drafted by the Angels in the 9th round of the 1993 draft out of Oregon State University and played for the Kernels in 1994, hitting .264 with a HR and 47 RBI in 127 games. He made his MLB debut with the Angels on May 9, 2001 and played 191 Major League games with the Angels, White Sox, Mariners and Nationals as a catcher and infielder. He retired at the end of the 2010 season and this is his first season as a manager in the Angels organization.


Chris Gissell takes over as the Kernels Pitching Coach. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 1996 Free Agent Draft out of Hudson's Bay HS in Vancouver, WA and pitched for the Rockford Cubs in 1997 and 1998, going a combined 9-11 with a 3.76 ERA in 31 games. He made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies on August 22, 2004 and appeared in five major league games with an 0-1 record over 8.2 IP. He has also pitched for the Seibu Lions in Japan in 2006 and Uni-President Lions in Taiwan in 2009. He was signed by Oakland as a free agent in 2007 and pitched for the Sacramento River Cats in 2008 and 2009. This is his first season as a coach in the Angels organization.


Mike Eylward returns to Cedar Rapids as the Kernels Hitting Coach. He played for the Kernels in 2001 and 2002 after being drafted by the Angels in the 44th round of the 2001 Free Agent Draft. In 2002, he hit .263 with 8 HR and 43 RBI in 98 games for the Kernels. He played eight seasons in the minors and has been the hitting coach for the Orem Owlz the past two seasons (2009-10).


Omar Uribe rejoins the Kernels staff as the team's Athletic Trainer. Born and raised in northeast Los Angeles, Omar graduated from Long Beach State with both a Bachelor's and Master's in Kinesiology. He also holds a Career & Technical Education Credential in California. For the past 6 years, he has taught and provided sports medicine at Culver City High school and then Los Angeles Senior High School. While at LA High he also served as the athletic director. In the past Omar provided coverage for Cal State Los Angeles, USC, Claremont Colleges and various therapy clinics and gymnasiums. In 2002, Omar served as an intern for both the Atlanta Braves & Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball. He currently resides in Los Angels with his wife Norma.


Joe Griffin returns as the Kernels Strength Coach. He has a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Along with various other certifications he had a 15-year baseball playing career and a strong knowledge base in nutrition for athletes. Before coming to Cedar Rapids, he was with the Washington Nationals and has worked with various universities in the Mid-Atlantic area. In addition he is the owner and founder of ESX Athletics LLC and has worked with hundreds of high school and collegiate athletes for over the past five years.


The Kernels open the 11th season in Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 9 at 6:35 pm against the Clinton LumberKings. Season tickets and 10-game anytime coupon books are on sale now at www.kernels.com, or in person at the stadium. Individual game tickets go on sale Monday, March 19, 2012 at 10 am."

This is just so cool.

~ Kathy Matthews 

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