Dyer to manage SeaWolves in 2005


By John Dudley
john.dudley@...

Tigers hire former big league catcher
Former major league catcher Duffy Dyer will be the Erie SeaWolves'
next manager, the Erie Times-News has learned from multiple sources.

Dyer's hiring will be announced today by the Detroit Tigers and the
SeaWolves, their Class AA Eastern League affiliate.

Dyer, 59, played 14 seasons in the big leagues from 1968-81. He was a
member of the 1969 "Miracle" New York Mets, who won the World Series
after finishing ninth in the National League the year before.

The Mets selected Dyer ninth overall in 1968. He spent seven seasons
in New York before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1974
for Gene Clines. Dyer played four seasons in Pittsburgh, one in
Montreal and two in Detroit before retiring in 1981 at age 35.

He has spent the past two seasons as a scout in the Mets
organization. Before that he was a minor-league manager for nine
seasons, most recently with Bridgeport of the independent Atlantic
League in 2002-03. Dyer also managed affiliated teams at the Class A,
AA and AAA levels.

Dyer replaces Rick Sweet, who left after one season in Erie to become
the manager for the St. Louis Cardinals' Class AAA affiliate in
Louisville, Ky.

Tigers farm director Ricky Bennett said last week that the Tigers
planned to make a joint announcement naming their Class AA manager in
Erie and their Class A manager in Lakeland, Fla.

Those were the final two open coaching positions within the
organization.

SeaWolves general manager John Frey would not comment Tuesday on when
an announcement would be made about the SeaWolves' managerial opening.

A message left Tuesday afternoon for Bennett was not returned.


JOHN DUDLEY, can be reached at 870-1677 or by e-mail.


Last changed: December 08. 2004 3:02AM