ALL-STAR 2ND BASEMAN ERIC MCNAMEE RETURNING TO RAILCATS IN 2008
'CATS ALSO INK JAPANESE CATCHER
February 7, 2008 Contact: Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255
Gary, Ind.—The 2007 Northern League Champion Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club announced today that the team has signed second baseman Eric McNamee (MACK-nuh-mee) to a 2008 contract. RailCats manager Greg Tagert made the announcement.
McNamee, who played in the 2007 Northern League All-Star Game, will enter his fourth season with the RailCats. He has served as the club's starting second baseman in each of the last two years and served as a backup in 2005 after signing off the campus of Middle Tennessee State University.
He batted .263 with no home runs and 36 runs batted in while playing in 91 of the RailCats 96 games in 2007. McNamee also started all 10 playoff games at second base. McNamee is a contact hitter who set a club record in walks with 57 and struck out just 45 times to join Jay Pecci as the only RailCats with more walks than strikeouts. He also enjoyed a strong defensive season, committing only six errors.
McNamee has become a crowd favorite at U. S. Steel Yard due to his hustling style of play. Steel Yard public address announcer Tommy Williams' enthusiastic introduction of "EEEE-MAC" is often chanted by fans at the game. He hit .312 at home in 2007.
"Eric is one of those special players who will help his team win a game in many different ways, whether it's a game-saving play on defense, driving in a run, or starting a rally, he's the definition of a 'gamer,' said RailCats manager Greg Tagert. "With Eric and Jay back, the RailCats have secured the best middle infield in the Northern League."
McNamee is one of only six players to play for the RailCats during all three seasons of Tagert's tenure as the club has earned two league titles and a runner-up during that span. He signed with the RailCats in June of 2005 on the recommendation of Andy Haines, the RailCats hitting coach at that time. Haines had served as McNamee's hitting coach at Middle Tennessee State, where he batted .362 during his college career and earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
RailCats Add Japanese Catcher
The RailCats also announced today that catcher Yuki Matsumoto has been signed as a free agent. Matsumoto, who played college baseball at Daito Bunka University in Tokyo, attended a work-out in California conducted by Tagert and impressed the RailCats manager enough to earn a spring training invitation. The RailCats can sign up to 28 players for spring training while 22 will make the final roster.
The RailCats begin defense of their 2007 Northern League title on May 15th when they host Joliet in the 2008 season opener. Call (219) 882-2255 for ticket information.
More Info: The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The RailCats won the Northern League championship in 2005 and 2007 and for each of the last four years, they have been chosen "Best Local Spectator Sport" by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly. Their 96 game schedule includes 48 home games at beautiful U. S. Steel Yard, an award-winning 6,000 seat state-of-the-art facility located next to the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) with easy access to I-65.