photo: Tim Leveque (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Each spring, upon the opening of minor league camp, the St. Louis Cardinals make special announcements and award presentations at the organization’s spring training orientation meeting in Jupiter, Florida.
A very important recognition disclosed on Thursday afternoon is the George Kissell Award for excellence in player development across the Cardinals organization.
The selection for the 2021 season is shared by two individuals for the first time. The honorees are Senior Pitching Coordinator Tim Leveque and Director of Performance Dr. Robert Butler. (Because there was no minor league baseball in 2020, no award was given at this time last spring.)
“It is just wonderful,” said farm director Gary LaRocque. “The two were tied in the voting and it was well-earned by both of them.”
About the winners
Leveque, 41, was selected by Detroit Tigers in the 29th round of the 1999 draft but decided to attend the University of Michigan instead of signing. After four seasons pitching for the Wolverines, primarily as a right-handed reliever, he graduated in 2003.
The California native was hired by the Cardinals in 2006 to coordinate video of draft-eligible pitchers. Leveque brought those technology and pitching mechanics skills with him as he shifted to a uniformed position as pitching coach of the 2008 Johnson City Cardinals. He then moved up to the Batavia Muckdogs in 2009, the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2010-2011 and the Gulf Coast League Cardinals in 2012.
During the 2013 season, he served as Mechanics Analyst/Rehab Pitching Coordinator in Jupiter. That fall, Leveque replaced his mentor, Brent Strom, as the organization’s minor league pitching coordinator, a position he has held for eight-plus years.
In that role, Leveque is responsible for the development of all pitchers in the minor league system, working with the pitching coaches for each of the affiliate teams.
Dr. Butler joined the Cardinals organization in February 2016 from Duke University Orthopaedics. The 45-year-old taught and researched as a faculty member in their Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Per their Division of Physical Therapy, as a movement scientist, he strived to “translate evidence-based performance models to practice, with a goal to amplify movement of all people at all ages.”
The opportunity to apply his clinical knowledge and experience to professional sports led him to the Cardinals, with the goal of treating, predicting, and ideally, avoiding injuries.
In his role as Director of Performance, Dr. Butler oversees the organization’s medical and athlete development. This includes strength and conditioning, rehabilitation and athletic trainers.
The George Kissell Award
The Kissell Award is the top recognition any member of the player development organization could receive and remains an annual reminder of the importance of George Kissell to generations of Cardinals.
Through his teaching, Kissell essentially wrote the book that was later labeled “The Cardinal Way” as a player, manager and teaching leader of the organization from 1940 until he passed away in the fall of 2008 due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident.
The Cardinals recognized Kissell’s importance long before his untimely passing, first establishing the Award in 1995 to recognize a member of the organizational staff for excellence in player development. In the most appropriate nod, Kissell himself received the first Award.
The winner is chosen through voting by the Cardinals minor league field staff, with the peer recognition making it especially meaningful.
More about George
Among Kissell’s many other honors is a plaque outside the Cardinals Jupiter clubhouse highlighting his numerous accomplishments as well as the naming of the team’s minor league quad in his honor.
The inscription on the plaque says it all.
“Every player in the Cardinal organization since 1940 has had contact with George Kissell and they all have been better for it. One of the most respected people in the game of baseball at any level, George has worked in all areas of the Cardinals’ baseball operations. He was a scout, minor league manager, major league coach, and, as senior field coordinator for player development, he has coordinated the team’s minor league affiliates.
“Well known for his emphasis on fundamentals, George taught several generations of Redbirds how to play baseball. In recognition of his teaching excellence and personal example, the George Kissell Award is presented annually to the Cardinals outstanding player development staff person.
“George Kissell is one of the true foundations of the Cardinals tradition.”
Though Kissell was not eligible in the fan voting for Modern Era players to the Cardinals Hall of Fame, he was chosen as an “owner’s selection” and entered the Hall in 2015.
In ongoing honor of his teaching impact of generations of players, the Cardinals dedicated their four primary minor league fields in Jupiter as the George Kissell Quad.
George Kissell Award winners
Two-time Kissell Award honorees include Steve Turco, Chris Maloney and Mark DeJohn. Turco is now retired but was a long-time manager and scout. Maloney was formerly St. Louis’ third-base coach and DeJohn retired two years ago as the organization’s minor league field coordinator.
Five members of the current St. Louis staff are prior winners, down from eight last year. Those to depart in the last 12 months are former St. Louis manager Mike Shildt, minor league pitching instructor Randy Niemann and manager of player development Tony Ferreira.
The five remaining prior Kissell Award winners are new St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol, Cardinals first base coach Stubby Clapp, Cards third base coach Ron “Pop” Warner, St. Louis bullpen coach Bryan Eversgerd and the organization’s farm director Gary LaRocque.
| 2021 | Tim Leveque | Sr. Pitching Coord. | 2008 | Mark DeJohn | Batavia manager |
| Dr. Robert Butler | Dir of Performance | 2007 | Dan Radison | Minors hitting instr. | |
| 2020 | no season | 2006 | Chris Maloney | Springfield manager | |
| 2019 | Tony Ferreira | Player Dev. mgr. | 2005 | Ron “Pop” Warner | Palm Beach mgr. |
| 2018 | Gary LaRocque | Player Dev. director | 2004 | Blaise Ilsley | Tenn. pitching coach |
| 2017 | Stubby Clapp | Memphis manager | 2003 | Mark DeJohn | Tenn. manager |
| 2016 | Steve Turco | Gulf Coast Lg. mgr. | 2002 | Danny Sheaffer | Peoria manager |
| 2015 | Randy Niemann | PB pitching coach | 2001 | Dyar Miller | Mem. pitching coach |
| 2014 | Derrick May | Minors hitting coord. | 2000 | Gaylen Pitts | Memphis manager |
| 2013 | Oliver Marmol | State College mgr. | 1999 | Mark Riggins | Minors pitching coord. |
| 2012 | Bryan Eversgerd | Sgf. pitching coach | 1998 | Joe Pettini | Minors field coord. |
| 2011 | Steve Turco | Gulf Coast Lg. mgr. | 1997 | Mark O’Neal | Mem. athletic trainer |
| 2010 | Mike Shildt | Johnson City mgr. | 1996 | Bo Milliken | Minors pitching instr. |
| 2009 | Chris Maloney | Memphis manager | 1995 | George Kissell | Senior field coord. |
Bold=currently in the organization
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