photo: Dr. Robert Butler, Gary LaRocque, Jose Oquendo (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Upon the opening of minor league camp each spring, 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 Monday afternoon is the George Kissell Award for excellence in player development across the Cardinals organization.
The selection for the 2022 season is so logical and obvious, one is left to wonder why it took so long. Coordinator of Instruction Jose Oquendo is the choice of his Cardinals player development peers.
Congratulations to #STLCards Minor League Coordinator of Instruction, José Oquendo, who was named the 2022 George Kissell Award winner.
Named in honor of the late #CardsHOF instructor, the award is presented annually for excellence in player development. pic.twitter.com/TSZlxK2V1y
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) March 6, 2023
Last year’s winners were Senior Pitching Coordinator Tim Leveque and Director of Performance Dr. Robert Butler. Coincidentally, I took the above photo of Butler, Oquendo and Director of Player Development Gary LaRocque just hours before the announcement.
About the winner
Oquendo, 59, has been affiliated with the Cardinals since 1985, first as Whitey Herzog’s “Secret Weapon”. A shortstop from Puerto Rico, Oquendo moved to second base for Ozzie Smith and logged the second-highest fielding percentage at the position in MLB history (99.19%). But at one time or another, Oquendo played every position on the diamond.
Upon retirement as an active player in 1995, Oquendo coached and managed in the minor league system before becoming St. Louis’ Bench Coach in 1999. From 2000-2015, he served as the third base coach.
To deal with bad knees, he took the 2016 season off before serving a minor league instructor in 2017. He was convinced to return to the St. Louis staff for 2018 but went back to player development from 2019 though the present.
Oquendo is considered the organization’s best teacher, not only to his specialty, the infield, but overall. His peers now formally recognize that.
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 retired but was a long-time manager and scout. Maloney was formerly St. Louis’ third-base coach and is still in baseball. DeJohn retired three years ago as the organization’s minor league field coordinator.
Seven members of the current Cardinals staff are prior winners, up by two from last year due to the selections of Butler and Leveque for 2021.
The five remaining prior Kissell Award winners are St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol, Cardinals first base coach Stubby Clapp, Cards third base coach Ron “Pop” Warner, special assistant Bryan Eversgerd and LaRocque.
| Kissell winners | |||||
| 2022 | Jose Oquendo | Coord of Instruction | |||
| 2021 | Tim Leveque | Sr. Pitching Coord. | 2008 | Mark DeJohn | Batavia manager |
| 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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