Tucsonan Tom Widenbauer (pictured in 2012) has been part of the Cleveland Guardians organization for 13 years, after 35 with the Houston Astros.Β 

Tom WiedenbauerΒ was a seventh-round draft pick, a quarterback-outfielder-pitcher from Sahuaro High School in 1977 who went on to play 636 minor-league baseball games and just four in MLB, with the Houston Astros in 1979. Wiedenbauer received (and earned) the award of his baseball life last week in the winter meetings in San Diego. He was named 2014 recipient of the Coolbaugh Trophy, which is presented annually to the top coach/instructor in all of minor-league baseball. Wiedenbauer is now the Cleveland Indians minor-league field coordinator, in which he oversees player development and direction. Before that, he spent 35 years in the Astros organization β€” he played for the Tucson Toros in 1980-82 β€” as a coach, manager, scout and field coordinator. If someone ever did a β€œBull Durham II” movie, Wiedenbauer’s career would be a compelling story.Β 


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