Font ResizeYears ago Matt O'Brien sat at a table listening to the annual Atlantic League meetings. He thought he heard about a good opportunity. York was getting a baseball team.
So it took some time.
OK, so it took a couple years.
And in the meantime O'Brien switched leagues, moving from the independent Atlantic League to the affiliated Class A Carolina League. But that didn't stop him from pursuing a front office position with York Professional Baseball.
He knew a good deal when he heard it.
York Baseball named O'Brien, 35, its first general manager on Tuesday.
O'Brien said one of the main reasons he returned to the Atlantic League is because of the personnel in charge of York Baseball. The Revolution's owners also own and operate the Camden Riversharks and Lancaster Barnstormers.
Some of the owners and front office personnel have been instrumental in building and operating several teams in the Baltimore Orioles farm system.
"I was always impressed with the ballparks they've operated," O'Brien said. "They're great people to work with, and they're respected throughout baseball."
But the location of the Atlantic League's expansion franchise also helped sell O'Brien on switching teams.
"There's something about a sports team when it's located in the heart of downtown," O'Brien said. "You find passionate sports fans."
O'Brien has almost eight years of experience running minor league clubs. Most recently he
He also has the all-too-important experience of working for an Atlantic League expansion team. He served as the first GM for the Long Island Ducks (1999-2002), which followed a two-year tenure as an assistant GM with the Somerset Patriots.
A native of Illinois, O'Brien grew up in Aurora - a Chicago suburb - and earned a B.A. in advertising from Drake University. He started his minor league baseball career with his hometown Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League. He also worked as operations manager for the West Michigan Whitecaps.
"Matt is a perfect fit to lead the York Revolution into the inaugural season and well beyond," club president Jon Danos said in a statement released by the Revolution. "Matt has proven himself to be one of the most successful leaders in all of minor league baseball with deep experience in bringing new teams to their communities.
"Matt is very skilled in delivering the quintessential minor league baseball experience and in creating enduring relationships between the team and the community."
And while the last few days in York have been daunting, O'Brien said he hopes to have business department heads in place in the next four to five weeks.
He expects to make one hire official later this week. Neil Fortier - who served as an assistant GM in Myrtle Beach and was promoted to interim GM when O'Brien stepped down in June - is expected to be hired by the Revolution.
