Assistant general manager Steve Archibald had his own vision for both the new field and the new Rock Cats mascot, according to The Associated Press.
"What I picture in the new stadium," Archibald told The AP, "is a mascot running around playing a guitar with the lyrics from Elvis Presley's songs: 'One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, now go 'Cats go,'"
Archibald served as business manager for the club and then assistant general manager, staying with the club into 1996.
Archibald's time in baseball began by 1990, serving that year as the club's business manager. He returned in that role for 1991.
By 1994, he'd moved up to assistant general manager and he worked to get the New Britain club a new stadium. He worked that May to help get the club a state grant.
That August, he got a reminder to pay attention to the field, hit by a foul ball at the AA All-Star Game.
"I was sitting down at a picnic table," Archibald told reporters. "All of a sudden I heard a loud crack and it felt like my head exploded."
Archibald returned and he saw the New Britain club stay in the city and become the Rock Cats. He then continued as assistant general manager into 1996, when he left mid-season.
- South Florida Sun Sentinel, Aug. 7, 1994: Johnson's Power Making Heads Turn
- New London Day, Associated Press, Nov. 15, 1994: Red socks out, leather jacketed cat is in
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,330
Made the Majors: 965-41.4%
Never Made Majors:1,365-58.6%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 401
10+ Seasons in the Minors:242
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ReplyDeletein my defense....the ball that struck me in the side of the head was hit during a pre-game HR derby and I was seated in a VIP reception in the picnic area located beyond the 3B/LF bleachers which had no view of the field! Charles Johnson hit the ball so hard that you could read the reverse imprint of his name from his bat on the ball. He signed it for me the next time the Sea Dogs were in New Britain. I never saw the All-Star game as I spent the night in a Binghamton hospital!
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