Dann Bilardello

From BR Bullpen

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Dann James Bilardello

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Biographical Information[edit]

Catcher Dann Bilardello hit his first big league homer off Hall of Famer Tom Seaver of the New York Mets on April 26, 1983, playing for the Cincinnati Reds. He saw his most big league action that season, weaning into the catching role abdicated by Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, then in his final season. Dann was never able to stake his claim to a full-time gig due to a weak bat, playing for four teams through to the 1992 season as a backup/third string catcher.

After his playing career, Bilardello managed in the minors for many seasons. He started by leading the 2002 Great Falls Dodgers to a Pioneer League title in his first year of managing. From 2006 to 2009, he was a minor league catching coordinator in the St. Louis Cardinals organization before returning to the dugout. In 2017, Bilardello led the Palm Beach Cardinals to a Florida State League Co-Championship season and was named FSL Manager of the Year in 2018. He was scheduled to manage the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19. The Cardinals did not retain his services in 2021 and Bilardello spent the year out of baseball. He returned to the field with the Los Angeles Angels' organization as a coach for the Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2022-2024.

Billardello's son, Davis Bilardello, was drafted by the Cardinals in the 2007 amateur draft and played two seasons in their organization.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs
2002 Great Falls Dodgers Pioneer League 47-28 1st Los Angeles Dodgers League Champs
2003 South Georgia Waves South Atlantic League 64-72 11th Los Angeles Dodgers
2004 Columbus Catfish South Atlantic League 69-69 7th (t) Los Angeles Dodgers
2005 Wilmington Blue Rocks Carolina League 60-80 8th Boston Red Sox
2010 Batavia Muckdogs New York-Penn League 45-29 2nd St. Louis Cardinals Lost in 1st round
2011 Batavia Muckdogs New York-Penn League 37-38 8th St. Louis Cardinals
2012 Batavia Muckdogs New York-Penn League 44-32 5th St. Louis Cardinals
2013 Peoria Chiefs Midwest League 68-69 8th St. Louis Cardinals
2014 Palm Beach Cardinals Florida State League 76-63 5th St. Louis Cardinals
2015 Springfield Cardinals Texas League 64-76 5th St. Louis Cardinals
2016 Springfield Cardinals Texas League 75-65 3rd St. Louis Cardinals Lost in 1st round
2017 Palm Beach Cardinals Florida State League 74-60 3rd St. Louis Cardinals League Co-Champs
2018 Palm Beach Cardinals Florida State League 75-58 1st St. Louis Cardinals Lost in 1st round
2019 Palm Beach Cardinals Florida State League 57-73 10th St. Louis Cardinals
2020 Palm Beach Cardinals Florida State League Season cancelled

Related Sites[edit]