J.D. Droddy

Jesse Daryl Droddy

• School Stephen F. Austin University, Harvard University, University of Kentucky

• Born ~ 1944 in Hull, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

J.D. Droddy was named manager of the Salina Stockade of the independent American Association when that team was hastily put together before the 2017 season. Playing largely a road schedule, the team was composed of players not needed by teams in the Pecos League, a circuit of inferior caliber in which Salina had played the previous year. As a result, they were completely overmatched and compiled a dreadful record.

He has had a rather colorful life, serving as an officer in the United States Air Force, as a lawyer, an educator, a playwright and a theater producer, before taking over the helms of his first professional team. After 20 years in the Air Force, he attended Harvard Law School, then when he got tired of practicing law, turned to education and college administration, and dabbled in the theater after moving to New Mexico. He taught undergraduate law for a time at Western Kentucky University

He first managed in the Pecos League in 2013, and led the Tucson Saguaros to a championship title in 2016 before taking over Salina, knowing they had little chance to be competitive. He agreed to manage the team only until August 1st, after which he planned to retire and return to his wife in Colorado Springs, CO. It was a rough patch as expected, but he enjoyed the chance to work one last time with young ballplayers. His first managerial assignment came in a roundabout way: living in Alamogordo, NM in 2011, he and his wife served as a host family for three players on the White Sands PupFish and got to meet manager Justin Lowery. The two became friends, and he agreed to accompany Lowery to Colorado as his coach when he was appointed manager of the Trinidad Triggers in 2012. He replaced Lowery for the final four games of the season, then took over as manager in 2013.

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
2012	Trinidad Triggers	Pecos League		4th	Independent Leagues	Lost in 1st round	Replaced Justin Lowery
2013	Trinidad Triggers	Pecos League	37-31	5th	Independent Leagues	Lost in 1st round
2014	Trinidad Triggers	Pecos League	35-27	4th	Independent Leagues	Lost in 1st round
2016	Tucson Saguaros	Pecos League	51-14	1st	Independent Leagues	League Champs
2017	Salina Stockade	American Association	10-58	--	Independent Leagues		replaced on August 1 by Daniel Aldrich, TJ Zarewicz also managed the team

Further Reading

• Pat Borzy: "A Baseball Manager Retires Again, Knowing It Rarely Sticks", The New York Times, August 18, 2017. [1]
• Salina Stockade Manager J.D. Droddy Redefining ‘Retirement’