Somerset Patriots’ McVerry Named MiLB Executive of the Year
Somerset Patriots General Manager Patrick McVerry was named 2021 Baseball Digest Executive of the Year for leading the franchise through a challenging 2021 campaign.
“I’m blown away, I’m honored to receive this award,” McVerry told Baseball Digest. “Being our first year in affiliated baseball with the New York Yankees, it certainly is humbling and a true honor.”
For his work leading the Somerset Patriots through a challenging 2021 season, President/GM Patrick McVerry is our Ballpark Digest Executive of the Year. #MiLB #MLB #sportsbiz #baseballbiz https://t.co/fuzvajfKGH pic.twitter.com/gu80RsOnBk
— Ballpark Digest (@ballparkdigest) December 9, 2021
“We may be a little biased in believing that Patrick is the Executive of Every Year,” said Patriots Co-Chairman Jonathan Kalafer in a Patriots press release. “He’s been such an integral part of our team’s success since we started and his leadership is a huge part of what makes our team excel.”
McVerry led the team through the transition from independent baseball to joining MiLB as the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate. He worked directly with the Yankees and Major League Baseball to make sure the Patriots were prepared for everything needed to meet and exceed all expectations.
In Somerset’s first year with the Yankees, season and single game ticket sales increased dramatically, with over 1,000 new ticket plans purchased for the season.
“It’s amazing to think of how long we’ve worked together and what an extraordinary impact Patrick has had on our team and community. He’s a true professional that embodies the values set forth by our father when he went into business over 45 years ago,” said Somerset’s Co-Chairman Josh Kalafer. “We entrust Patrick on a daily basis to make sure the Patriots honor all the wonderful things we’ve been doing for so long, while growing our brand and always being great partners to the Yankees.”
With the passing of Patriots Founding Chairman, Steve Kalafer in April, McVerry’s leadership was needed to help guide the staff through a very difficult time, as well as work closely with Jonathan and Josh Kalafer to continue the legacy of their father.
Through 2020 and 2021, McVerry was able to steer the team through ever-changing health and safety protocols due to Covid-19, including spearheading a professional baseball league and over 80 events at TD Bank Ballpark during the pandemic to honor the commitment made to always provide affordable family entertainment and positively impact the communities served by the team.
The Patriots rose to the occasion when Tropical Storm Ida caused devastation and flooding throughout Central New Jersey and TD Bank Ballpark. He oversaw the clean-up of the ballpark, re-scheduled games that could not be played at home, and kept the staff focused to make sure TD Bank Ballpark was ready to open for games just nine days after the storm. The organization was then able to turn its attention to the community and raise over $35,000 for those affected by Tropical Storm Ida.
“This year had so many highs and lows and Patrick was always there to guide us along the way,” Jonathan Kalafer added. “From becoming the Yankees Double-A affiliate, to losing dad, as well as helping our team and community through the devastation caused by the floods, we know that we are so very fortunate to have him overseeing this tremendous staff that make us incredibly proud every day.”
McVerry joined the Patriots in 1998 as the team’s Director of Marketing and became Somerset’s second President/General Manager before the 2003 season. 2022 will mark his 25th year with the ballclub.
“I am very appreciative and humbled by this honor. There are so many great people that I’ve met throughout Minor League Baseball that I admire and learned from throughout this year that could have easily been selected,” said McVerry. “And while it may say my name, this really is an organizational award. It is a tribute to our amazing ownership and the best staff that any executive would be lucky to call their own.”
Each year Ballpark Digest editors select the best and brightest in the baseball world. These are community-based awards where the editors ask the baseball community for nominations and then select the final award winners. This year saw approximately 700 nominations.
“This past season was a challenging one in all of baseball, but the Somerset Patriots faced some challenges of epic proportions, including the loss of a team owner and a flood that heavily impacted their ballpark,” said Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard. “For his success in navigating these massive challenges, Patrick McVerry is an obvious choice for our 2021 MiLB Executive of the Year.”
