Thanks for the Memories by Dr. Garry Griffith
Journal of Mass Communication
at Francis Marion University
Spring 2008, Volume 2, Number 1
Thanks for the Memories
by Dr. Garry Griffith
"They were three of the greatest years in my baseball career."
- Atlanta Braves third base coach Brian Snitker on his time in Myrtle Beach.
Somewhere in America there is a college or university missing a well qualified head coach. More on that later. Memory is a great thing. It is the camera for our minds and on a moment's notice it recalls people, places, and experiences from 20 years ago that seemed as if they happened yesterday. Fortunately when this occurs most of our memories make us smile or chuckle. Memories can surface at anytime, in any place, sometimes conjured up, sometimes unannounced, and push their way right into the forefront of our thoughts. "Wait, I'm getting emotional, and we all know - There's no crying in baseball."
Baseball holds a lot of great memories for me. Eight years ago I called the first Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball game on the radio as their new Director of Broadcasting. It was an exciting evening, the culmination of a lot of hard work and anticipation to unveil the new stadium and team. The team, after all, was a farm team of the Atlanta Braves, and could there have been a better fit than being affiliated with a Major League team in the southeast?
On opening night the team made a dramatic entrance from the bullpen area in
right-center field through a mock-up of corn reminiscent of the movie, "Field of
Dreams." Out front, leading the future of the Atlanta Braves, was Brian Snitker, the new manager for the Pelicans. I had actually remembered Snit from my time living in Durham, N.C., in 1987 and working in the Southern League in 1993-1994. I also had met Brian briefly at the Pelicans' press conference a few months before the season started. Little did I know, however, that I would have the pleasure of watching Brian work for three seasons.
Snit was raised in Macon, Illinois. He played a demanding position - catcher. Brian played college baseball for two years at Lincoln Junior College in Illinois in 1973-1975. He then transferred to the University of New Orleans to continue playing baseball in 1976-1977. He was drafted by his home state Chicago Cubs in 1976, but chose to return to New Orleans. He was signed as a free agent by Atlanta's Bob Didier in 1977 and that began a career with the Braves that continues to this day. Snit played for four seasons
in Atlanta's system making stops in Kingsport, Tn; Greenwood, S.C.;
Richmond; Kinston, N.C.; and Savannah.
Brian sustained an injury after four years in the minors, but that would turn out to be the start of his managing career. Hank Aaron asked Brian if he would like to
coach. There was not much hesitation on Snitker's part. "I was single," said Brian, "And I wanted to continue in the game. I jumped at it. I didn't have any long-term plans and I have been with the Braves 31 years."
Thirty one years of coaching; he must enjoy his work? "I've always had a passion for the game and I am fortunate to work at something I like." He continued, "I like working with the players, who are the nuts and bolts of Atlanta's system. I like to help them compete and reach the Major Leagues." Along the way Brian was named Atlanta's Minor League Manager of the year in 1998 in Macon; 1999 in Myrtle Beach; and 2005
in Mississippi.
This time Snit has a different job than the one he held previously as manager of the Triple AAA Richmond Braves. Notice I said "different," not "new." Brian is now the Atlanta's third base coach, but he coached in Atlanta as their bullpen coach in 1985, 1988-1989, and their first base coach in 1990. Regarding his job now, Snit commented, "I am very fortunate to have been offered this position. I am excited and ready for the challenge."
Before there was Atlanta, there was Myrtle Beach. Snitker spoke very warmly about Myrtle Beach. "I have nothing but great memories. They were three of the greatest years in my baseball career." He added, "It is always going be a special place for me because part of me is there. The area, the team, the front office - we
were the first ones there. It was a great time in my life."
How about that missing college coach position on his resume? If Brian was not working in professional baseball, he said he would probably be a college coach. Higher education's loss was Atlanta's, and for three seasons, Myrtle Beach's gain.
Snit lives in the Atlanta area with his wife Ronnie, who is a pre-school elementary speech therapist. Daughter Erin, 20, is a sophomore at Valdosta State University. Son, Troy, 18, is a senior in high school.
Brian Snitker is a nice man, a family man, and a great baseball man. For three seasons he made my job with the Pelicans enjoyable.
"Hey, Snit, thanks for the memories."
Garry Griffith has his Ph.D. in communication from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is an assistant professor of speech at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. He lives in Myrtle Beach with his wife, Debbie, and children, Anna, Becky, and Nathan.
College of Liberal Arts
