Navs’ staff surprises GM Terlecky with ‘hero’ honor

LYNN – Bill Terlecky made it through a year of teaching and coaching high school baseball in Astabula, Ohio.That’s all it took. A year.”This was before there were about 400 schools offering sports management majors,” he said. But, he said, when he heard about such a thing, that was where he wanted to be.”I jumped in, got another degree, and after that, went to the winter baseball meetings. And I haven’t looked back since.”That was 35 years ago. Since then, Terlecky, general manager of the North Shore Navigators, hasn’t had any other job. Two years ago, attorney Patrick Salvi purchased the team and installed Terlecky, a long-time employee, to help establish the team’s brand in the Boston area.Saturday, his staff surprised him by having him named a “Hero of the Game,” duties that generally belong to Terlecky himself.He was all set to go out there in the third inning – which is when the ceremony is generally held – to honor longtime fan Kevin McCaul (who was in on the deception).”My (portable) microphone is controlled in the press box,” Terlecky said. “It went to start to give my speech when I noticed my mike didn’t work. I was actually getting agitated.”Then, public address announcer Mike Ward started giving the speech himself.”It took him a couple of sentences before I figured out he was talking about me.”Terlecky simply loves the game, and he says he’s always considered it an honor be a part of it, in whatever capacity.”I’ve been so darn lucky to spend as much time as I’ve spend in this game,” he said. “And I feel lucky this crew that I’m working with now felt that was something they wanted to do.”A good-sized crowd was on hand for the game on an almost picture-perfect summer night, and gave Terlecky a rousing ovation.”I was amazed at their reaction,” he said. “It’s not like it was a house full of my personal friends who knew anything about me.”Terlecky says, “I like being a part of this team. I love the camaraderie. I don’t play, but I like to think I’m a part of it. The players were on the field with big grins on their faces, and I felt like, gosh, I think I got it right.”As general manager, Terlecky handles everything from procuring players (with the help of field manager Jon Cahill), hiring and directing staff help, marketing the team, organizing the different “nights” the Navigators have … right down to providing commentary on the man-and-dog Frisbee tandem.As he said earlier this season, “I’m also the general manager of fun.”Terlecky’s first job came was in 1978 in Rochester, N.Y. He has been involved with almost every facet of Minor League ball … affiliated, unaffiliated and, now, independent college leagues.Last year, he was named the Futures Collegiate Baseball League Executive of the year.