Greg Tagert (born January 5, 1963) is a professional baseball manager and coach. He's most notable as manager for the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association of Professional Baseball, a position he held from 2005 until leaving on February 7, 2022, to join the San Francisco Giants organization.[1][2]
| Greg Tagert | |
|---|---|
| Born: (1963-01-05) January 5, 1963 (age 59) Vacaville, California | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Tagert, a native of Vacaville, California, attended San Francisco State University where he served as a pitcher. He went on to coach at the University of New Mexico and later served as a scout for the Detroit Tigers.
He managed nine years for five different clubs in the Frontier League. After his first year in the Frontier League, he had a very short stint in the Prairie League as manager for the Brainerd Bobcats, a team that folded after two weeks.[3]
In 2005, he became the new manager of the Gary SouthShore RailCats, a team that held the league record for losses. That same year, the RailCats won the Northern League championship. The RailCats made it to the Championship series four years in a row, winning twice. In 2008, the RailCats extended his contract until 2010. As a result, Tagert relocated his family from Vacaville to Northwest Indiana.[4]
On Saturday, February 20, 2010, the RailCats announced that his contract was being extended until 2013.[5] A year later, in 2011, the Northern League folded and the RailCats, along with the Kansas City T-Bones, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, and Winnipeg Goldeyes, moved to the American Association for the 2011 season. Tagert guided Gary to their first AA championship in 2013.
After suffering the first full losing season of his career in 2015, Tagert rebounded to guide the RailCats back to the postseason in 2017, followed by the first division title since 2008 (when they were in the Northern League). Both seasons ended in first-round playoff exits.
Gary slipped to fifth place (our of six teams) in the North Division in 2019 before sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon returning in 2021, the RailCats slipped further, suffering their first last-place finish under Tagert's watch. This proved to be his final season in a RailCats uniform.
On February 7, 2022, the RailCats announced that Tagert was leaving the organization to take a position within the San Francisco Giants organization, ending his 17-year tenure in Gary.[6] Tagert has been tapped as the manager of the Arizona Complex League Giants.[7]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Ohio Valley Redcoats | Frontier League | 36-34 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | Brainerd Bobcats | Prairie League | 7-9 | -- | Team disbanded |
| 1997 | Evansville Otters | Frontier League | 46-33 | 2nd | Lost League Finals |
| 1998 | Evansville Otters | Frontier League | 43-36 | 4th | Lost in 1st round |
| 1999 | Evansville Otters | Frontier League | 43-41 | 3rd | Lost in 1st round |
| 2000 | Evansville Otters | Frontier League | 45-38 | 4th | Lost League Finals |
| 2001 | Dubois County Dragons | Frontier League | 48-36 | 3rd | Lost in 1st round |
| 2002 | Dubois County Dragons | Frontier League | 52-32 | 3rd | Lost in 1st round |
| 2003 | Kenosha Mammoths | Frontier League | 47-42 | 7th | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | Springfield/Ozark Ducks | Frontier League | 52-44 | 6th | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | Northern League | 54-42 | 3rd | League Champs |
| 2006 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | Northern League | 51-46 | 3rd | Lost League Finals |
| 2007 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | Northern League | 58-38 | 1st | League Champs |
| 2008 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | Northern League | 56-40 | 2nd | Lost League Finals |
| 2009 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | Northern League | 57-39 | 1st | Lost League Finals |
| 2010 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | Northern League | 52-48 | 4th | Lost in 1st round |
| 2011 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 54-46 | 2nd | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 50-50 | 3rd | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 58-41 | 2nd | League Champs |
| 2014 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 53-47 | 2nd | Did not qualify |
| 2015 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 45-55 | 3rd | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 52-48 | 2nd | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 57-43 | 2nd | Lost in 1st round |
| 2018 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 59-41 | 1st | Lost in 1st round |
| 2019 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 40-59 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| 2021 | Gary SouthShore RailCats | American Association | 39-61 | 6th | Did not qualify |
| Preceded by | Manager of the Gary SouthShore RailCats 2005 – 2021 |
Succeeded by Currently vacant |