After an extensive search, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs owner Brooks Robinson announced on Monday that former Boston Red Sox Manager and third baseman Butch Hobson will be the first-ever Manager and Director of Baseball Operations for the Blue Crabs when the club begins play next spring at Regency Furniture Stadium. Robinson also announced that former Baltimore Orioles catcher Andy Etchebarren will be the Blue Crabs bench coach. Hobson will be formally introduced during a luncheon on Friday, November 30.

“I am so pleased to welcome Butch and Andy into our ‘Crustacean Nation’ family and to have them leading the Blue Crabs in our inaugural season,” said Robinson. “I have gotten to know both of them well over the years and throughout this interview process and I know that the work ethic and toughness which each exemplified as a player will become trademarks of our club.”

Robinson led the managerial search - which included interviews with Major League Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, three-time American League All-Star Cecil Fielder, 14-year Major League infielder Wally Backman and former Orioles third baseman Ryan Minor, among others. Hobson was signed to a two-year deal. In his role as Director of Baseball Operations, Hobson will look to build the Blue Crabs roster using his connections throughout professional baseball and his familiarity with players gained in more than 20 years as a coach and manager.

Hobson, 56, had an eight-year Major League playing career as a third baseman, mostly with the Boston Red Sox from 1975-1980. After retiring as a player following the 1986 season, Hobson began his lengthy coaching and managerial career, highlighted by managing the Major League Red Sox from 1992-1994. For the past eight seasons, Hobson has managed the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League and Can-Am League, leading the club to league championships in 2000 and 2007.

“As a player, I emulated Brooks Robinson, so it is an absolute honor to be a part of his organization and for him to give me this exciting, new opportunity,” said Hobson. “I am thrilled to be back in the Atlantic League, where the caliber of play is tremendous and so many players have Major League experience. Andy and I, along with the rest of our staff, will work hard to help get our players (back) to the Major League level.”

A native of Tuscaloosa, AL, Hobson was selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round of the 1973 draft following an illustrious career as a football player at the University of Alabama under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. In this senior year, Hobson gave up football to concentrate on baseball and would eventually be named to the University of Alabama’s All-Century baseball team.

Hobson made his big league debut with the Red Sox in 1975 and had his best season in 1977, when he set team records for a third baseman with 30 home runs (8th in league) and 112 RBI (4th). After six seasons in Boston, Hobson was sent to the California Angels for the 1981 season and ended his big league playing career with the New York Yankees in 1982. In 738 career Major League games, he batted .248 with 98 homers and 397 RBI.

“We have been conducting this search for many weeks and have talked to numerous qualified candidates, but in the end we kept coming back to Butch Hobson,” said Robinson. “Through his experiences in the game, it is clear that he shares our philosophy on how the game should be played and how to treat players. We think Butch is a perfect fit to lead our team here in Southern Maryland.”

After three more seasons as a player in Triple-A Columbus, Hobson returned to the game as manager of the New York Mets Single-A Columbia team in 1987-88. He re-joined the Red Sox organization in 1989 and managed at Double-A New Britain for two years and Triple-A Pawtucket for one season. During the 1991 season with Pawtucket, Hobson guided the PawSox to the championship, getting swept by the Columbus Clippers. However, Hobson was named the Baseball America Minor League and International League Manager of the Year.

Following the end of the 1991 season, Hobson was named to replace Joe Morgan as manager of the Boston Red Sox. In three years as Red Sox skipper from 1992-1994, Hobson compiled a 207-232 record before being replaced by Kevin Kennedy. Prior to his tenure with the Nashua Pride, Hobson managed for the Philadelphia Phillies organization, before re-joining the Red Sox organization for three years.

“My goals will be simple – to get players back to the big leagues and to win a championship,” said Hobson. “I want to find the type of players that our fans can relate to. Hard-nosed, blue collar guys are the type of guys we will go after. We will spend most of our time on the field, not in the clubhouse.”

As Blue Crabs bench coach, Etchebarren will be re-united with Robinson, as the two were teammates on the Orioles for 13 years, including the 1966 and 1970 World Championship teams. Etchebarren, 64, had a 15-year Major League playing career as a catcher and was twice selected as an All-Star (1966 and 1967). He has 11 years experience as a manager with the Orioles organization, having spent time at each level of the minor leagues and with six affiliates, including the Bowie Baysox in 2000 and the Aberdeen Ironbirds the last three seasons. The Blue Crabs are expected to announce a pitching coach in the near future.

The Blue Crabs inaugural season at Regency Furniture Stadium will begin on May 2, 2008. Season tickets are currently available by visiting the team’s NEW website at www.SOMDbluecrabs.com, or by calling 301-638-9788.