News release
WATERTOWN, NY – Thirty year minor league baseball executive Dave Oster has been named a new partner in the ownership group of the Watertown Rapids. Paul Velte and Michael Schell are
pleased to welcome Oster into the collegiate wood bat team.
Oster began his front office career in upstate New York with the Geneva Cubs, then a member of the New York-Penn League. It was in the Finger Lakes that Oster came to develop his relationship with Velte and Schell.
“It’s great to be back in the area where I got my start in baseball”, commented Oster. ” I’ve got some north country New York cold blood in my veins so I’m excited to be a part of the continued history of baseball and growth of the Rapids in Watertown”.
“We feel so lucky to have David be part of our ownership group,” Said Rapids owner Paul Velte. “He started as an intern with my club in Geneva over 30 years ago. From there he excelled to become one of the top executives in minor league baseball.”
After Oster left Geneva he was named Assistant General Manager for the new franchise in Wilmington, Delaware, the Blue Rocks, where he oversaw the construction of the incoming
6,500 seat stadium that opened in 1993.
He followed his time in Delaware with a move to become the General Manager of the Salem Avalanche. Post Salem, his most recent endeavor led him to become the President of the Lake
Elsinore Storm where he was named minor league executive of the year in 2015.
“I’m excited to be a part of the team this season and feel the Rapids are ready to row to the next level with new General Manager Nick Czerow and the creation of the Watertown Wall of Fame, which will celebrate the long history of baseball in Watertown. We want to make the Duff the place to be this summer.”
Local Watertown resident and owner Schell stated, “I am pleased to welcome Dave to the Rapids ownership group. He is a great friend who has been advising us and working with us as we put this organization together over the last several years. His joining the front office as a partner will make this organization even stronger as we move into the 2021 season.”
The Rapids begin play for the 2021 PGCBL League at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds on June 3rd, 2021. The Rapids will follow New York state and CDC guidelines for hosting fans in attendance.