Where the Stars of Tomorrow Shine Tonight!

Article By: CCBL Public Relations Office

George Greer, a Rhode Island native, was named an All-State baseball player at Westerly High School and went on to play college baseball for the University of Connecticut; his baseball career skyrocketed from there. Greer was a three-summer alum of the Chatham Anglers (1965-67) and was named league All-Star in 1965 and 1966. Greer shared his host accommodations those summers with three other players and all four roommates have since been inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame.

In 1967, Greer played for Team USA in the Pan American Games where he drove in the winning run to earn his country a gold medal; this was the first and only time Team USA has won a gold medal at the Pan American Games. Greer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968 and played with the club for four years. As his career as a player came to an end, Greer seamlessly transitioned to the coaching side of the game and returned to the Cape as manager of the Cotuit Kettleers; his team won three league championships in his nine years at the helm.

Greer spoke so fondly of his baseball memories but even more so of the relationships baseball has brought into his life. He reminisced over bonding with roommates and teammates during his summers on the Cape, and remarked how unique baseball relationships were compared to other sports. One of the longest seasons, long games, long days – learning to cherish those bonds and those relationships really makes a huge difference.

Greer spoke about coaching games at Lowell Park in the evening and the atmosphere surrounding the park. One game in particular stands out from the 1983 season; the Kettleers were playing in the championship game at Harwich and were ahead with two outs in the ninth inning. As if he were watching the play unfold today, Greer talked about the home run hit by the Harwich player that won them the championship and sent the Kettleers packing – one of his hardest losses in over 40 years as a coach.

Greer went on to coach at Davidson College and then at Wake Forest University. He has been involved with several MLB franchises, including the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals. On July 15, 2018, Greer was promoted to the major league staff for the St. Louis Cardinals – almost 50 years to the day of being drafted as a player to the same club.

Safe to say, Greer has had an outstanding baseball career, both as a player and a coach. But when asked about his biggest accomplishment, the multi-league hall of famer, championship winning, record setting coach spoke only about his family. He shared that he has a wonderfully talented wife and amazing kids and grandkids. Greer shared that he keeps in touch with his Chatham teammates and that just a few years ago, they attended a reunion of the 1967 team.

Greer now coaches in the Atlantic Professional League and resides in High Point, North Carolina.