Shipwrights Introduce New Owner & GM

Portland Press Herald
March 24, 2019

Today saw a flurry of significant announcement regarding the Maine Shipwrights baseball club, which has been playing since 2010 as part of the new NABL. It is the latest step in the oddysey which is the history of this franchise. (Editor's Note: PPH reporters are putting together a special report on the history of the franchise over the last 10 years, which will be released in a few days.)

First, the largely invisible Shipwrights ownership group released a written statement saying that one of its members, well-known Lewiston-Auburn businessman George Schott, had reached an agreement to purchase the entire ownership of the team from the rest of the group. "Although we love this baseball team, we wish Mr. Schott well in his endeavor."

Mr. Schott met briefly with the press. "It just seemed," he said, "like this team could benefit from having a visible, tangible owner, rather than a group that lived in the shadows and spoke through representatives." Schott would not elaborate on the events that led to his purchase of the team, and would not disclose the identities of any other member of the coalition.

When asked whether or not he had been satisfied with the ownership group's management of the team, he replied, "No, which is why I am proud to introduce to you the first General Manager of the Shipwrights, Mr. Keith McBride."

The announcement took everyone by surprise. McBride, a resident of Portland, comes home to Maine after spending last season as GM of some team in Canada. We think it was somewhere near Toronto, but we're not really sure. Before leaving, his team and the community begged him to stay, and offered him an endless supply of maple syrup, hockey sticks and poutine. "I was going to stay," McBride joked, "But it turns out that 'poutine' is NOT the French-Canadian word for loose women."

During the press conference, McBride drew a Samurai sword and beheaded a reporter who mistakenly called him "Kevin," and it got awkward for a minute. But otherwise, his message was very positive.

"I have very high expectations," he said. "Our goal is to bring a NABL championship to Maine, and we will pursue that goal vigorously every single season we take the field."


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KMcBride wrote:Portland Press Herald
March 24, 2019

Today saw two significant announcement regarding the Maine Shipwrights baseball club, set to begin playing in 2020 as part of the new NABL.

First, Shipwrights owner George Schott announced that Portland Maine's own Keith McBride was hired as General Manager. McBride comes home to Maine after spending last season as GM of some team in Canada. We think it was somewhere near Toronto, but we're not really sure. Before leaving, his team and the community begged him to stay, and offered him an endless supply of maple syrup, hockey sticks and poutine. "I was going to stay," McBride joked, "But it turns out that 'poutine' is NOT the French-Canadian word for loose women."

During his tenure north of the border, McBride made it known that he fully intended to bring professional baseball to Maine, even if it meant relocating the Canadian franchise. "In that regard, Mr. Schott and I see eye-to-eye: Maine deserves a great baseball team."

During the press conference, McBride drew a Samurai sword and beheaded a reporter who mistakenly called him "Kevin," and it got awkward for a minute. But otherwise, his message was very positive.

"I have very high expectations," he said. "Our goal is to bring a NABL championship to Maine, and we will pursue that goal vigorously every single season we take the field."

With McBride fully integrated as GM, the team also unveiled its logo. It features a shipwright's axe blade, with a navy blue and green-trimmed "M". The M sits balanced on the blade.

"The shipwright's axe was the premier tool of that trade, and we chose that as the symbol of the franchise," McBride said. "It means strength, hard work, perseverence, and precision. Those are values we will emphasize for every aspect of this organization."

A design for uniforms and hats is currently underway, as is a site location process for the team's stadium, and a location for each of the organization's minor league teams. Municipalities all over Maine are in competition to land one of these facilities, but no one is giving any details on any locations currently under consideration, least of all McBride: "Those announcements are not ready to be made. That's all I can say."

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nice job- FYI just to clear up.- all the teams will play from 2010 on. Us (Gms will start in 2020). Maybe new owner changes as well.

Nice article Sir...I forgot what your name is or I am so confused that I don't want to get it wrong...I was going to write an article today but, alas, the "new topic" button disappeared on me again...sigh...

Bumstead wrote:Nice article Sir...I forgot what your name is or I am so confused that I don't want to get it wrong...I was going to write an article today but, alas, the "new topic" button disappeared on me again...sigh...

I really can't wait to start this!!!

I probably would've stayed for the poutine, despite the fact that it isn't loose women.