Kernels' Roeder to retire after 2010 season

His has been a life in professional baseball.

This summer will be Jack Roeder's 30th as a minor league general manager or assistant general manager, his 20th with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. It'll also be his last.

Roeder confirmed Monday he will step down following the 2010 season and be replaced by Doug Nelson, the club's Chief Financial Officer.

“It wasn't an easy decision,” Roeder said. “I'm sure it'll be kind of hard to make that switch. But I told the executive board for a while now that I wanted to step down by the time I was 60. I'll be 59 next summer.

“I'm very content with my decision.”

Roeder came to Cedar Rapids in 1991 after nine years as general manager of the Midwest League's Wausau Timbers. Prior to that, he was an assistant general manager for his hometown Clinton LumberKings.

Probably the most well-liked GM in the MWL, Roeder was instrumental in helping get the newer Memorial Stadium built in 2002. The Kernels also were presented Minor League Baseball's prestigious John H. Johnson President's Trophy this year - an award that goes annually to “the complete baseball franchise, based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community and promotion of the baseball industry.”

Roeder said he hopes to stay involved with the club in some capacity, adding he plans to remain in Cedar Rapids and spend more time with his son, daughter-in-law, and 11-year-old grandson, Tyler. Jesse Roeder, Jack's son, is Sports Turf Manager for the Kernels.

“This is something I've been talking about with the executive board for two or three years now. I kept letting them know what my plans were,” Roeder said.

“There's a lot of work to be done this season. I want to go out with 200,000 (yearly attendance), which is something we've always talked about. It's also one more chance to get a (Midwest League) championship.”