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Gary Varsho returned to the Pittsburgh organization when he was named Bench
Coach on November 20, 2007. In his current role, Varsho assists Manager John
Russell in all aspects of game preparation during the regular season. He also prepares
the daily schedule for the team during spring training, working closely with other
coaches, the grounds crew and various front office personnel.
Varsho, who played for the Pirates in 1991-92 and again in 1994, spent the 2007
season as Clevelands minor league Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator. He spent the
previous five years (2002-06) as the Phillies Bench Coach, which was his first Major
League coaching assignment. Gary served as Philadelphias interim manager for the
final two games of the 2004 season following Larry Bowas dismissal (he posted a 1-1 record
in the two games).
Prior to joining the big league staff in Philadelphia, Varsho spent five seasons as a minor
league manager, compiling an overall record on 383-319 (.546 winning pct.). In his three
seasons with Double-A Reading, he tallied 235 victories, good for fourth on the clubs all-time
win list. Gary led Reading to the Southern Division Championship in 2001 and a share of the
Eastern League title.
Varsho made his managerial debut with Wisconsin in 1997 and led his club to a first-place
finish in the Central Division during the first half of the season. He spent one more season
with Wisconsin before joining Reading, where he was named the Eastern Leagues Managerof-
the-Year in 2000. Gary was also a coach for the USA Team during the 2000 All-Star
Futures Game in Atlanta. At the conclusion of both the 2000 and 2001 campaigns, Baseball
America recognized Varsho as the Best Managing Prospect in the E.L.
Primarily an outfielder during his playing career, Varsho played 14 years of professional baseball, including eight seasons
in the majors leagues with the Cubs (1998-90), Pirates, Reds (1993) and Phillies (1995). He was originally selected by Chicago
in the fifth round of the 1982 June draft as a second baseman and made his big league debut with the Cubs on 7/6/88.
During his career with the Pirates, Gary appeared in the National League Championship Series in 1991 and 1992 and went
2-for-4 in four combined games. His first major league hit came off Ed Whitson on 7/9/88 at San Diego and he connected
off Shawn Boskie for his first big league home run on 7/2/92 at Wrigley Field.
PERSONAL: Gary Andrew Varsho...Wife's name is Kay...Has three children; daughters Andie (10/19/91) and Taylor
(4/12/94) and son Daulton (7/2/96)...Is a 1979 graduate of Marshfield (WI) High School...Played college baseball at the
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and earned a bachelors degree in physical education in 1989.
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Roster
