Sky Sox call up Ensor from Double-A to be GM

Dave Elmore didn't have to look far to find a qualified general manager to run his highest-level baseball team.

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox owner found his man in Tony Ensor, who has been general manager/president of Elmore's Double-A Birmingham Barons baseball team since 1998. He began his tenure with Birmingham in 1989.

Ensor will be named the club's general manager/president today at a news conference at Sky Sox Stadium. Ensor, 42, becomes the third general manager of the club since it relocated from Hawaii after the 1987 season.

Ensor has experience in pressure situations. He served as an assistant general manager when Michael Jordan left basketball to play for Birmingham in 1994.

"That was one of my greatest experiences," Ensor said. "Michael was great to work with. He didn't ask for anything special."

Ensor takes over the Sky Sox job in title today, but will work with Birmingham through Aug. 20. He is expected to be in Colorado Springs on a full-time basis later this month.

"Tony's immense experience in the game will help make his transition easier," said Gabe Ross, Sky Sox media relations director and assistant general manager. "His learning curve will be small. He will rely on the existing front-office staff to help him with the transition."

Doug Elmore, one of Dave Elmore's sons who helps run Elmore Sports Group Ltd., is expected to be at today's news conference. Also expected to attend is Rockies assistant farm director Marc Gustafson.

The Sky Sox have been without a full-time general manager since Bob Goughan resigned unexpectedly June 8 after 14 seasons. Dave Elmore promoted Rai Henniger and Dwight Hall to interim co-general managers while he searched for a full-time replacement.

Dave Elmore said Ensor was among a number of candidates. Ensor visited Colorado Springs on July 7 when the Sky Sox renewed their player development contract with the Rockies.

Ensor learned about some of the day-to-day operations before making his decision to leave Birmingham and join the Pacific Coast League franchise.

Ensor is expected to work with the Rockies on signing six-year minor league free agents. Goughan played a key role in that capacity.

However, most of Ensor's talents will be used running the day-to- day operations, which include selling advertising and generating a marketing plan to get fans into the stadium.

The Barons won Southern League championships in 1993 and 2002, and reached the playoffs four consecutive years during one stretch.

Birmingham was the only Double-A franchise to draw more than 250,000 fans each of the last 16 years.

He is married and has two children.

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