Although Podobnik was most recently hired as head of Florida
operations in 2017, he held the same position from 1991-1999.
While it’s certainly not his rst rodeo at Pirate City, a lot has
changed since Podobnik last had the job. In 2007, the Pirates
renegotiated a 0-year lease with the City of Bradenton. The
team brought the Marauders to Bradenton in 2010 and renovated
McKechnie Field in 201. In 2017, McKechnie Field’s name was
changed to LECOM Park.
“When I was here in the 90s, we just had Pirate City and the
spring training operation,” Podobnik recalls. “We didn’t have
the Bradenton Marauders, and we didn’t have the Dominican
Republic operation, so that’s a whole new experience for me.
I’m excited about being a part of that and overseeing those
operations.”
Pirate Philanthropy
When the Pirates visit Bradenton, it’s not all just fun and games.
Pirates Charities, the team’s charitable arm, is constantly looking
for ways to support and give back to Manatee County.
“One of the things we feel strongly about is changing lives
through Pirates baseball, and part of that is getting involved
in the community,” points out Podobnik. “We support the
Manatee Education Foundation, The Boys and Girls Club and
Pace Center for Girls.” Podobnik also sits on the Board of the
Chamber of Commerce.
“Through the Pirates Adopt-a-School program, we work with
the Manatee Education Foundation to support six schools in
Manatee County, which is just awesome,” adds Podobnik. “That’s
an important part of our existence here in Bradenton, and I enjoy
that part of my job.”
Florida or Bust
A Pittsburgh native, Podobnik rst started working as in intern
with the Pirates in 1989. When he graduated with a degree in
Sports Management from Slippery Rock University, a small
school in northern Pennsylvania, the Pirates decided to hire
Podobnik full-time.
“My rst full-time position with the Pirates was IT coordinator,”
he says with a chuckle.
“Now this was back in 1989—so we had two computers in the
whole ofce and one printer, and that was it. It was basically
an opportunity for my boss at the time to get me to a full-time
position.”
In late 1990, Podobnik was promoted to Director of Florida
Operations. “I’ll never forget the day,” he recalls. “It was in
November, and it was the rst snowstorm in Pittsburgh that
winter. My wife Amy and I were renting a house, and the driveway
had an incline. That morning, she was backing our car down
the driveway, slid down into the street and almost got into a car
accident on the way to work. So, I came home that night and
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