Keizertimes., March 27, 2020, Page 9, Image 9

MARCH 27, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9
Graf stepping down from Volcanoes
By MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
For just over a year, Sa-
lem-Keizer Volcanoes Presi-
dent of Business Operations
Mitche Graf brought energy
and excitement back into
the organization.
The Volcanoes had a 12
percent increase in atten-
dance in 2019, along with
bringing in new concession
vendors and a brand new
sound system in the stadium.
But on March 16, Graf
announced that he would
not be returning for the
2020 season.
“The Walker’s gave me
an opportunity of a lifetime
to run a professional base-
ball franchise, and for that,
I am forever grateful,” Graf
said. “Getting to know the
best fans in Minor League
Baseball has been not only
an honor, but rewarding as
well. The passion that this
community has for their
Volcanoes is something very
special and I have been bless-
ed to have be a part of that
family for a short period of
time.”
The main reason Graf cit-
ed for leaving the Volcanoes
was that he didn’t have the
time or the bandwidth to
keep up with his other com-
panies. Graf has been a suc-
cessful entrepreneur for the
past three decades. He is cur-
rently looking at expanding
his catering company, while
also owning a manufacturing
company and a publishing
company.
Additionally, Graf will be
releasing two books this year.
“I was having to get up at
3 a.m. to make sure I got ev-
erything done,” Graf said.
However, Graf said he
File
Mitche Graf, the president of business operations for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, will be stepping down from his position.
wouldn’t be leaving if he good handle on what is hap-
didn’t think the organization pening and having Mickey
in the executive offi ce has
was in good hands.
Volcanoes owners Jerry been a blessing.”
The high-
and Lisa Walk-
light of the
er made their
2019 season
22-year
old “ The Walker’s
for Graf was
son, Mickey,
when
the
the CEO of gave me an
Vo l c a n o e s
the organiza- opportunity of
hosted their
tion last fall,
fi rst
post-
and Graf be- a lifetime to run
season game
lieves that he a professional
since
2015.
is the right
After trailing
man for the baseball
for most of
job.
franchise,
the
contest,
“I wouldn’t
the Volcanoes
step away un- and for that,
rallied in the
less I felt that
I am forever
bottom of the
I was leaving
ninth and had
the team in a grateful.”
the winning
better position
— Mitche Graf run on base.
than when I
E v e n
came aboard,
though
Sa-
and I know
lem-Keizer
that Mickey
Walker and the outstanding eventually lost the game to
team we have assembled will Hillsboro, Graf was proud
ensure that this season is the of how the organization was
best on record,” Graf said. seeming to gain some mo-
“The Walker’s have a really mentum.
“Our fan-base was rabid.
The energy in the place was
palpable. I remember looking
around the stadium thinking
about how this was a culmi-
nation of all the hard work
this staff had put in over the
last nine months,” Graf said.
Graf was also proud of
how all the Volcanoes sea-
sonal employees served cus-
tomers faithfully during the
season.
“It can be a challenge to
get seasonal employees to
buy in. So when everyone
that was here on the last day
said they wanted to come
back, that was huge. It sig-
naled a shift in culture,” Graf
said.
Even though it was only a
14-month stint with the or-
ganization, Graf feels like he
had a meaningful impact on
the Volcanoes.
“My goal when I came in
was to re-energize the fran-
chise. I think we were able to
accomplish that. The mind-
set is different and I believe
the momentum will contin-
ue in 2020. I wouldn’t have
left if I didn’t feel confi dent
in that,” Graf said.
Graf says that he will still
be serving as a senior advisor
to the Walker family moving
forward and that he plans to
be at several games this sea-
son.
SPORTS,
continued from Page A12
examples of sports allowing
people to heal, but the point is,
sports have great impact. As a
country, we are so blessed just
to have the ability to play and
watch sports.
Around this time every
spring, I’m usually complaining
about how the Seattle Mariners
will be a huge disappointment
to me once again. Now, I’m
reminiscing about all the fun
summer nights I have spent at
Safeco Field and how I can’t
wait for the mediocre Mariners
to return.
I will never take those mo-
ments for granted again.
It’s so easy for people to get
lost in the mundaneness of ev-
eryday “normal” life. In the mo-
ment, normality can seem tire-
some and tedious.
But for most in this country,
normal life is something to be
thankful for.
During this time, I am so
thankful that I have a house, a
job, a bed, food, water, my health
and an unbelievably supportive,
encouraging and loving wife. I
am also thankful all that sports
has given me in my 28 years on
this earth.
As an athlete, I am grateful
that I learned the values of dis-
cipline and hard work, as well
as building camaraderie with
teammates and learning how to
deal with success and failure in a
healthy manner. I am also grate-
ful that I got to experience the
joys of scoring a touchdown or
knocking down a 3-pointer.
As a fan and former coach,
I am grateful for all the rela-
tionships that sports have given
me. For all the high fi ves with
strangers at Autzen Stadium to
the deep friendships that have
been cultivated through a pas-
sion for sports.
Sports represent different
things to different people. In this
country, they represent a sense
of normalcy.
When sports come to a
standstill, there is something ab-
normal and tragic going on in
the world.
I can’t wait for things to be
normal again.
(Matt Rawlings is the associate
editor of the Keizertimes.)
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