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Orcin · 01-22-2012, 01:44 PM

Henry Cooper was a successful businessman in his home city of Toronto, and he loved baseball. Cooper missed out on a chance to own a franchise in the late seventies when MLB expanded into Canada. He vowed not to make the mistake of bidding low again. Thus, he was among the first applicants to acquire a CBA franchise, despite the fact that he would have to locate it in a U.S. city. He was awarded the Louisville franchise in the pot-luck drawing for owners that had no location preference.

Cooper was viewed suspiciously by the locals at first, but they began to warm up when he moved his entire family to Louisville. He also invested in Hillerich & Bradsby, figuring that his boys would break a lot of those bats so he might as well get them at a discount. Cooper enrolled his children in the local public schools, joined several public service organizations, and became a pillar of the community. Cooper was understanding and generous, admirable traits in a parent or friend – maybe not so good in a sports owner.

The Louisville Colonels began to decline in the late 1980’s and began a streak of five sub-.500 seasons. Cooper fired his first General Manager in 1990 and he hated to do it. He filled the position with Shawn Harrison, who had led the Orlando Sharks to three division titles in the 1980’s before getting fired after a poor 1990 season. Harrison promoted bench coach Jesus Perez to manager. Harrison and Perez were still on the job in April 2000. The Colonels were 692-766 during the pair’s first nine seasons at the helm with no division titles. It had been four years since the team finished over .500 and attendance was declining each year. Cooper was under pressure from the fans to do something, but he was an understanding man. Maybe this year would be different.

**********

Otto Orcin graduated in May of 1998 with a BBA/MBA in Finance from the University of Louisville. The 24-year-old Orcin did the only thing that he had ever intended to do; he applied for work with the Louisville Colonels and was hired as an assistant to the GM. Orcin helped Shawn Harrison with contracts, vendor negotiations, and even prepared a few reports on potential draft picks in his spare time.

One of these reports covered an infield prospect named Manuel Fernandez. Orcin nearly got thrown out of the war room when he pestered Harrison to use his first-round pick on Fernandez. Harrison took a different infielder and the Seattle Falcons took Fernandez with the very next pick. A few members of the Colonels’ inner circle remembered this incident when BNN named Fernandez the #33 prospect in the CBA prior to the 2000 season. Harrison’s pick was not rated in the top 100 prospects.

One of these insiders was Gordon Cooper, Louisville MBA and investment advisor to his father. The younger Cooper was anxious to get some new blood into the decision process. Orcin was able to make sense of all that VORP & WAR nonsense and seemed to have an eye for talent. It didn’t matter though. Shawn Harrison was signed through the 2001 season, and his father was an understanding man.

01-22-2012, 01:44 PM	#2
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,798	Henry Cooper was a successful businessman in his home city of Toronto, and he loved baseball. Cooper missed out on a chance to own a franchise in the late seventies when MLB expanded into Canada. He vowed not to make the mistake of bidding low again. Thus, he was among the first applicants to acquire a CBA franchise, despite the fact that he would have to locate it in a U.S. city. He was awarded the Louisville franchise in the pot-luck drawing for owners that had no location preference. Cooper was viewed suspiciously by the locals at first, but they began to warm up when he moved his entire family to Louisville. He also invested in Hillerich & Bradsby, figuring that his boys would break a lot of those bats so he might as well get them at a discount. Cooper enrolled his children in the local public schools, joined several public service organizations, and became a pillar of the community. Cooper was understanding and generous, admirable traits in a parent or friend – maybe not so good in a sports owner. The Louisville Colonels began to decline in the late 1980’s and began a streak of five sub-.500 seasons. Cooper fired his first General Manager in 1990 and he hated to do it. He filled the position with Shawn Harrison, who had led the Orlando Sharks to three division titles in the 1980’s before getting fired after a poor 1990 season. Harrison promoted bench coach Jesus Perez to manager. Harrison and Perez were still on the job in April 2000. The Colonels were 692-766 during the pair’s first nine seasons at the helm with no division titles. It had been four years since the team finished over .500 and attendance was declining each year. Cooper was under pressure from the fans to do something, but he was an understanding man. Maybe this year would be different. ********** Otto Orcin graduated in May of 1998 with a BBA/MBA in Finance from the University of Louisville. The 24-year-old Orcin did the only thing that he had ever intended to do; he applied for work with the Louisville Colonels and was hired as an assistant to the GM. Orcin helped Shawn Harrison with contracts, vendor negotiations, and even prepared a few reports on potential draft picks in his spare time. One of these reports covered an infield prospect named Manuel Fernandez. Orcin nearly got thrown out of the war room when he pestered Harrison to use his first-round pick on Fernandez. Harrison took a different infielder and the Seattle Falcons took Fernandez with the very next pick. A few members of the Colonels’ inner circle remembered this incident when BNN named Fernandez the #33 prospect in the CBA prior to the 2000 season. Harrison’s pick was not rated in the top 100 prospects. One of these insiders was Gordon Cooper, Louisville MBA and investment advisor to his father. The younger Cooper was anxious to get some new blood into the decision process. Orcin was able to make sense of all that VORP & WAR nonsense and seemed to have an eye for talent. It didn’t matter though. Shawn Harrison was signed through the 2001 season, and his father was an understanding man.