Produced by: redstormsports.com
January 6, 2020
One of the most successful and respected coaches in the collegiate baseball ranks over the past three decades, Ed Blankmeyer has resigned his position as the head coach of the St. John's baseball program, effective immediately. Blankmeyer, the winningest coach in both Red Storm and BIG EAST history, has accepted an offer to join the New York Mets organization as the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones and the club's extended spring training coordinator.
"For the past 25 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to call St. John's home," said Blankmeyer. "To leave my mark on a program built on the accomplishments of legends like Jack Kaiser and Joe Russo has been the proudest achievement of my career in baseball.
"There are plenty of memories from more than 1,300 games wearing this uniform, but most of all I will cherish the relationships that I've been able to cultivate with my players and coaches, each and every one of whom has made coming to the ballpark each day a pleasure.
"While I've cherished my time at St. John's, I'm ready to enter this new and exciting stage of my professional career. I thank President Gempesaw, Joe Oliva and Mike Cragg for their support and look forward to cheering on the Johnnies from the stands. Our program is in great hands and I'm confident that St. John's will continue to succeed on the diamond for many years to come."
In his 24 years leading the Red Storm on the diamond, Blankmeyer compiled a record of 829-500-4, good enough for a winning percentage of .623. He led the Johnnies to 23 winning seasons with five BIG EAST Tournament titles and six BIG EAST Regular Season Championships.
"Let's be very clear, Ed Blankmeyer is an absolute and unquestioned legend in the history of St. John's, the Big East, and college baseball," said Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. "Legends are not replaced or forgotten, so today we recognize not only all of his amazing achievements on the diamond but the incredible legacy of players, staff, and coaches who have been touched by Coach Blankmeyer during his long tenure at St. John's.
"Over his 25 years as our head baseball coach, he has personified the spirit of the school in always finding a way to win while doing it with the highest integrity and class. Coach Blankmeyer is a teacher and that heart is the catalyst to all of his great achievements. His record is unmatched and unparalleled. We will be forever thankful for his presence in our department and our University."
"This is a tough day for St. John's but we could not be happier for Ed and his family in taking on the new challenge and opportunity with the New York Mets organization. As fellow Queens residents, we wish him great success and look forward to cheering him on."
The winningest coach in conference history with 347 league victories, Blankmeyer was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year a league-record eight times, including seven of the last 15 seasons.
"Ed Blankmeyer's career contributions to St. John's University and BIG EAST baseball are in a league of their own," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "In 25 years, Ed and the Red Storm have represented the league on the national level with 11 NCAA tournament appearances and the recruitment of more than 100 players who have gone on to play professional baseball. Under Ed's leadership, St. John's has been a staple in the BIG EAST Tournament, with Ed winning more BIG EAST titles and conference games than any other coach in league history. We thank him for all he has done to elevate BIG EAST baseball and wish him the best of luck in future with the New York Mets organization."
Under Blankmeyer's guidance, the Red Storm reached the 40-win plateau nine times and secured 11 NCAA Tournament berths, including a Super Regional appearance in 2012 after beating North Carolina twice in the Chapel Hill Regional.
Blankmeyer saw 124 of his players garner All-BIG EAST honors and helped 91 secure a spot with Major League organizations through the draft or free agency. Several of Blankmeyer's former players went on to reach The Show, including a pair of first round selections in Craig Hansen (2005) and World Series Champion Joe Panik (2011).
One of just three head coaches to lead St. John's since 1956, Blankmeyer earned induction into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018, joining his predecessors Jack Kaiser and Joe Russo in those hallowed ranks. Blankmeyer also held numerous leadership positions within the organization, including a one-year term as its president in 2015 and serving as its representative at the MLB Winter Meetings in 2007.
Blankmeyer boasts plenty of experience with USA Baseball as well, managing the Collegiate National Team to a 9-8 record in 2015 after serving as an assistant coach in 2010. He also assisted on the staff of former Mets manager Willie Randolph with the Premier12 Team in 2015, guiding the United States to a silver medal at the inaugural WBSC Premier12, a global championship made up of the top 12 countries in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings.
Blankmeyer took over the reins of the program in 1996, just five weeks before the start of the season. Prior to that, he served more than a decade on the staff of his former coach and mentor, Mike Sheppard Sr., at Seton Hall. With the Pirates, Blankmeyer mentored a number of household names including Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, 1995 AL MVP Mo Vaughn, Matt Morris and John Valentin.
Blankmeyer graduated from Seton Hall in 1976 after making a pair of College World Series appearances with the Pirates in 1974 and 1975. He hit .320 over a four-year career that was capped with Academic All-America honors and a 21st round draft selection by the Baltimore Orioles.
Blankmeyer and his wife, Susan, reside in Convent Station, N.J. They have two daughters, Brittany and Alison, and a son, Ty, who played for his dad at St. John's from 2013-16 before being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds.