WEST ORANGE, NJ – Mike Sheppard Jr., head baseball coach of Seton Hall Prep, was honored by the New York Professional Baseball Hot Stove League with the group’s Steve Lembo Memorial Award last Friday night at Leonard’s in Great Neck, N.Y.
The award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of amateur baseball, was presented at the organization’s 53rd annual dinner before a crowd of more than 300. The Hot Stove League’s membership is made up of scouts and management representatives of all 30 Major League Baseball organizations.
Sheppard is entering his 33rd year as a high school head coach. His current record stands at 744-196-4, (.790 winning percentage). He coached one year at West Orange High School in 1986 and 32 years at Seton Hall Prep since 1987. His teams won 12 Iron Hills Conference-Iron Division titles, six Super Essex Conference-American Division titles, 15 Greater Newark Tournament titles, 10 Non-Public “A” North State titles, and seven Non-Public “A” State titles.
Sheppard Jr. has sent players to 36 different Division I baseball programs. He has coached 17 players who have gone on to play professional baseball, including current Boston Red Sox pitcher and No. 1 draft choice of the Detroit Tigers, Rick Porcello; Joe Martinez, who pitched for Pittsburgh, Arizona, and San Francisco, and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Christiani. His teams have finished the season nationally-ranked in USA Today 10 times, finished ranked No. 1 in New Jersey by The Star Ledger six times and No. 1 in Essex County 20 times.
At the end of the 2007 season, they finished ranked No. 1 in the country by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Among the honors he has earned nationally is the American Baseball Coaches Association Region 2 and National Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2007. Mike is also an outstanding speaker at clinics and is the Camp Director at Mike Sheppard’s Hustlers Baseball Camp since 1986. He also played and coached American Legion Baseball for Vailsburg Post 395 for 15 years.
Following the dinner Sheppard Jr. said, “It was a great honor to receive this award from my peers in professional baseball namely the professional baseball scouts.”
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Congratulations “Shep” well deserved.
Congrats to a great coach!
Well deserved
Mike congratulations couldn’t happen to a better person! Still cherish the memories playing with you and for Coach Shep at SHU.
Michael, I am sure your father, Shep Sr and my mentor, is very proud of you as am I. keep the hustle! Frank Tracey