The St. Louis Cardinals announced a series of staffing changes and promotions in both the St. Louis and Springfield front offices earlier today.
“We are excited to announce several staff changes that will further strengthen our front office in St. Louis and Springfield,” said Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals. “We are fortunate to have several very talented professionals who have earned the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities and new challenges as we continue to grow as an organization.”
Matt Gifford, who has served as the Vice President & General Manager of the Springfield Cardinals since 2004, will be returning to St. Louis to lead the St. Louis Cardinals Stadium Operations Department as Vice President of Stadium Operations. Joe Abernathy, formerly in that role (since 1997), transitions into a new role as Vice President of Facility Planning & Engineering. Dan Reiter has been promoted to Vice President & General Manager of the Springfield Cardinals, filling the role that will be vacated by Gifford. A Springfield Catholic graduate, Reiter joined the Springfield Cardinals prior to the inaugural season in 2005, and has worked his way up to his current role as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Dan Reiter will report to Dan Good, Vice President of Business Development.
“As my family and I embark on this new chapter, I would like to thank the Cardinals Organization not only for this new opportunity but also for the honor of leading the Springfield Cardinals for the last 13 years,” said Gifford. “I’d like to thank all of my coworkers throughout the past 13 years for being the best staff in Minor League Baseball. I am very excited for Dan in his new role and know that he and the staff will continue to provide the best in family fun for our fans while they enjoy watching the Future of Cardinals Baseball.”
“I would also of course like to thank the Springfield community for welcoming my family and me from day one. One of my most cherished parts about this role has been the privilege of interacting with the best fans in baseball day in and day out. I am excited about this new journey in St. Louis, but Springfield will always hold a special place in my heart. And I can’t wait to reconnect with Springfield Cardinals fans when they make the trip to Busch Stadium in the future.”
“As a lifelong Cardinals fan, I am both overjoyed and humbled to accept this position,” said Reiter. “I would like to thank the Cardinals Organization for allowing me and my family the opportunity to realize this dream. As we look to the future, it is our promise to continue to grow our fan-first approach to creating new Cardinals memories for fans of all ages, to continue the Cardinals commitment to being a pillar of the Ozarks community and to have a lot of fun along the way!”
“On behalf of the entire Springfield Cardinals family, we wish Matt Gifford and his family the very best of luck in St. Louis. We will all miss his dedication and passion, but are so proud of everything he has accomplished as a leader of this organization and within the community. He and Mr. Hammons are the cornerstones of Springfield Cardinals History. We want to celebrate Matt as he receives his call-up to return to the Big Club, and know that we will continue to grow the Cardinals Legacy here in Springfield that he and Mr. Hammons began.”
As the leadership transition takes place with Matt Gifford sharing his time between Hammons Field and Busch Stadium, all fans are welcome to meet Dan Reiter at the ballpark as he will be at the Main Gates welcoming fans when gates open before each remaining game of this homestand.
