NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Hall of Famer Frank Robinson has been named manager of the 2003 USA Baseball Olympic qualifying team.
The team will attempt to secure a berth in the 2004 Athens Games next month.
Robinson, who has managed the Montreal Expos the past two seasons, was selected by a USA Baseball committee that is made up of representatives from Major League Baseball and its clubs, the MLB Players Association, and USA Baseball.
"Frank is one of the most accomplished men in baseball history, as both a player and a manager, and we are fortunate to have him leading our team in this very important qualifying tournament," said USA Baseball Executive Director Paul Seiler.
The qualifying team, which will be comprised of 25 professionals not on 25-man major league rosters, is scheduled to begin training in the Arizona Fall League on Oct. 4. The qualifying event is in Panama City from Oct. 30-Nov. 11.
On Wednesday, USA Baseball will announce the 32 players who will take part in the team trials in Phoenix.
Robinson became the first black manager in major league history when he took over as player-manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1975. He also has managed San Francisco and Baltimore, and been named Manager of the Year with both.
