Clippers’ Schnacke elected to IL hall

Clippers president and general manager Ken Schnacke has been elected to the International League Hall of Fame.

Schnacke has spent all but five years of his career in the Clippers’ front office. During his tenure, the team has won the Governors’ Cup 10 times, made the playoffs 18 times and developed a national reputation for being fan-friendly and a business model for minor-league operations.

A large chunk of Schnacke’s legacy will be his taking the lead in the franchise’s rebirth with a move to Huntington Park in the Arena District in 2009 from ancient Cooper Stadium. He played a major role in the design of the park, which has won numerous awards as the best professional baseball stadium.

The Clippers have attracted at least 600,000 spectators each season in Huntington Park.

Schnacke also was responsible for establishing a working agreement with the Cleveland Indians nine years ago, and the result has been two Governors’ Cup championships and one national championship. The contract has been extended for two seasons.

After graduating from Ohio Northern University, Schnacke was named business manager of the Amarillo Gold Sox in 1976. The following season, the Clippers hired him as director of operations, a term that lasted through the ’83 season.

He was a professor in sports administration at Ohio State for four years before returning to the Clippers in 1989 as general manager.

Schnacke is the 12th member of the Clippers to make the International League Hall of Fame.

Schnacke