feder is feted

Mike Feder, the former Jackson Mets general manager, was honored by the San Diego Padres and threw out the first pitch at Petco Park on Thursday night. Feder was named the Pacific Coast League’s executive of the year earlier this month for his work at Tucson, the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate. Tucson was a lame duck franchise (formerly located in Portland) when Feder, who had been out of baseball for 12 years, was recruited for the GM job in 2011. The franchise (but not Feder) will move to El Paso next season. Feder was a two-time Texas League executive of the year (1980 and ’81) during his JaxMets tenure, which included three TL championships at Smith-Wills Stadium. He left after the 1987 season to take a job as GM of a Tucson club that at that time was a Houston Astros affiliate. P.S. To continue on a Smith-Wills Stadium theme, Belhaven’s fall ball series is ongoing at the old ballpark. The next game is scheduled for Monday at approximately 3 p.m. It’s open to the public.