EMPIRE LEAGUE executives
Eddie Gonzalez – President / CEO & Director of Baseball
Email: eddiegonzalez@empireproleague.com
BIO: Eddie Gonzalez enters his 10th year in Professional Baseball. Recognized for signing 40% of players in the NCBL in 2015 as a manager and director of player personnel, he looks to continue being a true inspiration to players pursuing the dream goal of high level professional baseball. Eddie was an All-Star Catcher in one of the Elite Professional Federation leagues the Frontier League, and holds the independent professional baseball industry to great respect for his opportunities. Eddie studied Business Sports Management at Webber International University where as a player was an All-American with .398 Batting Ave in D1-NAIA, he also studied Communications at University of South Florida, and has a AA degree from Florida College where he was a 2 time USCAA National College Champion and All-American catcher.
JERRY GONZALEZ – Vp-Partnership/ Director of business operations & player personnel
Email: jerrygonzalez@empireproleague.com
BIO: Jerry Gonzalez is a former professional baseball player that signed in 2007 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he finished with a .325 avg and 5 Home Runs in his first year. He spent 4 years with the club before departing for the independent world after 2 back to back seasons of Big League Spring Training invites with the Angels. Gonzalez also played in the Puerto Rico Winter Leagues in 2010. He has played from the lowest to the highest of MLB affiliate and independent professional baseball which brings his tremendous knowledge of the game and business to the Empire League.
Gonzalez attended the University of St Leo in Tampa, Florida where he majored in Business with a specialization in sports management. He managed in 2016 the New Hampshire Wild of the Empire League.
MATT JOYCE – PARTNERSHIP OWNER
Email: mattjoyce@empireproleague.com
BIO: Matt Joyce is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2011, Joyce was an All-Star.
He began his career with the Detroit Tigers making is debut in early May of 2008. On December 10, Joyce was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Edwin Jackson. In 2009, Joyce was an opening day starter for the Tampa Bay Rays. On December 16, 2014, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for Kevin Jepsen. On February 18, 2016, Joyce signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matt Joyce is now a partner and owner of the Empire Professional Baseball League.
LIVIO FORTE – PARTNERSHIP OWNER
BIO: Livio Forte is a Queens business man that lives on Long Island with his beautiful wife Carmela and three children, Kirby, Livio III and Sarah Jessica. Livio has a passion for baseball and collecting memorabilia. You might have seen some of his collection at the Mets Hall of Fame and museum at Citi Field. He has also donated many pieces of memorabilia that is currently on display at the Cooperstown Hall of Fame museum and the 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero in downtown Manhattan. Livio set the modern day record price with the sale of a game used jersey when he sold the Mike Piazza 9/11 jersey in April of 2016.
front office staff members
MANDI ADEE | EMPIRE LEAGUE DIRECTORS OF MARKETING & SALES
JASON SAMPSON | EMPIRE LEAGUE GENERAL COUNSELOR
HERMAN DOWNER | REDBIRDS BASEBALL DIRECTOR OF GAME OPERATIONS
MADIE FLYNN | REDBIRDS BASEBALL DIRECTOR OF INTERNSHIPS
josh velasques | REDBIRDS BASEBALL GAME OPERATIONS MANAGER
