Rome skipper Ingle notches 1,500th win

A quarter of a century ago, Class A Rome skipper Randy Ingle began managing in the Atlanta Braves organization.

Ingle was greeted with a celebratory ice bath after capturing his 1,500^th win as a Minor League manager Monday night with Rome's 10-3 victory over host Asheville. Even though the 58-year-old has managed since before many of his players were born, he works with a young spirit.

"I do not feel old, I really don't," Ingle laughed. "But 1,500 wins means I've been around for a long time. I had a lot of good teams and lot of good people. I've had a lot of good coaches with me since I've been managing and a lot of good ballplayers. Everything together made it possible."

Congrats to one of the most respected managers in baseball, on his 1500th win. @TheRomeBraves. #RandyIngle #Skip pic.twitter.com/hf2lMlvGWY

- Mike Soroka (@Mike_Soroka28) August 23, 2016

Ingle began managing in 1990 with Rookie-level Pulaski in the Appalachian League and became an influential figure in the Braves farm system at a time when the organization was racking up National League pennants and won a World Series in 1995 under skipper Bobby Cox.

"We've had a lot of [great players], going back to David Justice and Chipper Jones and Javy Lopez and the pitchers who are up there," Ingle said. "I've had most of them at some point in time, so to see them reach their goal and be able to play in the big leagues and watching some play in the World Series and win a World Series. I've seen a lot of players come through the organization to have great careers.

"When they reach their goal and make it to the big leagues, that's my reward and that's my paycheck," he added. "That gives me more thrill than anything, you know, seeing that happen."

From 1990-92, Ingle was with Pulaski, where he won a league championship in 1991. He's spent most of his time in the Class A South Atlantic League, managing Macon in 1993 and 2001 and then holding down the fort for Rome from 2006-2010, 2012-2013 and over the past two seasons.

Ingle managed five seasons in the Class A Advanced Carolina League with two clubs. He was the Durham Bulls' skipper in 1996 and then helmed the Myrtle Beach Pelicans from 2002-05.

He managed Double-A Greenville to a Southern League championship in 1997 and spent two years with Triple-A Richmond in the International League from 1999-2000. He returned to the Appalachian League to manage Danville in 2011 and took the Braves to Appy Finals in 2014.

Congrats skip on your milestone! I am honored to have been a part of it. You are a true leader. #RandyIngle

- Touki Toussaint™ (@_YoSoy_Touki) August 23, 2016

"It's a first-class organization and they've been good to me. I've been with them for 38 years, managing for 25," Ingle said. "Just seeing how the organization has been with the downs and the ups and now going back in the right direction, it's very exciting."

Ingle's 1,500th win also marked Rome's fifth straight victory and moved the Braves into first place in the South Atlantic League Southern Division for the first time this year with 13 games left in the season.

"We'll just get back after it tomorrow," Ingle said. "Same thing, going out and teaching these young guys and trying to put them in the right situations to win ballgames and just let them play. ... I'm going to keep teaching and doing what we can to make them better ballplayers and better people."

And what might the future have in store?

"I haven't even thought about that," he said. "These guys make me young or make me feel young, let me put it that way."