Sandlot Dreams Come True for Dunne

Walking out of the dugout of Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Dave Dunne stops and gazes up at the stands of the fairly new baseball facility. Grinning like a school boy and sporting a baseball cap, Dunne looks much younger than his 57 years.

“I always enjoyed Cactus League baseball,” said Dunne. “I went to Arizona State University, I always wanted to get back here, somehow I was fortunate to get involved with the Chicago Cubs and now the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks.”

Dunne was the Manager of the Chicago Cubs’ Spring Training operations at Hohokam Stadium and Fitch Park for the City of Mesa from 1996-2009. He oversaw the renovation of Hohokam Stadium prior to the 1997 Cactus League season.

“I grew up in Chicago Heights, went to St. Agnes then graduated Marian High School in 1976,” Dunne said. “ I hung out with the guys. I still remember playing baseball at Small Fry and Kiwanis Park.”

Dunne is now the General Manager of Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Arizona. It is the first MLB park to be built on Native American Indian land. Under his leadership, the facility has won several awards including best Stadium Experience, Best Fall Culinary Event and top MLB in Spring Training Attendance.

Before Dunne moved his family to Arizona, you might have remembered him as Administrator for South Chicago Heights and then was the Superintendent of the Chicago Heights Park District.

“Working in South Chicago Heights was a great experience,” Dunne said. “It was a small staff, so we did everything from Community Development Block Grants to waiting on residents paying their water bill.”

Dunne worked for Mayor Don Prisco for a few years then got a job with the Chicago Heights Park District.

“I loved working for the Chicago Heights Park District,” said Dunne. “I was involved with all the programs as a kid, then got the opportunity to become the Superintendent. There were so many things my staff and I did. We started the Hershey Track & Field program, kids would win state. Alexandra Bridges won about 5 championships. I worked with Mr. Poole from Bloom, he was a great track coach.”

While Dunne was Superintendent of Chicago Heights Park District, he put on concerts in the park and revitalized the baseball and basketball programs.

“When I was working at the Park District, Dean Nardi, Dominic Sesto, Jim Fares and I opened the East Chicago Heights Golf Course,” said Dunne. “On Halloween this year I did a Haunted Trail with hot air balloons. It is a spinoff from what I started at the golf course in Chicago Heights. Cindy Pauley and I came up with the whole golf course as a Haunted Trail. It really took off.”

Dunne was named the Spring Training Operations Manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies in November 2009 to oversee the operations of the teams’ new Spring Training facilities at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Dunne is the official club liaison for the D-backs and Rockies in working with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and oversees all facilities at the complex for both teams.

“A lot of the lessons and things I learned in Chicago Heights, I took with me as I moved on and moved up,” said Dunne. “ We’ve been open here for five Major League Spring Training seasons. We get about 330,000 for Spring training then another 300,000 for off season events. We get almost 700,000 people here a year, it is busy.”

This year Dunne has won the 2015 Roland Hemond Award, which is presented to baseball executives who have provided outstanding service to professional baseball.

Dunne credits part of his success with a few things he learned early in his career.

“My style of management is to see my staff every day,” Said Dunne. “I love to walk down the hall and greet every single person. From the director of ticketing to the groundskeepers, I enjoy the one on one contact. When I worked in South Heights there was no texting. I walked over to the fire department and the police department. I’m old school that way I still remember the lessons learned. You get what people are trying to tell you face to face.”

The love for Arizona matches his love for the game of baseball.

“I never get tired off seeing the mountains and the sunsets are spectacular. I take my bike rides and I take my hikes. The worst day here in Arizona you can still go outside, in Chicago you’re not going outside,” Dunne said.

A few years ago, Dunne got his best buddy, Scott Craig, former owner of Scott Signs in Chicago Heights to move to the land of the sun.

“He sold his business and came here. He went back to school, got certification to be a personal trainer for seniors to help get them in shape. We converse every day, last night it was about the Bears game,” Dunne said.

Dunne left in 1995 and hasn’t been back much. His whole family moved to Arizona but still has a few things he misses.

“There is something about the Chicago Heights people, they’re just a great group. I still stay in touch with many of them,” Dunne said. “ I miss the food,” Dunne added. “ I’m still looking for that Chicago style pizza here. I’m told that Lou Malnati’s Pizza is moving here.”

Transition has been good for Dave Dunne.

“When I was a kid, WGN used to show a special about the Cubs in Spring Training. I’d be watching the TV, I’d look out the window and there would be 2 feet of snow in the front yard. Looking at Ron Santo, Billy Williams and Ernie Banks playing in the sunshine with the palm trees. I would tell my dad, I don’t want to go to Disneyland, I want to go there.”

“So I ended up here,” Dunne said.

If you would like to connect with Dave Dunne, contact him at DAVE@SALTRIVERFIELDS.COM Tickets for Spring Training go on sale soon.