Bartow named Fishel Award winner

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Brian Bartow, a member of the Cardinals' communications department since 1987, has been named the recipient of the 2015 Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence. Bartow is the second member of the organization to win the award, which has been presented at the Winter Meetings annually since 1981.

After interning with the Cardinals in 1985, Bartow joined the team as an assistant director in the public relations department two years later. In 1994, he was named director of media relations, a position he still holds within the organization.

In that capacity, Bartow oversees the team's communications, baseball information and publicity efforts on all baseball-related matters. He assists in the area of business communications and oversees additional media relations staff members.

Bartow has contributed to the Cardinals' media relation efforts during the team's last six World Series runs and worked alongside three Hall of Fame managers. The Cardinals have played 162 postseason games since he first joined the organization.

"Brian is very deserving of the Fishel Award," said Braves director of media relations Brad Hainje, who previously worked under Bartow. "I have always looked up to him for his ability to keep an even-keel attitude and the way that he has gone about his business in a professional and unassuming manner."

Bartow, a native of Battle Creek, Mich., accepted the honor at a dinner on Monday.