A Waterloo man has risen through the ranks of the St. Louis Cardinals’ front office, so much so that he was named general manager of its Triple A minor league baseball affiliate this week.

Craig Unger, a Gibault Catholic High School graduate who  has worked in the Cardinals organization since 2008, has been chosen to serve as general manager of the Memphis Redbirds.

Unger, who has a background in radio and sales, played a key role in the organization’s recent acquisition of the Redbirds. He has worked as an account executive in marketing and corporate sales for the Cardinals.

The Memphis Redbirds are the third minor league team owned and operated by the Cardinals. The Palm Beach Cardinals were purchased in 2002, and the Springfield Cardinals were purchased in 2005.

Unger has spent the past few months in Memphis assisting with the ownership transition, and will permanently relocate with his family  as he takes over daily management of the Redbirds.

“Over the next couple of months, we will pack up and head south,” Unger wrote in a post to friends on Facebook. “While it’s sad to leave an area we have lived in our whole lives, we are excited about this new chapter of our lives.”

Unger is credited for playing an essential role in returning the team’s radio broadcasts to KMOX 1120 AM, coordinating the 2011 World Series victory parade and securing a partnership with Mercy Medical Center as official medical provider of the Cardinals.