The Playing Careers of Current MLB Managers
Submitted by podizz on Tue, 12/08/2009 - 14:42
- Joe Torre- Aside of his hall-of-fame managerial career, Torre has the distinct honor of being the only player to start 500 games at catcher, first base, and third base. Torre started his career alongside his brother Frank, Hank Aaron, and Eddie Matthews on the Milwaukee Braves, where he would go on to win a catching gold glove and prompt Jack Kerouac to call him "the best catcher since Roy Campanella." After being traded to St. Louis for Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, Torre would move to third base where in 1971 he would he hit .363 and drive in 137 runs en route to a NL MVP award. Torre wrapped up his career as a player-manager for the Mets. In his seventeen-year playing career, he would play in nine all-star games. AVG: .297, HR: 252, RBI: 1,185.
- Joe Girardi- Girardi caught 15 seasons in the majors, winning three world series with the Yankees and appearing in an all-star game in 2000. AVG: .267, Hits: 1,100, RBI: 422.
- Mike Scioscia- The now skipper of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim spent his playing career under Tommy Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers, where he thrived as a catcher. Scioscia was lauded for his defense, in particular, his unrivaled talent for plate-blocking. Scioscia made two all-star appearances and took home two world series rings with the boys in blue. AVG: .259, HR: 68, RBI: 446.
- Ozzie Guillen- Emerging from Venezuela, Guillen took the major leagues by storm, winning the 1985 AL Rookie of the Year Award as a shortstop. He was an All-Star in 1988, 1990-91, and won the Gold Glove Award in 1990. Guillén ranks among the White Sox all-time leaders in games played, hit s, and at-bats. AVG: .264, Hits: 1764, RBI: 619.
- Lou Piniella- "Sweet Lou" was the first player to ever get up to bat for a brand new Kansas City Royals team, and also the first to take AL Rookie of the Year honors for the squad as the left fielder. After being traded to the Yankees in 1974, Piniella would ascend to the lead-off role, ultimately capturing two world series championships in '77 and '78. AVG: .291, Hits: 1705, HR: 102, RBI: 766.
- Dusty Baker: Then, like today, Dusty Baker was never kind to pitchers. (See Mark Prior, Kerry Wood) Dusty compiled quite a resume in his sixteen-year playing career, including 2 all-star selections, one world series ring ('81 with the Dodgers), one gold glove, 2 silver slugger awards, and the 1977 NLCS MVP honors. AVG: .278, HR: 242, RBI: 1,013.
- Bud Black-In fifteen major league seasons, Black put together a very repectable pitching resume, winning over 120 games and caturing a world series title in 1985. W:121, ERA: 3.84, SO: 1,039.
- Cito Gaston- Gaston played a decade at outfield for four different teams, appearing in an all-star game in 1970. AVG: .256, HR: 91, RBI: 387.
- Terry Francona- After being named Most Outstanding Player in Arizona's 1980 College World Series Championship, Tito went on to have a largely unremarkable 10-year pro career, playing first base and outfield for five different ballclubs. Batting average:.274, Hits: 474, RBI: 143.
- Charlie Manuel- Though he appeared in five major league seasons in the early seventies, he did not acheive a starting role until he began playing for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. Dubbed "Aka-Oni" (The Red Devil) by fans and teammates, Manuel became a star, having seasons hitting 48, 42, 37, and 39 HR. At a game against the Lotte Orions, he was hit in the face by a pitch, crushing his jaw. Told he needed at least two months to recover, Manuel returned after being sidelined for only 14 games, wearing a football helmet. The team went on to win the first-half championship and eventually the pennant for the whole season. NPB statistics: AVG: .303, HR: 189, RBI: 491.
- Ron Washington- Washington bounced around the majors for over a decade as a middle infielder. AVG: .261, Hits: 414, RBI 146.
- AJ Hinch- In eight seasons, Hinch played catcher primarily in a back up role for the A's, Royals, Tigers, and Phillies. AVG: .219, HR: 32, RBI: 112.
- Brad Mills: Before he was the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, the newest skipper of the 'stros was just about the most unremarkable infielder for the now defunct Expos. In his 106 career games, just about the only thing Mills did of note was become Nolan Ryan's 3,509th career strikeout victim, moving him past Walter Johnson for first all-time. AVG: .256, HR:1, RBI: 12.
- Bruce Bochy- In his decade of MLB service, Bochy caught for the Astros, Mets and Padres. AVG: .239, HR: 26, RBI: 93.
- Ken Macha- Macha did next to nothing for the Pirates, Expos, and Blue Jays before moving to Japan to play third base for the Chunichi Dragons. AVG: .258, HR: 1, RBI: 35.
- John Russell- Another manager whose most notable playing achievement was being a footnote in the career of the great Nolan Ryan. In 1990, Russell caught Ryan's sixth no-hitter for the Rangers. AVG: .225, HR: 34, RBI: 129.
- Tony La Russa- After suffering a shoulder injury while playing softball with friends, La Russa spent most of his career as a backup infielder for the A's, Braves, and Cubs. AVG: .199, Hits: 35, RBI: 7.
- Bob Geren- After spending a decade in the minors, Geren finally made the big dance as a catcher for the New York Yankees. He sucked for a five years of his major league career. AVG: .233, Hits: 178, HR: 22.
- Don Wakamatsu- The Mariners' manager caught 18 major league games, all for knuckleballer Charlie Hough. AVG: .226, Hits: 7, Runs: 2.
- Jim Tracy- Tracy played outfield for a couple of seasons with the Cubs before signing with Japan's Taiyo Whales. AVG: .249, HR: 3, Hits: 46.
- Ron Gardenhire- The Twins' skipper battled through an injury-plagued five seasons as an infielder for the Mets before finally hanging up the cleats in 1985. AVG: .232, HR: 4, Hits: 165.
- Bobby Cox- The prolific Braves manager played only two seasons for the Yankees in 68 and 69, where he eventually was forced to quit due to bad knees. AVG: .225, HR: 9, RBI: 58.
- Jerry Manuel-From 1975-1982, Manuel bounced around the majors in a back-up infielder role, accumulating only 127 career at-bats over the seven year span. AVG: .150, HR: 3, RBI: 13
- Don Zimmer- Before he was that lovable old oaf flanking Joe Torre in the Yankees dugout, Popeye played alongside Jackie Robinson with the Brooklyn Dodgers. However, it all might never have been. Zimmer nearly lost his life after taking a pitch to the temple during a game of small league ball in 1953, falling in and out of consciousness for almost two weeks before a couple of holes were drilled into his skull to relieve the swelling. Zim miraculously recovered, and went on to play a dozen years in the bigs as a utility infielder before embarking on a 40-year coaching career with eight different squads.
- Don Mattingly
- Kirk Gibson
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