Jim Leyland

Jim Leyland
Manager
Born: December 15, 1944
Perrysburg, Ohio
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Career statistics
Games 3,499
Won–loss record 1,769–1,728
Winning % .506
Teams

 As Coach

As Manager

Career highlights and awards
  • World Series champion (1997)
  • 2× NL Manager of the Year (1990, 1992)
  • AL Manager of the Year (2006)

James Richard "Jim" Leyland (born December 15, 1944) is a retired Major League Baseball manager. He currently serves as a special assistant to the Detroit Tigers.

He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles (1990, 1991, and 1992) with the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the Tigers' victory in the 2006 American League Championship Series, Leyland became the seventh manager in history to win pennants in both the National and American Leagues. He is a three-time Manager of the Year Award winner, twice in the National League (1990 and 1992), and once in the American League (2006).

Early career

Leyland began his baseball career with the Tigers when they signed him as a catcher on September 21, 1963. He spent seven seasons as a minor leaguer in the Tigers organization (1964–1970), but mainly served as a coach with the Montgomery Rebels in 1970 while playing in just two games for the team. Leyland was a career .222 hitter in the minor leagues.

In 1972, Leyland became a minor league manager in the Tigers organization; beginning with the Clinton Pilots of the Midwest League; from 1979-1981, he was the manager of the Evansville Triplets winning two divisions (1979, 1981) in the American Association.

Leyland left the Tigers organization for the first time in 1982 when he became Tony La Russa's third base coach for four seasons (1982–85) with the Chicago White Sox, including the team's 1983 AL West division title, before being named the 33rd manager in Pittsburgh Pirates history on November 20, 1985.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Leyland was the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1996. He won two Manager of the Year trophies with the Pirates in 1990 and 1992, and finished as runner-up in 1988 and 1991. Leyland helped develop such All-Stars as Barry Bonds, Jay Bell, Tim Wakefield, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla in Pittsburgh before a fire sale in the mid-1990s soured him with new ownership. Under Leyland, the Pirates went to the National League Championship Series in three straight seasons (1990, 1991, and 1992). The Pirates lost all three of those NLCS, however, with the latter two going the full seven games against the Atlanta Braves.

Although he has moved on in his career, Leyland still keeps his home in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon[1][2] where he met his wife Katie[3][4] and has raised two children, Pat and Kellie. Both attended Bishop Canevin High School.

One member of Leyland's coaching staff while with the Pirates, Terry Collins, the manager of the New York Mets, wears number 10 to honor Leyland.[5][6][7]

Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies

In 1997, Leyland was hired by Wayne Huizenga to manage the Florida Marlins and promptly led them to the franchise's first championship. The Marlins, in only their fifth year of existence, became the fastest expansion franchise to win a World Series. The Arizona Diamondbacks surpassed the Marlins when they won the World Series in 2001, their fourth season.

In the offseason, Huizenga dismantled the team in what became known as "the fire sale." After Game 7, when asked about rumors that he might retire if Huizenga sold the franchise, Leyland quipped, "My wife doesn't like me that much. I can't retire."[8] Leyland indeed remained as the manager, but resigned after the 1998 season, when the Marlins went 54-108. At his press conference, Leyland remarked that he thought his job was to win championships, but that apparently was not what Huizenga wanted. Leyland was subsequently hired by the Colorado Rockies for the 1999 season, walking away from the final two years of his contract.

When he left managing after the 1999 season, he became a Pittsburgh-based scout for the St. Louis Cardinals.[9] He was often seen sitting in the stands at PNC Park with fellow ex-Pirates manager Chuck Tanner.

Detroit Tigers

Leyland hits balls to Miguel Cabrera during pregame warmups at Kauffman Stadium, June 4, 2010

In 2005, Leyland returned to the franchise with which he spent the first 18 years of his professional baseball career, managing in the AL for the first time. Following the release of Alan Trammell as the manager of the Tigers on October 3, 2005, Leyland was immediately named a top contender to replace him for the 2006 season. "It's well known that I interviewed with Philadelphia last winter, and I'd like to manage again," Leyland said in September 2005. He was announced as the new Tigers manager on October 4, 2005.[10]

In the 2006 regular season, Leyland guided the Tigers to a 95–67 record, the Tigers' best season since 1987. The Tigers entered the playoffs as a wild card, and went on to defeat the New York Yankees and sweep the Oakland Athletics to win the American League pennant. Many people chose the Tigers to win the 2006 World Series, although they ultimately lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. In leading the team to the AL pennant, he became the seventh manager to win pennants in both major leagues, joining Joe McCarthy, Yogi Berra, Alvin Dark, Sparky Anderson, Dick Williams, and Tony La Russa. After the 2006 season ended, Leyland was recognized with the Manager of the Year award for the third time in his career. He became the third person to win the award in both leagues, joining La Russa and Bobby Cox. Leyland also won The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award for the American League in 2006.

Leyland in Tigers' dugout at Dodger Stadium, June 22, 2011

On October 2, 2007, the Tigers extended Leyland's contract through the 2009 season. Despite a disappointing 2008 season, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski announced on September 24, 2008, that Leyland would be back for the 2009 season.[11]

On June 19, 2009, the Tigers extended Leyland's contract through the 2011 season.[12] On August 8, 2011, the Tigers extended Leyland's contract through the 2012 season.[13]

In 2011, Leyland led the Tigers to another 95-67 regular season record, winning the American League Central Division. They went on to defeat the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series before losing to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series.

On May 1, 2012, Leyland gained his 1,600th victory as a major league manager, passing Tommy Lasorda on the all-time wins list.[14] In 2012, Leyland led the Tigers to an 88-74 regular season record, winning the American League Central Division. On that team, Tiger third baseman Miguel Cabrera was the American League Triple Crown winner that season. This was the first Triple Crown winner in Major League Baseball since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. When the Tigers won the AL Central for the second consecutive season, Leyland became the only Tigers manager besides Hughie Jennings to lead Detroit to the postseason three times.

In the 2012 postseason, Detroit defeated the Athletics in a five-game ALDS. On October 18, 2012, Leyland led the Detroit Tigers to the World Series in a sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Detroit was swept in the 2012 World Series by the San Francisco Giants. They were shut out twice, the same number as in the entire 162-game regular season, and had a team batting average of .165.

On October 30, 2012, Leyland signed another one-year contract with the Tigers to manage for the 2013 season.[15]

On September 25, 2013, Leyland won his 700th game with the Tigers. With the 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins, the Tigers clinched their third consecutive American League Central Division title.[16] Leyland joins former coach Tony La Russa as the only managers who have led two different MLB franchises to three consecutive division titles.

On October 21, 2013, Leyland stepped down as the manager of the Tigers. Leyland noted that he will accept a different position, and would remain a part of the organization.[17]

On January 8, 2014, Leyland confirmed that he will serve as a special assistant to Tigers President, CEO, and General Manager Dave Dombrowski. In this role, he will evaluate spring training games and potential Tigers trades, as well as scouting major and minor league games during the season.[18]

Managerial record

As of December 5, 2014
Team From To Regular season record Post–season record Ref.
W L Win % W L Win %
Pittsburgh Pirates 1986 1996 851 863 .496 8 12 .400 [19]
Florida Marlins 1997 1998 146 178 .451 11 5 .688 [19]
Colorado Rockies 1999 1999 72 90 .444 0 0 .000 [19]
Detroit Tigers 2006 2013 700 597 .540 25 23 .521 [19]
Total 1769 1728 .506 44 40 .524 —

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Dvorchak, Robert (November 2, 2004). "Leyland awaiting Phillies' decision". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. ↑ "Drama and nostalgia hold the front row seats at stadium exit". Old.post-gazette.com. 2000-10-02. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  3. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search".
  4. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search".
  5. ↑ Rumberg, Howe (November 23, 2010). "Terry Collins introduced as Mets' manager". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  6. ↑ Rubin, Adam (December 8, 2010). "Leyland praises Collins". ESPNNewYork.com. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  7. ↑ Rubin, Adam (November 23, 2010). "TC on No. 10". ESPNNewYork.com. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  8. ↑ Kiszla, Mark (October 27, 1997). "Passionate man the last of a breed". Denver Post. p. C-01.
  9. ↑ "PLUS: BASEBALL – ST. LOUIS; Leyland to Scout". Nytimes.com. December 1, 1999. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Tigers pounce quickly, hire Leyland to manage". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 4, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  11. ↑ Jason Beck / MLB.com (September 26, 2011). "Tigers sign Leyland through 2009". Detroit.tigers.mlb.com. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Leyland signs two-year extension". ESPN. June 19, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Dave Dombrowski, Jim Leyland to stay". ESPN. August 8, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Austin Jackson's 4 hits, Rick Porcello's pitching lead Tigers over Royals". espn.com. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Tigers bringing back Jim Leyland, coaches for 2013". Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Tigers shut out Twins to win Central title". Reuters. September 26, 2013.
  17. ↑ Leyland steps down after eight years with Tigers MLB.com, October 21, 2013
  18. ↑ "Detroit Tigers - Detroit Free Press - freep.com". Detroit Free Press.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 "Jim Leyland". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 5, 2014.

External links

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