Atlanta Braves - #9 Joe Torre
Born: July 18, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY
Hired On: October 23, 1981
Managerial Record: 286-420
Did You Know:
Managed the New York Mets for the past 5 seasons
Finished 2nd in the 1961 voting for National League Rookie of the Year
N.L. batting champion in ‘71 hitting .363 with 230 hits and 137 RBI
Over an 18 year major league career he hit .297 with 2,342 hits, 252 home runs and 1,185 RBI
Owns Conte’s Restaurant in New York
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014
Chicago Cubs - #4 Lee Elia
Born: July 16, 1937 in Philadelphia, PA
Hired On: October 22, 1981
Managerial Record: 0-0
Did You Know:
Served as GM Dallas Green’s third base coach at Philadelphia in 1980 & 1981
In 1975 lead Spartansburg, SC (Class A) to the South Atlantic championship
Logged 95 major league games with the Cubs and White Sox
At Indianapolis of the Pacific Coast League in 1965 he hit 29 home runs and had 75 RBI
Cincinnati Reds - #3 John McNamara
Born: June 4, 1932 in Sacramento, CA
Hired On: November 28, 1978
Managerial Record: 566-574
Did You Know:
Since 1979 has the most wins of any N.L. skipper with 245
Led Cincinnati to the N.L. West Division crown in ‘79
Has also managed at Oakland and San Diego
Known as a ‘pitchers’ manager
Los Angeles Dodgers - #2 Tommy Lasorda
Born: September 22, 1927 in Norristown, PA
Hired On: September 29, 1976
Managerial Record: 427-332
Did You Know:
Holds the all-time International League record with 125 career wins while pitching for the Montreal Royals
Pitched in 26 games in the majors
1977 AP & UPI Manager of the Year
Led Los Angeles to their first World Championship since 1965 last season
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997
Montreal Expos - #6 Jim Fanning
Born: September 14, 1927 in Chicago, IL
Hired On: September 8, 1981
Managerial Record: 16-11
Did You Know:
Named General Manager of the Expos on 8/14/68
Named club vice-president of the Expos on 9/24/73
In 1977 appointed vice-president of player development for Montreal
Played 64 games in the majors for the Chicago Cubs
Received a masters degree in Physical Education from the University of Illinois
New York Mets - #31 George Bamberger
Born: August 1, 1925 in Staten Island, NY
Hired On: October 20, 1981
Managerial Record: 235-180
Did You Know:
The Sporting News 1978 Manager of the Year while with Milwaukee
In 10 seasons as Orioles pitching coach he helped produce 18, 20-game winners
Pitched in 10 MLB games
Played for 15 years at the AAA level (1946-1963), spending 7 of those years in Vancouver and was inducted into the Vancouver Sports Hall of Fame in 1966
Philadelphia Phillies - #8 Pat Corrales
Born: March 20, 1941 in Los Angeles, CA
Hired On: November 4, 1981
Managerial Record: 160-164
Did You Know:
Played with 4 Major League teams
A 4 time minor league All-Star as a player
Played in the American Legion program in Fresno, CA
Has a brown belt degree in Karate
Pittsburgh Pirates - #7 Chuck Tanner
Born: July 4, 1929 in New Castle, PA
Hired On: November 5, 1976 (acquired in a trade from Oakland for Manny Sanguillen and $100,000)
Managerial Record: 899-826
Did You Know:
Led Pittsburgh to the World Series title in 1979
1978 Manager of the Year
Hit a home run on the 1st pitch of his 1st Major League at-bat on 4/12/55
Earned 10 letters in baseball, basketball and football at Shenango High School in New Castle, PA
St. Louis Cardinals - #24 Whitey Herzog
Born: November 9, 1931 in New Athens, IL
Hired On: June 9, 1980
Managerial Record: 497-433
Did You Know:
1981 UPI National League Executive of the Year and Manager of the Year
Won 3 American League Western Division titles (1976-78) while managing the Royals
1976 American League Manager of the Year
Played 8 years in the majors with 4 teams
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010
San Diego Padres - #23 Dick Williams
Born: May 7, 1929 in St. Louis, MO
Hired On: November 18, 1981
Managerial Record: 1,045-925
Did You Know:
Guided the 1967 Boston Red Sox to the American League Pennant
Won two straight World Championships with the Oakland A’s in 1972 and 1973
Major League Manager of the Year 3 times
Played for 14 years in the Majors
A career .260 hitter with 70 home runs during his playing career
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008
San Francisco Giants - #20 Frank Robinson
Born: August 31, 1935 in Beaumont, TX
Hired On: January 14, 1981
Managerial Record: 242-244
Did You Know:
Managed the Cleveland Indians 1975-77
Played 21 seasons in the majors
1956 National League Rookie of the Year
The only player in history to win the Most Valuable Player award in both the National League (1961) and the American League (1966)
4th on the All-Time HR list with 586 home runs in his career
Only player to ever hit a home run completely out of Memorial Stadium in Baltimore on May 8, 1966 vs. Luis Tiant of the Cleveland Indians
2nd all-time in the majors in being hit-by-a-pitch, 198 times
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982
Baltimore Orioles - #4 Earl Weaver
Born: August 14, 1930 in St. Louis, MO
Hired On: July 11, 1968
Managerial Record: 1,260-851
Did You Know:
1982 will be his final season as manager of the Orioles
Has won 6 Eastern Division Championships, 4 American League Pennants, and 1 World Championship (1970) with the Orioles
Orioles teams have won 100 or more games 5 times
Tossed from 81 regular season games in his career
Was a minor league 2nd baseman for 13 seasons
He and Orioles groundskeeper Pat Santarone have an annual competition to see who can grow the biggest tomatoes
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996
Boston Red Sox - #35 Ralph Houk
Born: August 9, 1919 in Lawrence, KS
Hired On: October 27, 1980
Managerial Record: 1366-1298
Did You Know:
Guided the New York Yankees to three straight A.L. pennants (1961-1963) and two World Championships (1961-1962)
1961 Major League Manager of the Year
1970 A.L. Manager of the Year
Served for four years in the military (1942-1945) with the Rangers of the 9th Armored Division in Europe during World War II.
He rose from private to major, saw action at Bastogne and The Bulge and was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart and Bronze Star
California Angels - #3 Gene Mauch
Born: November 18, 1925 in Salina, KS
Hired On: May 28, 1981
Managerial Record: 1553-1739
Did You Know:
1982 is his 23rd season as a manager in the majors
Has the 10th most wins of all time by a MLB manager
National League Manager of the Year three times, 1962, 1964 and 1973
Played for six major league teams over the course of nine seasons appearing in 304 games
Chicago White Sox - #10 Tony LaRussa
Born: October 4, 1944 in Tampa, FL
Hired On: August 2, 1979
Managerial Record: 151-169
Did You Know:
Began his managerial career in 1978 at AA Knoxville leading them to a first-half title and an overall record of 53-25, earning a promotion to the White Sox coach staff during the ‘78 season
Had a stellar athletic career at Jefferson High School in Tampa, FL
Played one game in 1973 with the Cubs and scored a run as a pinch runner, the only game he would ever play in for the north siders
Is a licensed attorney in the state of Florida, receiving his degree from the Florida State University Law School
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014
Cleveland Indians - #1 Dave Garcia
Born: September 15, 1920 in East St. Louis, IL
Hired On: July 23, 1979
Managerial Record: 229-227
Did You Know:
Played baseball at East St. Louis High School
Was a player/manager in the minors for 9 seasons
Won the triple crown in the Wisconsin State League in 1951, batting .369 with 23 home runs and 127 RBI
Originally came to Cleveland as a coach in 1975
Never played in a major league game
Served three years in the U.S. Army Air Corps
Detroit Tigers - #11 Sparky Anderson
Born: February 22, 1934 in Bridgewater, SD
Hired On: June 14, 1979
Managerial Record: 1,063-763
Did You Know:
6th winningest manager in MLB history with at least 10 years experience boasting a .582 winning percentage
Under his leadership, the Cincinnati Reds won 2 World Championships, 4 National League pennants and 5 Western Division titles
Played 1 season in the majors in 1959 with Philadelphia, hitting .218 while playing in 152 games
National League Manager of the Year in 1972 and 1975
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000
Kansas City Royals - #10 Dick Howser
Born: May 14, 1936 in Miami, FL
Hired On: August 31, 1981
Managerial Record: 123-73
Did You Know:
Attended Florida State University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education
Named The Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year in 1961
Hit .248 in the majors, playing in 789 games
Played baseball at Florida State setting a school record hitting .422 as a sophomore
Became only the 4th manager in MLB history to win 100+ games in his 1st season as he led the Yankees to a record of 103-59 in 1980
Milwaukee Brewers - #37 Buck Rodgers
Born: August 16, 1938 in Delaware, OH
Hired On: September 9, 1980
Managerial Record: 101-78
Did You Know:
Became acting manager twice in 1980 (March 6 - June 5 and September 9 - end of season)
Managed Angels AA franchise at El Paso to first place in the Texas League in 1977
Played 9 seasons with the California Angels hitting .232 while hitting 31 home runs
Attended Ohio Wesleyan University and Ohio Northern University
Works as a glue salesman during the off season
Minnesota Twins - #42 Billy Gardner
Born: July 19, 1927 in New London, CT
Hired On: May 22, 1981
Managerial Record: 30-43
Did You Know:
Played for the Minneapolis Millers while in the minors
Was the Twins’ original second baseman when the club moved to the upper midwest in 1961
A member of two World Series teams
Appeared in 1,034 major league games hitting .237 and connecting for 41 home runs
New York Yankees - #11 Gene Michael
Born: June 2, 1938 in Kent, OH
Hired On: April 22, 1982
Managerial Record: 48-34
Did You Know:
Second stint as Yankee manager replacing Bob Lemon; was replaced by Bob Lemon on 9/6/81
.229 career hitter in 973 MLB games
managed the Columbus Clippers to the 1979 International League title following a 85-54 season
was a close friend and roommate of the late Thurman Munson
graduated from Kent State with a B.S. in Education
Oakland A’s - #1 Billy Martin
Born: May 16, 1928 in Berkeley, CA
Hired On: February 21, 1980
Managerial Record: 963-768
Did You Know:
Managed Minnesota Twins (1969) and Detroit Tigers (1972) to division titles
Led the New York Yankees to the World Championship in 1977
1981 MLB Manager of the Year
Made a famous catch of a short pop hit by Jackie Robinson to save the 1952 World Series
Played 12 years in the majors, hitting .257 in 1,021 games while hitting 64 home runs
Appeared in 28 World Series games hit .333 (33 for 99)
Seattle Mariners - #4 Rene Lachemann
Born: May 4, 1945 in Los Angeles, CA
Hired On: May 6, 1981
Managerial Record: 38-47
Did You Know:
Lachemann is the youngest manager in the majors
Served as a batboy for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1959-62)
As a first year player, he led the Midwest League with 24 home runs in 1964
Played 118 games in the majors, hitting .210 with 9 home runs
Hit a home run in his first at bat in the majors
Texas Rangers - #23 Don Zimmer
Born: January 17, 1931 in Cincinnati, OH
Hired On: November 12, 1980
Managerial Record: 583-546
Did You Know:
Beginning second season as manager of the Texas Rangers
Led Texas to a 57-48 record in 1981
Member of the 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers
Hit .235 in the Majors, with 91 home runs
Managed the 1978 Boston Red Sox to a 99-64 record, only to lose a one game playoff to the New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays - #6 Bobby Cox
Born: May 21, 1941 in Tulsa, OK
Hired On: October 15, 1981
Managerial Record: 266-323
Did You Know:
Managed the Atlanta Braves 1978-1981. Best season was in 1980 as the Braves finished with an 81-80 record finishing 4th in the N.L. West.
Grew up in Selma, California
Appeared in 220 MLB games while hitting .224 with 9 home runs.
