HOF: Mediocre managers – by G. Scott Thomas

Only a few followers undertake a pilgrimage to Cooperstown in honor of a supervisor.

The Corridor of Fame’s drawing playing cards are the 270 gamers enshrined in its plaque gallery. The opposite honorees — the 40 executives, the ten umpires, and sure, the 22 managers — merely don’t encourage the identical degree of public affection.

A case could possibly be made that managers don’t belong within the gallery in any respect — one thing I contend in my ebook, Cooperstown at the Crossroads — however that’s to not deny the excellence of many of the inductees.

Twelve of the corridor’s 22 managers received at the very least 5 league pennants apiece, led by John McGraw and Casey Stengel with 10 every. 5 of those self same managers emerged victorious from 4 or extra World Collection, topped by Stengel and Joe McCarthy with equivalent totals of seven world championships.

These, we will all agree, are excellent data.

However a number of of Cooperstown’s managerial inductions have been head-scratchers. I’m right here at the moment to query 4 of them:

Wilbert Robinson (whose managerial profession spanned from 1902 to 1931) had been a strong catcher for the Baltimore Orioles within the Nineties, however his choice was tied particularly to the 18 seasons he spent on the helm of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The committee ignored his unimpressive managerial document — 1,399 wins towards 1,398 losses (only one sport above .500) with no World Collection titles — and indulged its fond recollections of the easygoing rascal recognized to every one as Uncle Robbie. “His dialog was a steady circulation of homely philosophy, baseball lore, and good humor,” baseball author John Kieran fortunately recalled.
Bucky Harris (1924-1956) had two elements in his favor. He had at all times been widespread together with his gamers — “in case you can’t play for Bucky, you don’t belong within the main leagues,” stated Joe DiMaggio — and he had received world titles with the Washington Senators in 1924 and the New York Yankees in 1947. However Harris was rather more conversant in defeat than victory. Lower than a 3rd of the golf equipment he managed — 9 of 29 — completed greater than fifth place. His profession successful proportion was a run-of-the-mill .493.
Billy Southworth (1929-1951) managed the St. Louis Cardinals to a pair of world titles, but each got here throughout World Conflict II, when the extent of competitors was diluted. Southworth’s regular-season victory complete (1,044) remains to be the bottom for any American or Nationwide League supervisor within the corridor. The others all had greater than 1,280 wins.
October 20, 1982, was a essential day within the lifetime of Whitey Herzog (1973-1990). His Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in Sport Seven of the World Collection that night, giving Herzog the one world title of his profession. If the Playing cards had misplaced on October 20, it’s troublesome to think about him making it to Cooperstown. Herzog completed his tenure solely 156 video games above .500. Fifteen of the opposite 21 Corridor of Fame managers did higher.

Scroll beneath to see statistical breakdowns for these 4 marginal inductees. And comply with these hyperlinks to learn earlier tales about Tommy McCarthy and Freddie Lindstrom, two gamers whose Cooperstown credentials are very, very skinny.

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Managerial profession: 1902-1931
Groups: Baltimore (American League), Brooklyn (Nationwide League)
Profession document: W-L 1,399-1,398 (.500)
Submit season document: 2 pennants, 0 world titles
Chosen to HOF: 1945
Chosen by: Outdated-Timers Committee

Managerial profession: 1924-1956
Groups: Boston (American League), Detroit (AL), New York (AL), Philadelphia (Nationwide League), Washington (AL)
Profession document: W-L 2,158-2,219 (.493)
Submit season document: 3 pennants, 2 world titles
Chosen to HOF: 1975
Chosen by: Veterans Committee

Managerial profession: 1929-1951
Groups: Boston (Nationwide League), St. Louis (NL)
Profession document: W-L 1,044-704 (.597)
Submit season document: 4 pennants, 2 world titles
Chosen to HOF: 2008
Chosen by: Veterans Committee

Managerial profession: 1973-1990
Groups: California (American League), Kansas Metropolis (AL), St. Louis (Nationwide League), Texas (AL)
Profession document: W-L 1,281-1,125 (.532)
Submit season document: 3 pennants, 1 world title
Chosen to HOF: 2010
Chosen by: Veterans Committee