Player-Managers

[DOUGHBOYS]

Ozzie Guillen was a little disgusted when hearing that Paul Konerko was considered to be in the running as a Player-Manager of the White Sox.

Guillen responded that he felt people believe his job is too easy.

Maybe Guillen overstates his job a bit.....



Rogers Hornsby played all or part of 12 of his last 13 seasons as a player-manager. In 1926, the Cardinals won the World Series, ending with Hornsby tagging out Babe Ruth trying to steal second base.

Less than two months later after asking Branch Rickey for a three year contract of $50,000 per year, Hornsby was traded.

But, the trade could not go through right away.

Hornsby held stock in the St Louis Cardinals and could not play for another club till the stock was sold. He eventually sold his stock at $105 per share.



While player-manager for the Boston Red Sox, Joe Cronin inserted himself as a pinch hitter in both ends of a doubleheader, both were home runs.



Lou Boudreau led the Cleveland Indians to a World Championship in 1948 with the greatest player-manager year ever.

Boudreau won the Most Valuable Player Award. He also had a box score of 4-3-2-2 with two home runs in a one game playoff to get into the World Series.

There was no 'Manager of the Year' award then.

That would have been a sweet combo.



Frank Chance was a player-manager. His teams won four pennants and two World Series. Never having a team finishing below third place.



13 times, a player has batted over .400 (All-Time League alert!), yet only three players who have batted over .400 have NOT player-managed (Harry Heilman, Joe Jackson, Ted Williams)



The last player-manager in the American League, Don Kessinger led Ozzie's same team, the White Sox.

He was replaced by Tony LaRussa.



222 players have player-managed.



19 different player-managers have won pennants.



17 World Series winners were managed by player-managers.



The truth of the matter is that Pete Rose was the last player-manager. He won't be remembered much for that.

Rose was player-manager while ESPN was still in diapers. Obviously, he had a lot more time to perform other 'activities'.

Now, with pre-game press conferences, during the game interviews, and post game press conferences, along with all the other interference from outside sources, it would be damned tough to be a player-manager during the 'techno era'.



[ October 18, 2011, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]