Boston Manager
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:41 am
Seeing that Sandy Alomar was a candidate for the Red Sox Manager's job had me take a look at past mentors of the Red Sox.
The closest the Red Sox have come to hiring a minority is Joe Morgan. Not THAT Joe Morgan. No, this Joe Morgan led them to the playoffs in 1988 and 1990, only to be swept by the Oakland Athletics both years. He still holds the dubious record of managing a team to eight straight playoff losses without a win.
Their first Manager was Jimmy Collins. He Managed the club from 1901-06. A player-Manager, he led the Sox to a World Series Championship in 1903 and a pennant in 1904 (No World Series that year).
Collins was an innovator. He was thought to be the best fielding 3b in baseball. Before he arrived on the scene, the shortstop was used as an infield rover. The shortstop was responsible for playing in on notorious bunters and it was he who fielded these bunts usually being the slickest fielder. Collins changed that. He allowed the ss to play back while he fielded the bunts. Collins was the first to field bunts bare handed on the run. Other third basemen soon followed the method.
Collins was the first full time 3b to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
(This has nothing to do with the Red Sox, but it is too interesting to let it go)
Honus Wagner, thought to be the best player in baseball, was asked for a portrait of himself after the 1903 season and first World Series.
It was customary for batting leaders to send a portrait to a 'Hall of Fame' for batting champions.
Wagner responded to them in a letter. "I was Bum last year. I was a joke in that Boston-Pittsburgh series. What does it profit a man to hammer along and make a few hits when they are not needed, only to fall down in the pinch? I would be ashamed to have my picture up now."
Collins was followed in 1906 by Chick Stahl. Only an acting Manager, he was a friend of Collins and took the reins while Collins was suspended near the end of the '06 season. During December of '06, Stahl was named the player/manager by ownership.
He never Managed another game. He committed suicide during spring training. He drank a poisonous liquid and told teammates, "Boys, I just couldn't help it. It drove me to it." Nobody ever found out what "It" was.
Cy Young took over for him and lasted six games into the season. The next Manager lasted eight games. The next, 29.
Counting Stahl, five Managers in one season.
The 'Americans' as they were known then tried to end their bad luck from '07 and changed their name to the Red Sox.
Bill Carrigan would lead the Red Sox to two World Championships in 1915 and 1916.
Nicknamed 'Rough'. Babe Ruth called Carrigan the best Manager he ever played for.
Joe Cronin, another Hall of Famer Managed the Red Sox for 13 years. His team won a pennant in 1946, but no World Series.
This would be Ted Williams only World Series appearance. He was injured and did not play well.
Ed Barrow Managed the 1918 Red Sox to a World Series. Babe Ruth dominated baseball that year. Mostly, with his pitching.
Ruth would soon end up with the Yankees as would Carl Mays, Waite Hoyt, Everett Scott, Joe Bush, Sam Jones, and even Barrow were all sold to the Yankees over the next three years.
Boston would finish dead last nine of the next 11 seasons.
For the Yankees, the beginning of a dynasty.
Barrow became the General Manager and builder of the dynasty.
Scott, who had captained the Red Sox would captain the Yankees, the only player to captain both teams.
Ruth, the player the dynasty was built around.
Although Managers of the Red Sox have made the Hall of Fame, the Hall is void of any Member BECAUSE of a stint with the Red Sox.
In a Boston Globe story, all Red Sox Managers were ranked. Francona was number one, mostly based on his two championships.
Francona's shoes may be hard to fill, but the Red Sox are still looking for that franchise defining Manager.
[ October 17, 2011, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]
The closest the Red Sox have come to hiring a minority is Joe Morgan. Not THAT Joe Morgan. No, this Joe Morgan led them to the playoffs in 1988 and 1990, only to be swept by the Oakland Athletics both years. He still holds the dubious record of managing a team to eight straight playoff losses without a win.
Their first Manager was Jimmy Collins. He Managed the club from 1901-06. A player-Manager, he led the Sox to a World Series Championship in 1903 and a pennant in 1904 (No World Series that year).
Collins was an innovator. He was thought to be the best fielding 3b in baseball. Before he arrived on the scene, the shortstop was used as an infield rover. The shortstop was responsible for playing in on notorious bunters and it was he who fielded these bunts usually being the slickest fielder. Collins changed that. He allowed the ss to play back while he fielded the bunts. Collins was the first to field bunts bare handed on the run. Other third basemen soon followed the method.
Collins was the first full time 3b to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
(This has nothing to do with the Red Sox, but it is too interesting to let it go)
Honus Wagner, thought to be the best player in baseball, was asked for a portrait of himself after the 1903 season and first World Series.
It was customary for batting leaders to send a portrait to a 'Hall of Fame' for batting champions.
Wagner responded to them in a letter. "I was Bum last year. I was a joke in that Boston-Pittsburgh series. What does it profit a man to hammer along and make a few hits when they are not needed, only to fall down in the pinch? I would be ashamed to have my picture up now."
Collins was followed in 1906 by Chick Stahl. Only an acting Manager, he was a friend of Collins and took the reins while Collins was suspended near the end of the '06 season. During December of '06, Stahl was named the player/manager by ownership.
He never Managed another game. He committed suicide during spring training. He drank a poisonous liquid and told teammates, "Boys, I just couldn't help it. It drove me to it." Nobody ever found out what "It" was.
Cy Young took over for him and lasted six games into the season. The next Manager lasted eight games. The next, 29.
Counting Stahl, five Managers in one season.
The 'Americans' as they were known then tried to end their bad luck from '07 and changed their name to the Red Sox.
Bill Carrigan would lead the Red Sox to two World Championships in 1915 and 1916.
Nicknamed 'Rough'. Babe Ruth called Carrigan the best Manager he ever played for.
Joe Cronin, another Hall of Famer Managed the Red Sox for 13 years. His team won a pennant in 1946, but no World Series.
This would be Ted Williams only World Series appearance. He was injured and did not play well.
Ed Barrow Managed the 1918 Red Sox to a World Series. Babe Ruth dominated baseball that year. Mostly, with his pitching.
Ruth would soon end up with the Yankees as would Carl Mays, Waite Hoyt, Everett Scott, Joe Bush, Sam Jones, and even Barrow were all sold to the Yankees over the next three years.
Boston would finish dead last nine of the next 11 seasons.
For the Yankees, the beginning of a dynasty.
Barrow became the General Manager and builder of the dynasty.
Scott, who had captained the Red Sox would captain the Yankees, the only player to captain both teams.
Ruth, the player the dynasty was built around.
Although Managers of the Red Sox have made the Hall of Fame, the Hall is void of any Member BECAUSE of a stint with the Red Sox.
In a Boston Globe story, all Red Sox Managers were ranked. Francona was number one, mostly based on his two championships.
Francona's shoes may be hard to fill, but the Red Sox are still looking for that franchise defining Manager.
[ October 17, 2011, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]