PBMarlin Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 McKeon to return for 2005 season By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com PHILADELPHIA -- In November, Jack McKeon turns 74. The savvy, sociable, cigar-smoking Marlins skipper has no intentions of retiring. On Saturday, the Marlins announced McKeon will return as manager for the 2005 season. Still energized, McKeon has more goals to accomplish before he's ready to head back to his Elon, N.C., home and settle down. Items high on his list of objectives include managing past age 75 and reaching 1,000 career victories. Heading into Saturday's game with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, McKeon has a Major League career mark of 927-860. Should he manage two more seasons, he would pass legendary Casey Stengel as the second-oldest manager in Major League history. The only managers to grace the dugouts longer than McKeon are Hall of Famers Connie Mack (88) and Stengel (75). McKeon is the first Marlins manager to guide the team to back-to-back winning seasons. A year ago, he oversaw one of the greatest rags-to-riches stories in baseball history. Inheriting a team that was six games under .500 on May 11, McKeon directed an improbable turnaround as the Marlins captured the Wild Card and eventually upset the Yankees in the World Series. After taking control of the club from Jeff Torborg, McKeon posted a 75-49 record. The remarkable run earned McKeon his second National League Manager of the Year honor. While with the Reds in 1999, he also took home the award. This year the Marlins fell short of expectations, finishing third in the National League East. Heading into Saturday night's game, Florida is 82-78. The Marlins felt they had a team that again could contend for the postseason, and they almost did. As of Sept. 14, the defending champs were two games out in the Wild Card standings. But they began to fade in the standings, in part because of a hectic, revised schedule created by several major hurricanes that hit the state of Florida. Due to postponements, the Marlins were forced to finish with 30 games in 27 days, including a stretch of three doubleheaders in 11 days. By late September, the pitching was depleted and the regulars were worn down. As a consolation, the Marlins managed their third winning season in club history. The previous times they were above .500 they went on to become World Series champs. McKeon managed the National League All-Stars this July at Minute Maid Park in Houston, in a game won by the American League. With more than 50 years of service in professional baseball, McKeon first became a big league manager with the Royals (1973-75). His next stop was with the A's (1977-78). After serving as general manager of the Padres, during which he earned the nickname "Trader Jack" for his frequent wheeling and dealing, McKeon became San Diego's manager from 1988-90. From 1997-2000, he managed the Reds, leading the team to 96 wins in 1999. That year, Cincinnati lost a tiebreaker to the Mets, who won the Wild Card. An inspiration for senior citizens, McKeon is the oldest manager or coach in any of the four major professional sports to win a championship. Since joining the Marlins, he's been in demand as a motivational speaker. In 2003, along with being the Marlins' first NL Manager of the Year, McKeon was named "Sportsman of the Year" by The Sporting News. He shared that honor with d*** Vermeil, coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. McKeon is the 12th manager in the history of the Marlins, posting a 157-127 record with the team. Good stuff :thumbup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTrainFan Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 good to hear :thumbup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanleylicious Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Just heard it on Channel 7 news... great to hear, let's go out and get em' next year TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Excellent news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beinfest4Prez Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 good to know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaq-Man Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 baller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMountainMarlin Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Hopefully he will learn De luca's name by opening day. :cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBMarlin Posted October 2, 2004 Author Share Posted October 2, 2004 Hopefully he will learn De luca's name by opening day. :cool 579224[/snapback] Doubtful. It will still be Steve Conine, Encarcion and DeLuca. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iowa Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Hopefully just Steve Conine and De Luca.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accord Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Hopefully he will learn De luca's name by opening day. :cool 579224[/snapback] Doubtful. It will still be Steve Conine, Encarcion and DeLuca. 579242[/snapback] Hopefully Encarnacion will not be playing for us on opening day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rferry Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Hopefully he will learn De luca's name by opening day.? :cool 579224[/snapback] Doubtful. It will still be Steve Conine, Encarcion and DeLuca. 579242[/snapback] Hopefully Encarnacion will not be playing for us on opening day... 579375[/snapback] He may be on the DL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapeFish Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Good to see Jack come back....but can we use the bullpen better next year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramp Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Good to see Jack come back....but can we use the bullpen better next year? 579496[/snapback] sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapeFish Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Good to see Jack come back....but can we use the bullpen better next year? 579496[/snapback] sigh 579507[/snapback] Oh, Front Office.....get us a bullpen next year plus a clone of Valdez. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramp Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Good to see Jack come back....but can we use the bullpen better next year? 579496[/snapback] sigh 579507[/snapback] Oh, Front Office.....get us a bullpen next year plus a clone of Valdez. 579511[/snapback] yuck, a clone of Valdez? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamrock Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 super duper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazmarlins Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 I am so glad to hear this.Great news!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBMarlin Posted October 3, 2004 Author Share Posted October 3, 2004 Good to see Jack come back....but can we use the bullpen better next year? 579496[/snapback] sigh 579507[/snapback] Oh, Front Office.....get us a bullpen next year plus a clone of Valdez. 579511[/snapback] yuck, a clone of Valdez? 579516[/snapback] Yeah, I would just be happy with a bullpen to start the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flamarlins3 Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Cool. I was wrong about him returning, but good to see we will have at least one more year of Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Man Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 good to hear, i love jack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accord Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Good to see Jack come back....but can we use the bullpen better next year? 579496[/snapback] sigh 579507[/snapback] Oh, Front Office.....get us a bullpen next year plus a clone of Valdez. 579511[/snapback] yuck, a clone of Valdez? 579516[/snapback] How many 5th starters in baseball have 15 wins? I rest my case. Valdez is a quality pitcher and on other clubs he'd be a 4th and in some cases 3rd starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishFan24 Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 If the FO plays their cards right this offseaon, the winning should continue or get better :thumbup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramp Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Good to see Jack come back....but can we use the bullpen better next year? 579496[/snapback] sigh 579507[/snapback] Oh, Front Office.....get us a bullpen next year plus a clone of Valdez. 579511[/snapback] yuck, a clone of Valdez? 579516[/snapback] How many 5th starters in baseball have 15 wins? I rest my case. Valdez is a quality pitcher and on other clubs he'd be a 4th and in some cases 3rd starter. 579958[/snapback] eh so he got alot of run support this year.... he still sucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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