October 27, 200322 yr Teams may search for next McKeon By Jim Baker MLB Insider Send an Email to Jim Baker Monday, October 27 Updated: October 27 4:17 PM ET As we know, nothing breeds imitation like success and nobody is more successful right now in the baseball world than 72-year old manager Jack McKeon. Doesn't it stand to reason that teams looking for managers might start trying to find their own version of McKeon? That is to say, a veteran fellow who is on the other side of social security-collecting age? Fortunately for teams bent on this pursuit, some of the winningest managers in the history of the game are currently without major league affiliation. Are they acting as greeters at Wal-Mart, one of the post-career second career options some of America's senior citizens opt for? Not likely. Most are in recline, waiting for the phone to ring so that they, like McKeon, can take one last stab at glory. Here are the prime candidates, in order, by age, starting with the oldest: Gene Mauch Age: Turns 78 in November Last managed: 1987 Record: 1902-2037 Achievements: Two divisional titles. Notes: Fate owes Gene Mauch. Big time. Tommy Lasorda Age: Just turned 76 Last managed: 1996 Record: 1599-1439 Achievements: Two World Championships, two pennants, four other first-place finishes. Notes: Tell me Tommy doesn't miss the limelight. One hiccup: could he ever again don a major league uniform that doesn't say Dodgers on it? Dick Williams Age: 74 Last managed: 1988 Record: 1571-1451 Achievements: Two World Championships, two pennants, two divisional titles. Notes: Found success in four of his six managerial stops. You've got to like those odds. He was known to be irascible as a younger man. At his age they call that "feisty" and it is transformed into a positive. Jack McKeon's success has given hope to aging managers. Chuck Tanner Age: 74 Last managed: 1988 Record: 1352-1381 Achievements: One World Championship Notes: The end in Pittsburgh was ugly, wrecking his career won-lost record. Just passed by Lou Piniella this year for 24th in all-time manager wins. It's payback time! Earl Weaver Age: 73 Last managed: 1986 Record: 1480-1060 Achievements: One World Championship, three pennants, two divisional titles. Notes: Do the young managers of today have what it takes to launch into a profanity-laden diatribe the way the old masters like Weaver could? No -- at least -- not with such vigor and creativity. Whitey Herzog Age: Turns 72 on November 9 Last managed: 1990 Record: 1281-1125 Achievements: One World Championship, two pennants, three divisional titles. Notes: Know this: Herzog would be a better manager than just about anybody at any age. John McNamara Age: 70 Last managed: 1996 Record: 1160-1233 Achievements: One pennant, one divisional title. Notes: Left the A's before their dynasty, was with the Angels between divisional titles, left Bill Buckner in to play defense in Game Six of the '86 World Series. In other words: he's due! Sparky Anderson Age: 70 in February Last managed: 1995 Record: 2194-1834 Achievements: Three World Championships, two pennants, two divisional titles. Notes: Was Sparky ever young? He looked old when he became the Reds boy manager in 1970. Now, compared to this group, he's something like a pup. He's the third-most winningest manager in history and is still younger than McKeon and the rest of these guys. So then, these are the men in the McKeon prime. If a team thinks they might be a little too green, Red Schoendienst (80, last managed in 1990) is out there as is Ralph Houk (84, last managed in 1984). Danny Ozark will turn 80 in a couple of weeks. Alvin Dark (81) is still with us as well. Bill Virdon (72) and Roger Craig (73) -- they're out there, too. Dave Bristol -- who preceded Sparky in Cincinnati -- is only 70. Heck, Don Zimmer (72) will soon be without affiliation. So, for teams looking to emulate the McKeon model, salvation is only a phone call -- and clearance from a physician -- away.
October 27, 200322 yr Anyone can hire any of these guys. But none are as playariffic or pimpolicous as Trader.
October 27, 200322 yr Earl Weaver is probably my all-time favorite manager and I think he lives down here in Pembroke Pines. He believed in pitching, defense, and 3-run homers. He hated Intentional Walks and Sacrifice Bunts. And his run-in's with Ron Luciano were hilarious. I thought he was a lot older than 73 though. Last I saw him, he looked pretty bad.
October 27, 200322 yr Sparky is god, couldn't bare to see what was happening to his team in Detroit and I don't blame him
October 27, 200322 yr Author I read in a Book i read bout Yankees History. Mell Stottemyer Came Up for the Yanks (age 21) and Sparked them to i think a world series title back in the early 1960's i think.. (Hmmm Reminds me of a marlin)
October 28, 200322 yr Tommy Lasorda is the best manager you can have for any type of team. Vets, youngsters, etc. He is an Olympian too!
October 28, 200322 yr the next trader jack.... you trying to say that someone can do the great job he did?
October 28, 200322 yr i wanna see zim as the marlins bench coach next season I think him and Jack would get along famously. :lol :thumbup
October 28, 200322 yr i wanna see zim as the marlins bench coach next season I think him and Jack would get along famously. :lol :thumbup They should do press conferences together. They'd be a hoot!
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