Pete Rose is the most recent player-manager in Major League Baseball, having last done so from 1984 to 1986 Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Founded in 1869, it is composed of 30 teams .[1] Each team in the league has a manager, who is responsible for team strategy and leadership on and off the field.[2] Assisted by various coaches, the manager sets the line-up and starting pitcher before each game, and makes substitutions throughout the game. In early baseball history, it was not uncommon for players to serve as player-managers; that is, they managed the team while still being signed to play for the club. In the history of MLB, there have been 221 player-managers, 59 of whom are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame .[3] [needs update ]
The dual role of player-manager was formerly a common practice, dating back to John Clapp, who performed the task for the Middletown Mansfields in 1872. One reason for this is that by hiring a player as a manager, the team could save money by paying only one salary.[4] [5] Also, popular players were named player-managers in an effort to boost game attendance.[6] Babe Ruth left the New York Yankees when they refused to allow him to become player-manager.[7] Five of the eight National League (NL) managers in 1934 were also players.[8] Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Joe Torre, among the all-time leaders in managerial wins , made their managerial debuts as player-managers.[3] At least one man served as a player-manager in every major league season from Clapp's debut through 1955.
Today, player-managers have become rare in baseball. Pete Rose is the most recent player-manager, serving from 1984 through 1986 with the Cincinnati Reds. Whereas some player-managers, such as Lou Boudreau, were full-time players as player-managers, by the time Rose became player-manager, he was a part-time player.[9] Rose was trying to prolong his career to break the all-time hit record set by Ty Cobb, and Reds owner Marge Schott used this as a marketing ploy.[10] Rose removed himself from the 40-man roster after the 1986 season to make room for Pat Pacillo , unofficially retiring as a player, but remained as the Reds manager until he was banned from baseball following the release of the Dowd Report in 1989.
One criticism of the practice holds that the manager has enough to be preoccupied with during a game without playing.[11] With specialized bullpens , extensive scouting reports, and increased media scrutiny, the job of a manager has become more complex.[3] A player-manager needs to decide how much playing time to give himself.[12] Don Kessinger , player-manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1979, believes he did not play himself enough.[3] Additionally, Bill Terry felt he became isolated from his team when he became a player-manager.[13]
However, teams continue to consider hiring player-managers. The Toronto Blue Jays considered hiring Paul Molitor as a player-manager in 1997.[14] When approached with the idea in 2000, Barry Larkin reported that he found it "interesting", though general manager (GM) Jim Bowden rejected the idea.[15] In the 2011–12 offseason , the White Sox considered hiring incumbent first baseman Paul Konerko to serve as manager.[16] White Sox GM Kenny Williams said that he believes MLB will again have a player-manager.[16]
List Cap Anson was a player-manager for 23 seasons. Lou Boudreau won the Most Valuable Player Award while a player-manager in 1948.[17] The then-Cleveland Bluebirds were renamed the "Naps" in honor of player-manager Nap Lajoie .[18] Fred Lake retired as a player in 1898, but inserted himself into three games in 1910. Christy Mathewson played one season with the Cincinnati Reds as a player-manager, then remained as their manager. John McGraw retired as a player in 1906, but managed the New York Giants until 1932. Frank Robinson became the first African-American manager in MLB history when he was named player-manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1975.[19] Pete Rose became the all-time MLB hit leader while serving as the Cincinnati Reds ' player-manager.[10] Tris Speaker won the 1920 World Series as player-manager of the Cleveland Indians .[20] El Tappe , a member of the Chicago Cubs ' College of Coaches , played for the Cubs while managing.[21] Joe Torre began his managing career as a player-manager for the New York Mets . Pie Traynor was an All-Star while a player-manager in 1934. Honus Wagner served as player-manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in his final season as a player. John Montgomery Ward threw a perfect game on June 12, 1880, then became a player-manager for the last 32 games of the 1880 season.[22] MLB player-managers Player-manager Team(s) Year(s) Position Bob Addy Philadelphia White Stockings Cincinnati Reds 1875 1877 Outfielder Bob Allen Philadelphia Phillies Cincinnati Reds 1890 1900 Shortstop Cap Anson † Philadelphia AthleticsChicago Cubs 1875 1876–1897 First baseman Jimmy Austin St. Louis Browns 1913, 1918, 1923 Third baseman Dave Bancroft † Boston Braves 1924–1927 Shortstop Sam Barkley Kansas City Cowboys 1888 Second baseman Billy Barnie Baltimore Orioles 1883, 1886 Catcher Jack Barry Boston Red Sox 1917 Second baseman Joe Battin Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies Pittsburgh Alleghenies 1883–1884 1884 Third baseman Hank Bauer Kansas City Athletics 1961 Outfielder Joe Birmingham Cleveland Naps 1912–1914 Outfielder Lena Blackburne Chicago White Sox 1929 Pitcher Walter Blair Buffalo Blues 1915 Catcher Tommy Bond Worcester Ruby Legs 1882 Outfielder Jim Bottomley † St. Louis Browns 1937 First baseman Lou Boudreau † Cleveland Indians Boston Red Sox 1942–1950 1952 Shortstop Frank Bowerman Boston Doves 1909 Catcher Bill Bradley Cleveland Naps Brooklyn Tip-Tops 1905 1914 Third baseman Roger Bresnahan † St. Louis Cardinals Chicago Cubs 1909–1912 1915 Catcher Mordecai Brown † St. Louis Terriers 1914 Pitcher Tom Brown Washington Senators 1897–1898 Outfielder Charlie Buffinton Philadelphia Athletics 1890 Pitcher Jack Burdock Boston Beaneaters 1883 Second baseman Jimmy Burke St. Louis Cardinals 1905 Third baseman Tom Burns Pittsburgh Pirates 1892 Third baseman Donie Bush Washington Senators 1923 Shortstop Nixey Callahan Chicago White Sox 1903–1904, 1912–1913 Pitcher Count Campau St. Louis Browns 1890 Outfielder Bill Carrigan Boston Red Sox 1913–1916 Catcher Bob Caruthers St. Louis Browns 1892 Outfielder Phil Cavarretta Chicago Cubs 1951–1953 First baseman Frank Chance † Chicago Cubs New York Yankees 1905–1912 1913–1914 First baseman Ben Chapman Philadelphia Phillies 1945–1946 Outfielder Jack Chapman Louisville Grays 1876 Outfielder Hal Chase New York Highlanders 1910–1911 First baseman John Clapp Middletown Mansfields Indianapolis Blues Buffalo Bisons Cincinnati Reds Cleveland BluesNew York Gothams 1872 1878 1879 1880 1881 1883 Catcher Fred Clarke † Louisville Colonels Pittsburgh Pirates 1897–1899 1900–1911, 1913–1915 Outfielder Jack Clements Philadelphia Phillies 1890 Catcher Ty Cobb † Detroit Tigers 1921–1926 Outfielder Mickey Cochrane † Detroit Tigers 1934–1937 Catcher Eddie Collins † Chicago White Sox 1924–1926 Second baseman Jimmy Collins † Boston Americans 1901–1906 Third baseman Charles Comiskey † St. Louis Browns Chicago Pirates Cincinnati Reds 1883–1889, 1891 1890 1892–1894 First baseman Roger Connor † St. Louis Browns 1896 First baseman Sam Crane Buffalo BisonsCincinnati Outlaw Reds 1880 1884 Second baseman Gavvy Cravath Philadelphia Phillies 1919–1920 Outfielder George Creamer Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1884 Second baseman Joe Cronin † Washington SenatorsBoston Red Sox 1933–1934 1935–1947 Shortstop Jack Crooks St. Louis Browns 1892 Second baseman Lave Cross Cleveland Spiders 1899 Third baseman Ned Cuthbert St. Louis Browns 1882 Outfielder Bill Dahlen Brooklyn Superbas 1910–1911 Shortstop George Davis † New York Giants 1895, 1900–1901 Shortstop Harry Davis Cleveland Naps 1912 First baseman Bill Dickey † New York Yankees 1946 Catcher Bill Donovan New York Yankees 1915–1916 Pitcher Patsy Donovan Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals Washington SenatorsBrooklyn Superbas 1897, 1899 1901–1903 1904 1906–1907 Outfielder Red Dooin Philadelphia Phillies 1910–1914 Catcher Mike Dorgan Syracuse StarsProvidence Grays Worcester Ruby Legs 1879 1880 1881 Outfielder Tommy Dowd St. Louis Browns 1896–1897 Outfielder Jack Doyle New York Giants Washington Senators 1895 1898 First baseman Hugh Duffy † Milwaukee Brewers Philadelphia Phillies 1901 1904–1906 Outfielder Fred Dunlap Cleveland BluesSt. Louis Maroons Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1882 1884–1885 1889 Second baseman Leo Durocher † Brooklyn Dodgers 1939–1941, 1943, 1945 Shortstop Jimmy Dykes Chicago White Sox 1934–1939 Third baseman Kid Elberfeld New York Highlanders 1908 Shortstop Joe Ellick Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies 1884 Shortstop Dude Esterbrook Louisville Colonels 1889 Third baseman Johnny Evers † Chicago Cubs 1913 Second baseman Buck Ewing † New York GiantsCincinnati Reds 1890 1895–1897 Catcher Jack Farrell Providence Grays 1881 Second baseman Bob Ferguson Hartford Dark Blues Chicago White StockingsTroy Trojans Philadelphia QuakersPittsburgh Alleghenys New York Metropolitans 1876–1877 1878 1879–1882 1883 1884 1886–1887 Second baseman Silver Flint Chicago White Stockings 1879 Catcher Jim Fogarty Philadelphia Athletics 1890 Outfielder Lew Fonseca Chicago White Sox 1932–1933 First baseman Dave Foutz Brooklyn Grooms 1893–1896 Outfielder Frankie Frisch † St. Louis Cardinals 1933–1937 Second baseman Pud Galvin † Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1885 Pitcher John Ganzel Cincinnati Reds 1908 First baseman Joe Gerhardt Louisville Eclipse St. Louis Browns 1883 1890 Second baseman Jack Glasscock Indianapolis Hoosiers St. Louis Browns 1889 1892 Shortstop George Gore St. Louis Cardinals 1892 Outfielder Charlie Gould Cincinnati Reds 1876 First baseman Mike Griffin Brooklyn Bridegrooms 1898 Outfielder Sandy Griffin Washington Statesmen 1891 Outfielder Clark Griffith † Chicago White Stockings New York Highlanders Cincinnati Reds Washington Senators 1901–1902 1903–1907 1909 1912–1914 Pitcher Charlie Grimm Chicago Cubs 1932–1936 First baseman Heinie Groh Cincinnati Reds 1918 Third baseman Bill Hallman St. Louis Browns 1897 Second baseman Ned Hanlon † Pittsburgh Alleghenys Pittsburgh Burghers Pittsburgh Pirates Baltimore Orioles 1889 1890 1891 1892 Outfielder Bucky Harris † Washington SenatorsDetroit Tigers 1924–1928 1929, 1931 Second baseman Gabby Hartnett † Chicago Cubs 1938–1940 Catcher Guy Hecker Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1890 First baseman Solly Hemus St. Louis Cardinals 1959 Second baseman Billy Herman † Pittsburgh Pirates 1947 Second baseman Buck Herzog Cincinnati Reds 1914–1916 Shortstop Bill Holbert Syracuse Stars 1879 Catcher Tommy Holmes Boston Braves 1951 Outfielder Rogers Hornsby † St. Louis Cardinals New York Giants Boston BravesChicago Cubs St. Louis Browns 1925–1926 1927 1928 1930–1932 1933–1937 Second baseman Miller Huggins † St. Louis Cardinals 1913–1916 Second baseman Fred Hutchinson Detroit Tigers 1952–1953 Pitcher Arthur Irwin Washington Nationals Boston RedsPhiladelphia Phillies 1889 1891 1894 Shortstop Hughie Jennings † Detroit Tigers 1907, 1909, 1912, 1918 First baseman Fielder Jones Chicago White Sox St. Louis Terriers 1904–1908 1914–1915 Outfielder Eddie Joost Philadelphia Athletics 1954 Shortstop Bill Joyce New York Giants 1896–1898 Third baseman Joe Kelley † Cincinnati Reds Boston Doves 1902–1905 1908 Outfielder King Kelly † Boston Beaneaters Boston RedsCincinnati Kelly's Killers 1887 1890 1891 Outfielder John Kerins Louisville Colonels St. Louis Browns 1888 1890 First baseman Don Kessinger Chicago White Sox 1979 Shortstop Bill Killefer Chicago Cubs 1921 Catcher Malachi Kittridge Washington Senators 1904 Catcher Johnny Kling Boston Braves 1912 Catcher Otto Knabe Baltimore Terrapins 1914–1915 Second baseman Lon Knight Philadelphia Athletics 1883–1884 Outfielder Nap Lajoie † Cleveland Naps 1905–1909 Second baseman Fred Lake Boston Doves 1910 Catcher Henry Larkin Cleveland Infants 1890 First baseman Arlie Latham St. Louis Browns 1896 Third baseman Juice Latham New Haven Elm Citys Philadelphia Athletics 1875 1882 First baseman Harry Lord Buffalo Blues 1915 Third baseman Bobby Lowe Detroit Tigers 1904 Second baseman Harry Lumley Brooklyn Superbas 1909 Outfielder Ted Lyons † Chicago White Sox 1946 Pitcher Connie Mack † Pittsburgh Pirates 1894–1896 Catcher Denny Mack Louisville Eclipse 1882 Shortstop Jimmy Macullar Syracuse Stars 1879 Shortstop Lee Magee Brooklyn Tip-Tops 1915 Second Baseman Fergy Malone Philadelphia White Stockings Chicago White StockingsPhiladelphia Keystones 1873 1874 1884 Outfielder Jack Manning Cincinnati Reds 1877 Shortstop Rabbit Maranville † Chicago Cubs 1925 Shortstop Marty Marion St. Louis Browns 1952–1953 Shortstop Christy Mathewson † Cincinnati Reds 1916 Pitcher Jimmy McAleer Cleveland BluesSt. Louis Browns 1901 1901–1902 Outfielder Tommy McCarthy † St. Louis Browns 1890 Outfielder Jim McCormick Cleveland Blues 1879–1880, 1882 Pitcher Mike McGeary Philadelphia White Stockings Providence Grays Cleveland Blues 1875 1880 1881 Second baseman John McGraw † Baltimore Orioles (NL) Baltimore Orioles (AL) New York Giants 1899 1901–1902 1902–1906 Third baseman Deacon McGuire Washington SenatorsBoston Americans/Red Sox Cleveland Naps 1898 1907–1908 1910 Catcher Stuffy McInnis Philadelphia Phillies 1927 First baseman Bill McKechnie † Newark Peppers 1915 Third baseman Alex McKinnon St. Louis Maroons 1885 First baseman Marty McManus Boston Red Sox 1932–1933 Third baseman Cal McVey Cincinnati Reds 1878–1879 Third baseman Clyde Milan Washington Senators 1922 Outfielder John Morrill Boston Red Caps/Beaneaters Washington Nationals 1882, 1883–1886, 1887–1888 1889 First baseman Charlie Morton Toledo Blue Stockings Detroit Wolverines 1884 1885 Outfielder Tim Murnane Boston Reds 1884 First baseman Henry Myers Baltimore Orioles 1882 Shortstop Billy Nash Philadelphia Phillies 1896 Third baseman Kid Nichols † St. Louis Cardinals 1904–1905 Pitcher Bob O'Farrell St. Louis Cardinals Cincinnati Reds 1927 1934 Catcher Dan O'Leary Cincinnati Outlaw Reds 1884 Outfielder Jim O'Rourke † Buffalo Bisons Washington Senators 1881–1884 1893 Outfielder Rebel Oakes Pittsburgh Rebels 1914–1915 Outfielder Dave Orr New York Metropolitans 1887 First baseman Mel Ott † New York Giants 1942–1947 Outfielder Roger Peckinpaugh New York Yankees 1914 Shortstop Fred Pfeffer Louisville Colonels 1892 Second baseman Lip Pike Hartford Dark Blues Cincinnati Reds 1874 1877 Outfielder Matthew Porter Kansas City Cowboys 1884 Outfielder Blondie Purcell Philadelphia Quakers 1883 Outfielder Joe Quinn Cleveland Spiders St. Louis Browns 1895 1899 Second baseman Danny Richardson Washington Senators 1892 Shortstop Branch Rickey † St. Louis Browns 1914 Catcher Frank Robinson † Cleveland Indians 1975–1976 Outfielder Wilbert Robinson † Baltimore Orioles 1902 Catcher Jim Rogers Louisville Colonels 1897 First baseman Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds 1984–1986 First baseman Chief Roseman St. Louis Browns 1890 Outfielder Dave Rowe Kansas City Cowboys (NL) Kansas City Cowboys (AA) 1885 1888 Outfielder Jack Rowe Buffalo Bisons 1890 Shortstop Ray Schalk † Chicago White Sox 1927–1928 Catcher Larry Schlafly Buffalo Buffeds 1914 Second baseman Luke Sewell St. Louis Browns 1942 Catcher Dan Shannon Louisville Colonels Washington Statesmen 1889 1891 Second baseman George Sisler † St. Louis Browns 1924–1926 First baseman Harry Smith Boston Doves 1909 Catcher Heinie Smith New York Giants 1902 Second baseman Pop Snyder Cincinnati Reds Washington Statesmen 1882–1884 1891 Catcher Billy Southworth † St. Louis Cardinals 1929 Outfielder Albert Spalding † Chicago White Stockings 1876–1877 Pitcher Tris Speaker † Cleveland Indians 1919–1926 Outfielder Chick Stahl Boston Americans 1906 Outfielder Jake Stahl Washington SenatorsBoston Red Sox 1905–1906 1912–1913 First baseman George Stallings Philadelphia Phillies 1897–1898 Catcher Eddie Stanky St. Louis Cardinals 1952–1953 Second baseman George Stovall Cleveland Naps St. Louis Browns Kansas City Packers 1911 1912–1913 1914–1915 First baseman Harry Stovey Worcester Ruby Legs Philadelphia Athletics 1881 1885 Outfielder Gabby Street St. Louis Cardinals 1931 Catcher Cub Stricker St. Louis Browns 1892 Second baseman Billy Sullivan Chicago White Sox 1909 Catcher Ted Sullivan Kansas City Cowboys 1884 Outfielder El Tappe Chicago Cubs 1962 Catcher Patsy Tebeau Cleveland Infants Cleveland Spiders St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals 1890 1891–1898 1900 First baseman Fred Tenney Boston Doves/RustlersBoston Rustlers 1905–1907 1911 First baseman Bill Terry † New York Giants 1932–1936 First baseman Joe Tinker † Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds 1913 1916 Shortstop Joe Torre † New York Mets 1977 First baseman Pie Traynor † Pittsburgh Pirates 1934–1937 Third baseman Bob Unglaub Boston Red Sox 1907 First baseman George Van Haltren Baltimore Orioles 1892 Pitcher Honus Wagner † Pittsburgh Pirates 1917 Shortstop Harry Walker St. Louis Cardinals 1955 Outfielder Bobby Wallace † St. Louis Browns 1911–1912 Shortstop Bucky Walters Cincinnati Reds 1948 Pitcher John Montgomery Ward † Providence Grays New York Gothams/GiantsBrooklyn Ward's Wonders Brooklyn Grooms 1880 1884, 1893–1894 1890 1891–1892 Pitcher Bill Watkins Indianapolis Hoosiers 1884 Third baseman Harry Wheeler Kansas City Cowboys 1884 Outfielder Deacon White † Cincinnati Reds 1879 Catcher Will White Cincinnati Red Stockings 1884 Pitcher Kaiser Wilhelm Philadelphia Phillies 1921 Pitcher Jimmie Wilson Philadelphia Phillies 1934–1938 Catcher Ivey Wingo Cincinnati Reds 1916 Catcher Jimmy Wolf Louisville Colonels 1889 Outfielder Harry Wolverton New York Highlanders 1912 Third baseman George Wood Philadelphia Athletics 1891 Outfielder George Wright † Providence Grays 1879 Shortstop Harry Wright † Boston Red Stockings / Red Caps 1876–1877 Outfielder Tom York Providence Grays 1878 1881 Outfielder Cy Young † Boston Red Sox 1907 Pitcher Chief Zimmer Philadelphia Phillies 1903 Catcher
See also Baseball portal References Bibliography Stein, Fred (2002). And the Skipper Bats Cleanup: A History of the Baseball player–manager, with 42 Biographies of Men Who Filled the Dual Role . Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-1228-3 . In-line citations ^ "Complete Baseball Team and Baseball Team Encyclopedias". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved January 12, 2010 . ^ "Manager: Definition | Dictionary.com". Dictionary.Reference.com . The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2008 . ^ a b c d Gonzalez, Alden (November 10, 2011). "Will there ever be another player-manager? In era of specialization, once-popular dual role would be tall task". MLB.com . Major League Baseball Advanced Media . Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ Stein, p. 4 ^ "Bush May Take Bancroft's Post as Pilot". The Evening Independent . November 25, 1933. p. 6A. Retrieved April 16, 2012 . ^ Stein, pp. 4–5 ^ Powers, Jimmy (October 9, 1934). "Ruth to Quit Unless Given Manager Job". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved March 22, 2012 . ^ Stein, p. 10 ^ "Rose to be Reds' Player–Manager". The Milwaukee Sentinel . August 16, 1984. p. 2-1. Retrieved March 22, 2012 . ^ a b Stein, p. 5 ^ "Robinson will be Player–Manager with Tribe". Sarasota Herald-Tribune . United Press International . October 2, 1974. p. 1C. Retrieved March 22, 2012 . ^ "Kessinger Resigns as Player–Manager of White Sox". The Palm Beach Post . August 3, 1979. Retrieved March 22, 2012 . ^ Stein, p. 6 ^ "Jays might get Molitor as player and manager". The Kansas City Star . The Associated Press. October 30, 1997. p. D9. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . (subscription required) ^ Furman, Andy (September 1, 2000). "Larkin Intrigued by Player–Manager Idea". The Cincinnati Post . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2012 . (subscription required) ^ a b Gonzales, Mark (October 11, 2011). "Williams briefly considered Konerko as player-manager". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved March 10, 2012 . ^ "Lou Boudreau (1917-2001) 'Remarkable life' ends at 84 MVP season in '48 helped Indians to title". Chicago Sun-Times . August 11, 2001. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2012 . (subscription required) ^ Jones, David; Constantelos, Stephen. "Nap Lajoie". Society for American Baseball Research . Retrieved April 20, 2012 . ^ Acocella, Nick. "ESPN Classic – Robinson set records and broke barriers". Espn.go.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "When Wahoo First Roared: 1920 Trip to World Series Left Many Lasting Memories". Akron Beacon Journal . October 20, 1995. p. D1. Retrieved April 20, 2012 . (subscription required) ^ "El Tappe Managerial Career". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved April 20, 2012 . ^ Stein, p. 35 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baseball player–managers .