Charlie Manuel

Charlie Manuel

Manuel as manager for the Phillies in 2006
Left fielder / Manager
Born: (1944-01-04) January 4, 1944
Northfork, West Virginia
Batted: Left Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 8, 1969, for the Minnesota Twins
NPB: 1976, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Last appearance
MLB: September 21, 1975, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
NPB: 1981, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
MLB statistics
Batting average .198
Home runs 4
Runs batted in 43
Managerial record 1,000–826
Winning % .548
NPB statistics
Batting average .303
Home runs 189
Runs batted in 491
Teams

As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards

Charles Fuqua Manuel, Jr. (born January 4, 1944) is an American senior advisor for the Philadelphia Phillies, and a former professional baseball outfielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). During his playing career, he appeared over parts of six MLB seasons for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers before playing another six seasons in NPB with the Yakult Swallows and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Over four successive seasons in NBP, he hit at least .312 with 37 home runs each season and won the 1979 Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award. After his playing career, Manuel coached and managed the Cleveland Indians and managed the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the World Series in 2008. He now serves as the senior advisor to the Phillies General Manager.[1]

Early life

Although he was born in Iowa, his family was actually living in Virginia at that time, and he lived in Virginia throughout his childhood. He was born in an automobile while his mother, June, was visiting her mother.[2] His father, Charles Sr., was a Pentecostal preacher, and the family lived in Wythe and Grayson Counties until they settled in Buena Vista when Charlie, the third of 11 children and the oldest son, was 12.[2]

He became a four-sport star at Parry McCluer High School in Buena Vista, playing baseball, football, basketball and track and field, captaining the baseball and basketball teams. His first love was basketball and he had received scholarship offers in that sport, but his plans and his life would dramatically change just before his high school graduation.

In April 1963, his father committed suicide due to being severely ill with diabetes and heart problems. Leaving behind a suicide note, he asked that Charlie – who was already married with a child – take care of his mother and siblings.[2][3] He turned down his basketball scholarship offers, including one to the University of Pennsylvania,[4] to consider offers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and New York Yankees, ultimately signing with the Twins out of high school in 1963 for $30,000.

Playing career

Major league career

Manuel played from 1969 to 1972 with the Minnesota Twins and in 1974 and 1975 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, primarily as a pinch-hitter and left fielder.

Japanese baseball

Manuel's baseball career took off when he left the United States to play in Japan. Wildly popular for his tenacious style of play and his power-hitting abilities, Manuel was dubbed "Aka-Oni" (The Red Devil) by fans and teammates.

In 1977, he hit .316 with 42 home runs and 97 runs batted in, helping the Central League's Yakult Swallows reach second place for the first time in franchise history. In 1978, he hit .312 with 39 homers and 103 RBI, powering the Swallows to their first pennant and the Japan Championship Series.

Playing for the Pacific League's Kintetsu Buffaloes, Manuel hit 25 home runs in the first eight weeks of the 1979 season.[5] He was on pace to break the Japanese record of 16 home runs in a month.[6]

At a game against the Lotte Orions on June 19, 1979, he was beaned by a pitch from Soroku Yagisawa, effectively stopping Manuel from taking that record.[6] The pitch broke Manuel's jaw in six places. He wore a dental bridge as a result of an earlier accident in the minor leagues. There was nothing for doctors to wire together, so they inserted three metal plates in his head and removed nerves from his face.[5] Manuel was discharged from the hospital after six weeks and immediately began playing again, against the advice of doctors and worried family. The Buffaloes were struggling to stay in the Pacific League lead and had never won a pennant. To protect his jaw, Manuel wore a helmet equipped with a football facemask. He wore the helmet for the first few games but stopped using it because it obscured his vision at the plate.[7] He finished the 1979 season with 37 home runs to win the home run title. He led Kintetsu to its first pennant win. He was voted the Most Valuable Player, the first American to receive the honor since 1964, hitting .324 with 37 home runs and 94 RBI.

A year later, Manuel shocked Japanese baseball by leaving for a week to attend his son's high school graduation in Virginia. His contract allowed it, but team officials were incredulous that Manuel would leave the team two games out of first place with three weeks to play in the first half of the season.[8] Manuel returned to lead the team to the second-half championship and the pennant. He finished the season hitting .324, with 48 home runs and 129 RBI. It was the best season for an American player in Japan to that point. Manuel won no awards that season.[9]

In 1981, he returned to the Yakult Swallows after being released by Kintetsu over contract negotiations.

Manuel finished his successful run in Japan with a .303 career average, 189 home runs and 491 RBI. He was considered one of the best imported baseball players to Japan in those days, along with brothers Leron and Leon Lee and Randy Bass.

During his time in Japan, Manuel learned to speak Japanese. The language skill and experience in Japan was useful in managing players such as So Taguchi and Tadahito Iguchi.

Managing career

Minor league manager

Ultimately, injuries, including the beaning in Japan, cut Manuel's playing days short. He returned to the United States to work as a scout for the Minnesota Twins organization before turning to coaching. As a minor league manager for nine years in the Twins' (from 1983 to 1987) and Cleveland Indians' (from 1990 to 1993) farm systems, Manuel compiled a 610–588 (.509) record, winning the Pacific Coast League and International League championships in his final two seasons (1992–93). He was named Manager of the Year three times (1984, 1992, 1993) and managed the IL All-Star team in 1993.

Cleveland Indians coach and manager

Manuel returned to the Majors in 1988 as the Indians' hitting coach (from 1988 to 1989, from 1994 to 1999), where under his tutelage, the Tribe led the American League in runs three times (from 1994 to 1995, 1999) and set a franchise record in 1999 with 1,009 runs, becoming the first team to score 1,000 runs since the 1950 Boston Red Sox. The club also led the league in home runs in 1994 and 1995. From 2000 to 2002, he served as the Indians' manager, leading the team to the American League Central Division title in 2001. He was the 37th manager in the Cleveland Indians history.[10]

He was fired as manager of the Cleveland Indians on July 12, 2002 over a contract dispute.

Philadelphia Phillies manager

2004–06

Shortly after he was fired as manager for the Cleveland Indians, Manuel was hired by the Phillies as special assistant to the general manager. He was hired in 2004 as the Phillies' Manager.[10] After the 2004 season, Manuel was hired as the club's 51st manager, replacing Larry Bowa.[11] In the 2005 season, Manuel and the Phillies went 88–74, only one game back of the Wild Card.

In 2006, Manuel and the Phillies finished just short of the playoffs once again, this time three games back of the wild card. However, the season did have certain positives that boded well for next season. Second-year slugger Ryan Howard hit a franchise record 58 home runs, second baseman Chase Utley was named a starter in the 2006 MLB All-Star Game, and rookie pitcher Cole Hamels showed progress and the potential that he could one day become the club's ace.

2007

The team got off to a slow start again in 2007 (in 2005, they opened at 9–12; in 2006, 6–10). They began the season with a 3–9 record and during the Phillies' post-game press conference following the team's 8–1 loss to the New York Mets on April 17, 2007, Philadelphia radio personality Howard Eskin repeatedly questioned Manuel why he did not challenge his players. Eskin, a controversial afternoon drive host on local sports-talk station WIP-610, had criticized Manuel since the manager's hiring three years earlier.[12] The Phillies proceeded to lose two of their next three games after the confrontation before going on a five-game winning streak. After the streak, the Phillies took another step back, winning only 5 of their next 13 games. The Philles were still one game below .500 on July 19 and only four games over .500 on August 25. From August 25 through the end of the season the Phillies went 23–11 to overtake the Mets.

Manuel's Phillies battled injuries all season, including losing newly acquired pitcher Freddy García for the season. Howard, Utley, and Hamels also missed significant playing time. Hamels led the pitching staff with a 15–5 record, while Jimmy Rollins set the Major League Baseball record for at-bats in a season with 716 through all 162 games played, as well as being named NL MVP. In a dramatic finale to the season, the Phillies captured the National League East title from the collapsing Mets, but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Colorado Rockies. Manuel finished second in balloting for the National League Manager of the Year Award for 2007.[13]

2008–09

The 2008 season started out much like 2005 through 2007, the Phillies once again got off to a slow start with a record of 8 wins and 10 losses. They recovered quickly after their slow start to go over the .500 mark on April 24. They peaked at 22 games over the .500 mark on the final day of the season, winning 92 games and earning 1st place in the NL East for the 2nd consecutive year. On October 29, Charlie Manuel guided the 2008 Phillies to their second world title. It was his first World Series ring after years of close calls (including the 1997 Cleveland Indians). He was voted by fans as MLB "This Year in Baseball Awards" Manager of the Year.[14] Manuel reached a contract agreement with the Phils on December 9, 2008 to keep him with the team through the 2011 season. On October 21, 2009, Manuel became the first manager in franchise history to lead the Phillies to two consecutive World Series appearances. It was the first time a National League team won back-to-back pennants since the 1995–96 Atlanta Braves. During the 2009 World Series, Manuel was criticized for not pitching Cliff Lee in Game 4, a game the Phillies eventually lost.[15] He defended his decision by noting that Lee had never pitched on three days' rest before. Manuel finished sixth in balloting for the 2009 National League Manager of the Year Award.[16]

2010–11

In 2010, Manuel managed the Phillies to their fourth consecutive NL East title.[17] The Phillies became the third NL team in history to play in the postseason in four consecutive seasons, joining the Braves (1991–2005, excluding 1994) and the New York Giants (1921–24).[18] The Phillies finished the season at 97–65; it was the first time in franchise history that Philadelphia had completed a season with Major League Baseball's best record.[19] In November, the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh named Manuel the recipient of its Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award. In September 2011, Manuel again led the Phillies to the NL East title, their fifth consecutive in as many years, and quickest post-season clinch ever: at game #150.[20] During the sweep of the final series against the Atlanta Braves on September 26–28, records were set. First on the 26th, with the Phillies' 4-2 victory, he became the second manager in Phillies' history to manager a team to at least 100 wins in a season, after Danny Ozark during back-to-back 101 win seasons in 1976 and 1977.[21][22] The next day, with the Phillies' 7-1 victory, Manuel moved into a franchise-record tie with Gene Mauch with 645 regular-season victories.[21] In the final game of the season with a victory in 13 innings, he led the Phillies to a franchise-record 102 regular season wins. With the victory he picked up his 646th win, setting a new Phillies' managerial record for victories and assuring that the Phillies would face the red hot St. Louis Cardinals who defeated them in the NLDS.

2012–13

In 2012, he managed the Phillies to an 81–81 record, marking the first time in five years the team failed to reach the postseason. In 2013, Manuel won his 1,000th game on August 12.[23] However, Manuel did not win another game with the Phillies, and after the team lost their 15th game out of 20 after the All-Star Break, Manuel was fired on August 16. He was replaced by third-base coach Ryne Sandberg.[24] Reaction around the league and from the Phillies fan base mostly consisted of sadness, a growing disdain for Ruben Amaro Jr. and gratitude to Manuel for his tenure.[25] Several Phillies veterans, including Chase Utley and Cole Hamels, expressed regret and guilt, believing their lack of production led to Manuel's firing; they said that they viewed Manuel as a fatherly figure.[26] Sandberg commented the next day, "It was a roller coaster of a day emotionally. It affected me and I think it affects the players."[27] Manuel received praise from the media for his class in handling the situation,[28] and sportswriters mostly exonerated him of the blame for the Phillies' performance for not having better players.[29][30] When asked if he had enough pieces to win the last two years, he said "The last two years? No. I can straight face tell you that." [31] Despite stepping down, Manuel would eventually return to the Philles as a senior advisor to the General Manager.

Managerial record

As of November 21, 2014
Team From To Regular season record Post–season record
W L Win % W L Win %
Cleveland Indians 2000 2002 220 190 .537 2 3 .400
Philadelphia Phillies 2005 2013 780 636 .551 27 19 .587
Total 1000 826 .548 29 22 .569
Reference:[32]

Personal life

Manuel has survived a heart attack, quadruple bypass surgery, a blocked and infected colon, and kidney cancer.[33] During his time with the Indians, he worked in the dugout with a colostomy bag beneath his jacket. Manuel's mother June died October 10, 2008, at age 87 in Buena Vista, Virginia. She had suffered a heart attack earlier in the week. Because of the Phillies' 2008 NLCS five-game win, he was unable to attend his mother's funeral. As of 2015 he is married to Melissa "Missy" Martin.[34]

References

  1. ↑ Manuel hired
  2. 1 2 3 Berman, Mark (2008-10-22). "The Phillies' Charlie Manuel: Buena Vista dream to big leagues". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  3. ↑ Mandel, Ken (2008-10-16). "Mom on Manuel's mind after clincher". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  4. ↑ Manuel gets one last reminder that Mom's always right ESPN.com
  5. 1 2 Whiting, Robert (1990). You Gotta Have Wa. Vintage Departures. p. 278.
  6. 1 2 You Gotta Have Wa, by Robert Whiting, Vintage Departures, 1990, pg 280
  7. ↑ You Gotta Have Wa, by Robert Whiting, Vintage Departures, 1990, pg 281
  8. ↑ You Gotta Have Wa, by Robert Whiting, Vintage Departures, 1990, pg 282
  9. ↑ You Gotta Have Wa, by Robert Whiting, Vintage Departures, 1990, pg 283
  10. 1 2 "Charlie Manuel #41". Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Charlie Manuel Hired to Manage Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Team". Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  12. ↑ "Howard Eskin vs Charlie Manuel". Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  13. ↑ "Wedge, Melvin named AL, NL managers of year". Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  14. ↑ Go to 2008 This Year in Baseball Awards and click on "Manager" for results and video. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  15. ↑ Skipping Lee was fatal for the Phillies Yahoo! Sports
  16. ↑ "Manuel sixth in NL Manager of the Year voting". Philadelphia Daily News. 2009-11-18.
  17. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (September 27, 2010). "Phour! Phils' NL East dominance continues". Phillies.MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  18. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (September 27, 2010). "Phils join exclusive NL club with latest berth". Phillies.MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  19. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (October 3, 2010). "For first time, Phillies finish with best record". Phillies.MLB.com. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  20. ↑ Radano, Mike (September 17, 2011). "High Phive: Phils clinch fifth straight East title". Phillies.MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  21. 1 2 Zolecki, Todd (September 27, 2011). "Phils roll, tie franchise record with 101st win". Phillies.MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  22. ↑ Zolecki, Todd. "Offense keeps clicking; Phils reach 100 wins". Phillies.MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  23. ↑ Gelb, Matt (August 14, 2013). "Hamels handcuffs Braves in Manuel's 1,000th win". Philly.com. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  24. ↑ Salisbury, Jim (August 16, 2013). "Manuel out, Sandberg in as Phillies manager". CSNPhilly.com. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  25. ↑ Jimenez, Tim; Quinones, Todd (August 16, 2013). "Fans sad, but not surprised by Manuel's firing". Latest News. CBS Philly. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  26. ↑ Pianovich, Stephen (August 17, 2013). "To core Phillies players, former manager Charlie Manuel 'like a father'". MLB.com: News. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  27. ↑ STATS LLC (August 17, 2013). "Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Preview – August 17, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  28. ↑ Watanabe, Ben (August 17, 2013). "Charlie Manuel displays class in wake of being fired, asks fans to keep rooting for Phillies". Daily Blend – NESN.com. New England Sports Network. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  29. ↑ Miller, Scott (August 16, 2013). "Maybe Ryne Sandberg will help, but what Phillies need is better players". CBSSports.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  30. ↑ Ford, Bob (August 17, 2013). "Manuel pays for Amaro's mistakes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-15. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  32. ↑ "Charlie Manuel". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  33. ↑ Robinson, Bill (1 November 2008). "Philadelphia Phillies' skipper has survived long and rocky road". The Marietta Times. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  34. ↑ Burrell part of Phils’ big inning Philadelphia Daily News
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