Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award

Lou Piniella won the 2008 National League Manager of the Year Award, and won twice in the American League.

In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner is voted on by 30 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). Each places a vote for first, second, and third place among the managers of each league.^[a] The manager with the highest score in each league wins the award.^[1]

Several managers have won the award in a season when they led their team to 100 or more wins. Lou Piniella won 116 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2001,^[2] the most by a winning manager, and Joe Torre won 114 with the New York Yankees in 1998.^[3] Sparky Anderson and Tony La Russa finished with identical 104–58 records in 1984 and 1988, respectively.^[4][5] Three National League managers, including Dusty Baker, Whitey Herzog, and Larry Dierker, have exceeded the century mark as well. Baker's San Francisco Giants won 103 games in 1993;^[6] Dierker's 1998 Houston Astros won 102 and Herzog led the Cardinals to 101 wins in the award's third season.^[7][8]

In 1991, Bobby Cox became the first manager to win the award in both leagues, winning with the Atlanta Braves and having previously won with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985.^[9] La Russa, Piniella, Jim Leyland, Bob Melvin, Davey Johnson, and Joe Maddon have since won the award in both leagues.^[2][4][10] Cox and La Russa have won the most awards, with four.^[4][9] Baker, Leyland, Piniella, and Maddon have won three times.^[2][6][10] In 2005, Cox became the first manager to win the award in consecutive years.^[9] Jeff Banister and Joe Maddon are the most recent winners.

Because of the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike cut the season short and cancelled the post-season, the BBWAA writers effectively created a de facto mythical national championship (similar to college football) by naming managers of the unofficial league champions (lead the leagues in winning percentage) (Buck Showalter and Felipe Alou) as Managers of the Year.^[11][12] Two franchises, the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers, have not had a manager win the award.

Only six managers have won the award while leading a team that finished outside the top two spots in its division. Ted Williams was the first, after leading the "expansion" Washington Senators to a third-place finish (and, at 86-76, their only winning season) in the American League East, in 1969. Buck Rodgers won the award in 1987 with the third-place Expos.^[13] Tony Peña and Showalter won the award with third-place teams in back-to-back years: Peña with the Royals in 2003, and Showalter with the Rangers in 2004.^[14][15] Joe Girardi is the only manager to win the award with a fourth-place team (2006 Florida Marlins);^[16] he is also the only manager to win the award after fielding a team with a losing record.

In 2016, Terry Francona was named American League Manager of the Year.

Key

	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
^	Indicates multiple award winners in the same year
(#)	Number of wins by managers who have won the award multiple times
Year	Each year links to that particular Major League Baseball season

Winners

American League

Joe Maddon (2008 and 2011 AL Manager of the Year; 2015 NL Manager of the Year)

Ron Gardenhire (2010 AL Manager of the Year). Gardenhire had previously finished as the runner-up for the award five times, tied for the most with Tony LaRussa.

Bob Melvin (2007 NL Manager of the Year), 2012 AL Manager of the Year

Jim Leyland (1990 and 1992 NL Manager of the Year), 2006 AL Manager of the Year

Year	Manager	Team	Division	Finish	Record
1983	La Russa, TonyTony La Russa (1)^†	Chicago White Sox	West	1st	99–63
1984	Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson (1)^†	Detroit Tigers	East	1st	104–58
1985	Cox, BobbyBobby Cox (1)^†	Toronto Blue Jays	East	1st	99–62
1986	McNamara, JohnJohn McNamara	Boston Red Sox	East	1st	95–66
1987	Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson (2)^†	Detroit Tigers	East	1st	98–64
1988	La Russa, TonyTony La Russa (2)^†	Oakland Athletics	West	1st	104–58
1989	Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson^†	Baltimore Orioles	East	2nd	87–75
1990	Torborg, JeffJeff Torborg	Chicago White Sox	West	2nd	94–68
1991	Kelly, TomTom Kelly	Minnesota Twins	West	1st	95–67
1992	La Russa, TonyTony La Russa (3)^†	Oakland Athletics	West	1st	96–66
1993	Lamont, GeneGene Lamont	Chicago White Sox	West	1st	94–68
1994^[b]	Showalter, BuckBuck Showalter (1)	New York Yankees	East	1st	70–43
1995	Piniella, LouLou Piniella (1)	Seattle Mariners	West	1st	79–66
1996^^^[c]	Oates, JohnnyJohnny Oates	Texas Rangers	West	1st	90–72
1996^^^[c]	Torre, JoeJoe Torre^†	New York Yankees	East	1st	92–70
1997	Johnson, DaveyDavey Johnson (1)	Baltimore Orioles	East	1st	98–64
1998	Torre, JoeJoe Torre (2)^†	New York Yankees	East	1st	114–48
1999	Williams, JimyJimy Williams	Boston Red Sox	East	2nd	94–68
2000	Manuel, JerryJerry Manuel	Chicago White Sox	Central	1st	95–67
2001	Piniella, LouLou Piniella (2)	Seattle Mariners	West	1st	116–46
2002	Scioscia, MikeMike Scioscia	Anaheim Angels	West	2nd	99–63
2003	Pena, TonyTony Peña	Kansas City Royals	Central	3rd	83–79
2004	Showalter, BuckBuck Showalter (2)	Texas Rangers	West	3rd	89–73
2005	Guillén, OzzieOzzie Guillén	Chicago White Sox	Central	1st	99–63
2006	Leyland, JimJim Leyland (3)	Detroit Tigers	Central	2nd	95–67
2007	Wedge, EricEric Wedge	Cleveland Indians	Central	1st	96–66
2008	Maddon, JoeJoe Maddon (1)	Tampa Bay Rays	East	1st	97–65
2009	Scioscia, MikeMike Scioscia (2)	Los Angeles Angels	West	1st	97–65
2010	Gardenhire, RonRon Gardenhire	Minnesota Twins	Central	1st	94–68
2011	Maddon, JoeJoe Maddon (2)	Tampa Bay Rays	East	2nd	91–71
2012	Melvin, BobBob Melvin (2)	Oakland Athletics	West	1st	94–68
2013	Francona, TerryTerry Francona	Cleveland Indians	Central	2nd	92–70
2014	Showalter, BuckBuck Showalter (3)	Baltimore Orioles	East	1st	96–66
2015	Banister, JeffJeff Banister	Texas Rangers	West	1st	88–74
2016	Francona, TerryTerry Francona (2)	Cleveland Indians	Central	1st	94–67

National League

Year	Manager	Team	Division	Finish	Record
1983	Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda (1)^†	Los Angeles Dodgers	West	1st	91–71
1984	Frey, JimJim Frey	Chicago Cubs	East	1st	96–65
1985	Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog^†	St. Louis Cardinals	East	1st	101–61
1986	Lanier, HalHal Lanier	Houston Astros	West	1st	96–66
1987	Rodgers, BuckBuck Rodgers	Montréal Expos	East	3rd	91–71
1988	Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda (2)^†	Los Angeles Dodgers	West	1st	94–67
1989	Zimmer, DonDon Zimmer	Chicago Cubs	East	1st	93–69
1990	Leyland, JimJim Leyland (1)	Pittsburgh Pirates	East	1st	95–67
1991	Cox, BobbyBobby Cox (2)^†	Atlanta Braves	West	1st	94–68
1992	Leyland, JimJim Leyland (2)	Pittsburgh Pirates	East	1st	96–66
1993	Baker, DustyDusty Baker (1)	San Francisco Giants	West	2nd	103–59
1994^[b]	Alou, FelipeFelipe Alou	Montréal Expos	East	1st	74–40
1995	Baylor, DonDon Baylor	Colorado Rockies	West	2nd	77–67
1996	Bochy, BruceBruce Bochy	San Diego Padres	West	1st	91–71
1997	Baker, DustyDusty Baker (2)	San Francisco Giants	West	1st	90–72
1998	Dierker, LarryLarry Dierker	Houston Astros	Central	1st	102–60
1999	McKeon, JackJack McKeon (1)	Cincinnati Reds	Central	2nd	96–67
2000	Baker, DustyDusty Baker (3)	San Francisco Giants	West	1st	97–65
2001	Bowa, LarryLarry Bowa	Philadelphia Phillies	East	2nd	86–76
2002	La Russa, TonyTony La Russa (4)^†	St. Louis Cardinals	Central	1st	97–65
2003	McKeon, JackJack McKeon (2)	Florida Marlins	East	2nd	75–49
2004	Cox, BobbyBobby Cox (3)^†	Atlanta Braves	East	1st	96–66
2005	Cox, BobbyBobby Cox (4)^†	Atlanta Braves	East	1st	90–72
2006	Girardi, JoeJoe Girardi	Florida Marlins	East	4th	78–84
2007	Melvin, BobBob Melvin (1)	Arizona Diamondbacks	West	1st	90–72
2008	Piniella, LouLou Piniella (3)	Chicago Cubs	Central	1st	97–64
2009	Tracy, JimJim Tracy	Colorado Rockies	West	2nd	92–70
2010	Black, BudBud Black	San Diego Padres	West	2nd	90–72
2011	Gibson, KirkKirk Gibson	Arizona Diamondbacks	West	1st	94–68
2012	Johnson, DaveyDavey Johnson (2)	Washington Nationals	East	1st	98–64
2013	Hurdle, ClintClint Hurdle	Pittsburgh Pirates	Central	2nd	94–68
2014	Williams, MattMatt Williams	Washington Nationals	East	1st	96–66
2015	Maddon, JoeJoe Maddon (3)	Chicago Cubs	Central	3rd	97–65
2016	Roberts, DaveDave Roberts	Los Angeles Dodgers	West	1st	91-71

Notes

• ^a The formula used to calculate the final scores is Score = 5F + 3S + T, where F is the number of first-place votes, S is second -place votes, and T is third-place votes.^[17][18]
• ^b The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike ended the season on August 11, as well as cancelling the entire postseason, with writers effectively turning the vote into a de facto mythical national championship, similar to college football. ^[19]
• ^c Johnny Oates and Joe Torre tied for the lead among voters in the American League in 1996.^[20]

See also

• "Esurance MLB Awards" Best Manager (in MLB)
• Baseball America Manager of the Year
• Baseball Prospectus Internet Baseball Awards Manager of the Year
• Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award
• Associated Press Manager of the Year (discontinued in 2001)
• Honor Rolls of Baseball #Managers
• MLB All-Time Manager (1997; BBWAA)
• Sporting News Manager of the Decade (2009)
• Sports Illustrated MLB Manager of the Decade (2009)
• Major League Baseball all-time managerial wins
• Best Coach/Manager ESPY Award (all sports)

References

General

• "Manager of the Year Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
• "MLB Awards (Manager of the Year Award Winners)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 25, 2009.

Inline citations

1. Castrovince, Anthony; Beck, Jason (November 14, 2007). "Wedge named AL's top manager". Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
2. "Lou Piniella Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
3. "Joe Torre Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
4. "Tony La Russa Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
5. "Sparky Anderson Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
6. "Dusty Baker Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
7. "Larry Dierker Managerial Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
8. "Whitey Herzog Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
9. "Bobby Cox Managerial Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
10. "Jim Leyland Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
11. "Buck Showalter Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
12. "Felipe Alou Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
13. "1987 Montreal Expos Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
14. "2003 Kansas City Royals Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
15. "2004 Texas Rangers Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
16. "2006 Florida Marlins Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
17. "2008 NL Manager of the Year Voting". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 12, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
18. Spira, Greg (October 28, 2004). "Internet Baseball Awards". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
19. Bryant, Howard (2005). Juicing the Game. Penguin Group. p. 53. ISBN 0-670-03445-2.
20. "MLB Awards (Manager of the Year Award Winners)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 25, 2009.