John McNamara (baseball)
John McNamara | |
---|---|
Manager | |
Born: Sacramento, California, U.S. | June 4, 1932|
Died: July 28, 2020 Brentwood, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 88)|
Career statistics | |
Games | 2,395 |
Win–loss record | 1,160–1,233–2 |
Winning % | .485 |
Teams | |
As manager
As coach
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
John Francis McNamara (June 4, 1932 – July 28, 2020) was an American
Early life and playing career
McNamara was born in Sacramento,[1] the fourth of five children of John and Josephine McNamara. His father, an Irish immigrant who was a railroad worker, died in 1944; his mother worked at the California Department of Motor Vehicles. McNamara attended Christian Brothers High School, where he was selected as an All-City player in both basketball and baseball.[2] At Sacramento City College (SCC), he led his team to the 1951 California Community College Athletic Association state championship and later was inducted to the SCC Athletic Hall of Fame.[3][4]
A right-handed batter and thrower who stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg), in his playing days he was a peripatetic, weak-hitting catcher who originally signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1951. He rose as high as the Open-Classification Pacific Coast League during 1956 as a member of his hometown Solons, but he hit only .171 in 76 games played.[2][5]
Managing and coaching career
Minor leagues
McNamara began his managing career with the
Oakland Athletics
McNamara served as a coach at the major-league level for Oakland from 1968 through September 18,
San Diego Padres
McNamara returned to the coaching ranks from 1971–73 with the cross-bay
Cincinnati Reds
After World Series titles in
McNamara's 1979 Reds, minus legend Pete Rose, who had defected to the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent, won 90 games—two fewer than Anderson's 1978 team. But they edged the Houston Astros by 11⁄2 games to win the NL West and became McNamara's first postseason entry. In the 1979 National League Championship Series, however, the Reds dropped the first two games at home in extra innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates, then were swept out of the playoffs in Game 3. Pittsburgh went on to win the 1979 World Series. McNamara's 1980 Reds won 89 games but finished third, 31⁄2 games behind Houston.
Then came Cincinnati's frustrating 1981 season: the Reds compiled the best overall record in the National League West (66–42, .611), but the split-season format adopted because of the 1981 Major League Baseball strike denied them a place in the playoffs because they finished second (initially to the Dodgers, then to the Astros) in each half-season. The 1981 campaign became all the more distressing because the 1982 Reds unraveled, losing 58 of their first 92 games, falling into the division basement. McNamara was fired on July 20, 1982, with Cincinnati 23 games out of first place.[8][2]
California Angels
McNamara clashed with pitcher Tommy John that year, not listening to John when the 41-year-old pitcher told him he was tiring in games.[13] Late in the year, he moved John to the bullpen, then forbid him to practice throwing because he wanted to keep the pitcher's arm fresh in case he needed him.[14] Wanting practice to get his problems straightened out, John practiced throwing anyway, much to McNamara's displeasure.[15] Frank Pastore had the same issue with McNamara during the manager's time with the Reds.[16]
Boston Red Sox
When
However, 1986 would be a different story. With fireballing
1986 World Series
McNamara's managerial tactics during the 1986 World Series (especially in the last two games) received much criticism and scrutiny. In the pivotal sixth game, McNamara removed Red Sox ace Roger Clemens in the eighth inning despite the fact that Clemens was still pitching well. Both parties have different stories regarding Clemens's departure. According to Clemens, he did not want to leave the game, but McNamara insisted that Clemens asked to be taken out because he had a blister on his pitching hand. Other players backed Clemens's version. McNamara was also criticized for pinch-hitting Clemens with rookie Mike Greenwell, who struck out on three pitches, when veteran slugger and noted cluch hitter Don Baylor was also available. McNamara's move was further questioned in light of the relatively poor performances of closer Calvin Schiraldi and longtime reliever Bob Stanley, especially considering that he brought Schiraldi into the game for what was supposed to be a two-inning save and left him in the game for the first two outs of the tenth after he blew the save.[17]
Yet, perhaps the decision that McNamara will be most remembered for is his leaving first baseman Bill Buckner in the game in the 10th inning rather than removing him for a defensive substitute. McNamara was ridiculed for years afterward for leaving Buckner on the field instead of replacing him with Dave Stapleton, who had previously been used to replace Buckner in late innings for defensive purposes (including Games 1 and 5 of the World Series).[17] He later said, "I felt Buckner deserved to be on the field when we won."[18] The Red Sox players also believed that their manager let sentiment overpower his judgement. Stapleton claimed that "[McNamara] damn well knows that he messed up. And he very well could have cost us the World Series that year."[19] McNamara finally responded to Stapleton's attack in 2011 during an interview with Bob Costas for MLB Network, changing his original claim that sentiment was what caused him to keep Buckner in the game and saying that Stapleton had the nickname of "Shaky" because of his poor defense. It was an odd position to take, considering McNamara had used Stapleton in that spot all season long.[20]
With Game 7 delayed a day due to rain in New York, McNamara bumped originally-scheduled starting pitcher Oil Can Boyd in favor of starting Bruce Hurst, the winner of Games 1 and 5 and the presumptive MVP of the series if the Red Sox were to win, on three days' rest; the Red Sox had chosen to go with a normal four-man rotation during the series, unlike the Mets who pitched a three-man rotation. The decision upset Boyd so much that he began drinking heavily afterward and drank himself to the point of intoxication, according to accounts given by McNamara and his pitching coach Bill Fischer, thus rendering him unavailable.[21]
Hurst was staked to a 3–0 lead and pitched shutout ball for five innings, but tired in the sixth allowing the Mets to score three runs to tie the game. Since Boyd's actions had left the bullpen short staffed in a situation where every able pitcher would need to be available in case of an emergency, McNamara decided to bring Calvin Schiraldi in despite his struggles in Game 6 and the fact that he was still tired from pitching 2.2 innings that night (something he wasn't used to). Schiraldi gave up a tie-breaking home run to Ray Knight, the first batter he faced, and ended up surrendering three runs while recording only a single out.[22] The Red Sox would lose the game 8–5, thus losing the series.[2]
Final seasons (1987–88) with Red Sox
McNamara's 1987
Cleveland Indians and interim Angels' pilot
McNamara's managing career was not over, however. He spent 1989 as a
McNamara returned to the Angels' organization as a minor league catching instructor, but was called to manage in the majors a final time in 1996 at age 64. He became interim pilot upon Marcel Lachemann's resignation on August 6, and had directed them to a 5–9 record when he was hospitalized for a blood clot in his leg on August 20.[26] After coach Joe Maddon helmed the Angels for three weeks while he was treated, McNamara was able to return to the Angels and finish the 1996 season.[2] He compiled a 10–18 overall record,[8] and was eventually succeeded by Terry Collins for 1997.[27]
Managerial record
The 1996 assignment concluded McNamara's managerial career. Over all or parts of 19 seasons, he had a record of 1,160–1,233 (.485).[8]
Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
OAK | 1969 | 13 | 8 | 5 | .615 | 2nd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
OAK | 1970 | 162 | 89 | 73 | .549 | 2nd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
OAK total | 175 | 97 | 78 | .554 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
SD | 1974 | 162 | 60 | 102 | .370 | 6th in NL West | – | – | – | – |
SD | 1975 | 162 | 71 | 91 | .438 | 4th in NL West | – | – | – | – |
SD | 1976 | 162 | 73 | 89 | .451 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | – |
SD | 1977 | 48 | 20 | 28 | .417 | fired | – | – | – | – |
SD total | 534 | 224 | 310 | .419 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
CIN | 1979 | 161 | 90 | 71 | .559 | 1st in NL West | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost NLCS (PIT) |
CIN | 1980 | 162 | 89 | 73 | .549 | 3rd in NL West | – | – | – | – |
CIN | 1981 | 56 | 35 | 21 | .625 | 2nd in NL West | – | – | – | – |
52 | 31 | 21 | .596 | 2nd in NL West | ||||||
CIN | 1982 | 92 | 34 | 58 | .370 | fired | – | – | – | – |
CIN total | 523 | 279 | 244 | .533 | 0 | 3 | .000 | |||
CAL | 1983 | 162 | 70 | 92 | .432 | 5th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
CAL | 1984 | 162 | 81 | 81 | .500 | 2nd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
CAL | 1996 | 28 | 10 | 18 | .357 | interim | – | – | – | – |
CAL total | 352 | 161 | 191 | .457 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
BOS | 1985 | 162 | 81 | 81 | .500 | 5th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
BOS | 1986 | 161 | 95 | 66 | .590 | 1st in AL East | 7 | 7 | .500 | Lost World Series (NYM) |
BOS | 1987 | 162 | 78 | 84 | .481 | 5th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
BOS | 1988 | 85 | 43 | 42 | .506 | fired | – | – | – | – |
BOS total | 570 | 297 | 273 | .521 | 7 | 7 | .500 | |||
CLE | 1990 | 162 | 77 | 85 | .475 | 4th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
CLE | 1991 | 77 | 25 | 52 | .325 | fired | – | – | – | – |
CLE total | 239 | 102 | 137 | .427 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
Total[8] | 2393 | 1160 | 1233 | .485 | 7 | 10 | .412 |
Personal life
McNamara married his first wife, Kathleen, at the start of his playing career. Together, they raised four children – three daughters (Peggy, Maureen, and Susan) and one son (Mike). He subsequently married Ellen Goode. The two of them moved to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, when McNamara retired from baseball.[2] Very tragically, as noted in his obituary, in 1996 two of McNamara's young grandsons were killed by his son-in-law — their father — who then killed himself.[28]
McNamara died aged 88 on July 28, 2020, at his home in Tennessee.[29][30]
See also
References
- ^ Davidson, Joe (July 31, 2020). "Remembering John McNamara, Sacramento-raised MLB manager". Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, CA. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Armour, Mark. "John McNamara". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ "State Championship History". California Community College Athletic Association.
- ^ "Hall of Fame: All-Time Inductees". Sacramento City College Panthers.
- ^ "John McNamara Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ "Finley sets news conference; Athletic manager not invited". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). UPI. October 2, 1970. p. 7.
- ^ "Oakland Athletics Team History & Encyclopedia Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "John McNamara Managerial Record". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Boswell, Thomas (November 29, 1978). "Reds Fire Anderson as Manager". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Price, Steve (November 28, 2010). "This Day in Reds' History: Anderson Fired, McNamara Hired". Redleg Nation. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "1983 AL Team Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ "1984 AL Team Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ John and Valenti, pp. 244-45
- ^ John and Valenti, pp. 247-48
- ^ John and Valenti, pp. 248-49
- ^ John and Valenti, p. 248
- ^ a b Fimrite, Ron (November 3, 1986). "Good To The Very Last Out". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Neyer, Rob. Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders (2006), p. 229.
- ^ Sowell, Mike. One Pitch Away (1995).
- ^ 1986: A Postseason To Remember, MLB Network, 2011
- ^ "Cooperstown Confidential: The sad saga of Oil Can Boyd | The Hardball Times". May 4, 2012.
- ^ "October 27, 1986 World Series Game 7, Boston Red Sox at New York Mets Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. May 17, 1977. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ "McNamara Named Manager of Indians". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1989. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "1990 AL Team Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ "1991 AL Team Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ "Angel Manager is Hospitalized". The New York Times. August 21, 1996. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "1997 Anaheim Angels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (July 31, 2020). "John McNamara, Red Sox Skipper in '86 Series Loss, Dies at 88". The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Golen, Jimmy (July 29, 2020). "John McNamara, manager of ill-fated '86 Red Sox, dies at 88". Associated Press. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (July 29, 2020). "John McNamara, manager of the 1986 Red Sox, dies at 88". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- John, Tommy; Valenti, Dan (1991). TJ: My Twenty-Six Years in Baseball. New York: Bantam. ISBN 0-553-07184-X.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- John McNamara managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- John McNamara at the SABR Baseball Biography Project