List of Major League Baseball player-managers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Pete Rose is the most recent player-manager in Major League Baseball, having last done so from 1984 to 1986

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

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

Portrait of a man in a jacket with a dark collar wearing a white shirt and tie.
Cap Anson was a player-manager for 23 seasons.
A man in a grey baseball uniform and blue hat leans out of a dugout.
Lou Boudreau won the Most Valuable Player Award while a player-manager in 1948.[17]
Cleveland Bluebirds were renamed the "Naps" in honor of player-manager Nap Lajoie.[18]
A black and white head shot of a man in a baseball cap.
Fred Lake retired as a player in 1898, but inserted himself into three games in 1910.
A dark-haired man wearing a black sweater and crownless baseball cap looks into the camera. His hair hangs down over his right side of his forehead, and he has a slight smirk on his face.
Christy Mathewson played one season with the Cincinnati Reds as a player-manager, then remained as their manager.
New York Giants
until 1932.
Cleveland Indians in 1975.[19]
A baseball player in a grey uniform and a red hat.
Pete Rose became the all-time MLB hit leader while serving as the Cincinnati Reds' player-manager.[10]
Cleveland Indians.[20]
A baseball card of a man holding a baseball bat. The name "Tappe" is listed in the bottom left corner.
El Tappe, a member of the Chicago Cubs' College of Coaches, played for the Cubs while managing.[21]
A man in a white and blue button-down shirt smiles.
Joe Torre began his managing career as a player-manager for the New York Mets.
A baseball card showing a man in a white baseball uniform throwing a ball.
Pie Traynor was an All-Star while a player-manager in 1934.
A man in a dark baseball cap and white shirt with a dark collar holds a baseball bat in both hands.
Honus Wagner served as player-manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in his final season as a player.
A baseball card showing a man holding a baseball bat over his left shoulder.
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]
Key
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Year(s) Season(s) as a player-manager
Position Primary position while a player-manager
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 Athletics
Chicago 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
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
New 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 1880
1884
Second baseman
Gavvy Cravath Philadelphia Phillies 1919–1920 Outfielder
George Creamer
Pittsburgh Alleghenys
1884 Second baseman
Joe Cronin
Washington Senators
Boston 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
Brooklyn Superbas
1897, 1899
1901–1903
1904
1906–1907
Outfielder
Red Dooin Philadelphia Phillies 1910–1914 Catcher
Mike Dorgan
Worcester Ruby Legs
1879
1880
1881
Outfielder
Tommy Dowd
St. Louis Browns
1896–1897 Outfielder
Jack Doyle
Washington Senators
1895
1898
First baseman
Hugh Duffy Milwaukee Brewers
Philadelphia Phillies
1901
1904–1906
Outfielder
Fred Dunlap
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 Giants
Cincinnati Reds
1890
1895–1897
Catcher
Jack Farrell Providence Grays 1881 Second baseman
Bob Ferguson
Pittsburgh 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
St. Louis Browns
1883
1890
Second baseman
Jack Glasscock
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
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
Baltimore Orioles
1889
1890
1891
1892
Outfielder
Bucky Harris
Washington Senators
Detroit 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 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 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
Boston Doves
1902–1905
1908
Outfielder
King Kelly 1887
1890
1891
Outfielder
John Kerins
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
Chicago White Stockings
Philadelphia 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 Blues
St. Louis Browns
1901
1901–1902
Outfielder
Tommy McCarthy
St. Louis Browns
1890 Outfielder
Jim McCormick
Cleveland Blues
1879–1880, 1882 Pitcher
Mike McGeary
Cleveland Blues
1875
1880
1881
Second baseman
John McGraw
New York Giants
1899
1901–1902
1902–1906
Third baseman
Deacon McGuire
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
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
Cincinnati Reds
1874
1877
Outfielder
Matthew Porter
Kansas City Cowboys 1884 Outfielder
Blondie Purcell
Philadelphia Quakers
1883 Outfielder
Joe Quinn
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
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
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 Senators
Boston 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 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 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
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

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. .
In-line citations
  1. ^ "Complete Baseball Team and Baseball Team Encyclopedias". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  2. ^ "Manager: Definition | Dictionary.com". Dictionary.Reference.com. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  3. ^
    Major League Baseball Advanced Media
    . Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  4. ^ Stein, p. 4
  5. The Evening Independent
    . November 25, 1933. p. 6A. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  6. ^ Stein, pp. 4–5
  7. ^ Powers, Jimmy (October 9, 1934). "Ruth to Quit Unless Given Manager Job". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  8. ^ Stein, p. 10
  9. The Milwaukee Sentinel
    . August 16, 1984. p. 2-1. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  10. ^ a b Stein, p. 5
  11. ^ "Robinson will be Player–Manager with Tribe". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. United Press International. October 2, 1974. p. 1C. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  12. ^ "Kessinger Resigns as Player–Manager of White Sox". The Palm Beach Post. August 3, 1979. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  13. ^ Stein, p. 6
  14. ^ "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)
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ a b Gonzales, Mark (October 11, 2011). "Williams briefly considered Konerko as player-manager". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  17. ^ "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)
  18. ^ Jones, David; Constantelos, Stephen. "Nap Lajoie". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  19. ^ Acocella, Nick. "ESPN Classic – Robinson set records and broke barriers". Espn.go.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  20. ^ "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)
  21. ^ "El Tappe Managerial Career". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  22. ^ Stein, p. 35

External links