Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella | |
---|---|
Left fielder / Manager | |
Born: Tampa, Florida, U.S. | August 28, 1943|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 4, 1964, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
Last MLB appearance | |
June 16, 1984, for the New York Yankees | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .291 |
Home runs | 102 |
Runs batted in | 766 |
Managerial record | 1,835–1,712 |
Winning % | .517 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager
As coach | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Louis Victor Piniella (
Following his playing career, Piniella became a manager for the Yankees (
He was nicknamed "Sweet Lou", both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager.
Early life
Piniella was born in
Playing career
Piniella was signed by the
In the middle part of the decade, Piniella played winter baseball in Nicaragua.[17]
Piniella was selected by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 expansion draft in October, but was traded after spring training on April 1 to the Kansas City Royals for John Gelnar and Steve Whitaker.[18]
Piniella played for the Royals for their first five seasons (
After the 1973 season, Piniella was traded by the Royals with Ken Wright to the New York Yankees for Lindy McDaniel. Baseball author Bill James called the trade the only clinker the Royals made during the 1970s.[19] He played with the Yankees for 11 seasons, during which the Yankees won five AL East titles (1976–78, 1980, and 1981), four AL pennants (1976–78, and 1981), and two World Series championships (1977–78). In 1975, he missed part of the year with an inner ear infection. From mid-1977 through the end of 1980, he was the Yankees' regular outfielder/DH.
In his career, Piniella made one All-Star team and compiled 1,705 lifetime hits despite not playing full-time for just under half of his career. He received 2 votes for the Hall of Fame as a player in 1990.
Coaching and front office career
New York Yankees
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After retiring as a player, Piniella joined the Yankees coaching staff as the hitting coach. He managed the Yankees from 1986 to 1987; promoted to general manager to start the 1988 season, he took over as manager after the firing of Billy Martin (in his fifth and final run as Yankee manager) on June 23. His initial managerial contract for 1986 was for $200,000.[20] Combining both stints as Yankees manager, he posted 224 wins and 193 losses.[21]
Cincinnati Reds
The
Following his third season, he announced in October that he had rejected a contract extension.[24] He finished with a record of 255 wins and 231 losses.[21] He was replaced by Tony Pérez, who was fired 44 games into the season for Davey Johnson. Since Piniella's departure, the Reds have won only one postseason series.
Seattle Mariners
Under a new ownership group,[25] Piniella was introduced as the new manager of the Mariners in November 1992,[26][27] and led the Seattle Mariners for ten seasons (1993–2002). His wife Anita initially insisted he not take the position; they lived in New Jersey in Allendale, and she thought Seattle was too far away from their family and children, and spring training was in Arizona instead of Florida.[28] His initial contract in Seattle was for $2.5 million over three years,[26][27] significantly more than his predecessor, Bill Plummer, whose two-year deal totaled $500,000.[29]
On August 18, 1999, he won his 1,000th game (having managed 1,926 in total) in a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.[30]
Piniella won the AL
Piniella finished with a record of 840 wins and 711 losses.[21] All four of the Mariners' playoff appearances in team history to that point were under Piniella. In 2014, Piniella was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame on August 9.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Piniella returned to the Tampa area in October 2002, taking over for a team that had just finished at 55–106 (.342) under Hal McRae.[1][32] In his first two seasons with the Devil Rays, Piniella was able to improve the team somewhat, and they won a franchise-record 70 games in 2004. This was also the first season in which they did not finish last in their division.
During the 2005 season, Piniella was critical of the Devil Rays' front office for focusing too much on the future and not enough on immediate results, and for not increasing payroll quickly enough to field a competitive team. The Devil Rays started the season with a $30 million payroll, which was the lowest in the major leagues; the Yankees payroll in 2005 was over $208 million. Tensions eventually made Piniella step down as the Devil Rays' manager on September 21.[33] He finished with a record of 200 wins and 285 losses.[21] He had a season remaining on his four-year $13 million contract from October 2002, but agreed to a $2.2 million buyout, in lieu of $4.4 million that he was due for a fourth season. He would have also received $1.25 million in deferred salary from 2003.[34][35]
Chicago Cubs
On October 16, 2006, Piniella agreed to a three-year contract to manage the Chicago Cubs for $10 million with a $5 million option for a fourth year in 2010.[36]
Though Piniella's Cubs won the Central Division in his first two years (2007–2008), and boasted the best record in the NL in 2008, the Cubs were swept in the postseason both years, first by the Arizona Diamondbacks and then the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2008 NLDS. Piniella was named NL Manager of the Year for 2008.[37][38]
In 2010, Piniella announced on July 20 his intention to retire as manager of the Cubs at season's end.[39] However, on August 22, Piniella decided to resign after that day's game, stating that he wanted to care for his ailing 90-year-old mother.[40] He finished with a record of 316 wins and 293 losses.[21]
San Francisco Giants
On February 2, 2011, Piniella was hired by the San Francisco Giants as a special consultant.[41][42] He did not return to that position after the season.[43]
Return to Cincinnati Reds
On February 5, 2016, Piniella rejoined the Cincinnati Reds as a special consultant.
Managerial record
Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
NYY | 1986 | 162 | 90 | 72 | .556 | 2nd in AL East | – | – | – | – |
NYY | 1987 | 162 | 89 | 73 | .549 | 4th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
NYY | 1988 | 93 | 45 | 48 | .484 | 5th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
NYY total | 417 | 224 | 193 | .537 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
CIN | 1990 | 162 | 91 | 71 | .562 | 1st in NL West | 8 | 2 | .800 | Won World Series (OAK) |
CIN | 1991 | 162 | 74 | 88 | .457 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | – |
CIN | 1992 | 162 | 90 | 72 | .556 | 2nd in NL West | – | – | – | – |
CIN total | 486 | 255 | 231 | .525 | 8 | 2 | .800 | |||
SEA | 1993 | 162 | 82 | 80 | .506 | 4th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
SEA | 1994 | 112 | 49 | 63 | .438 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
SEA | 1995 | 145 | 79 | 66 | .545 | 1st in AL West | 5 | 6 | .455 | Lost ALCS (CLE) |
SEA | 1996 | 161 | 85 | 76 | .528 | 2nd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
SEA | 1997 | 162 | 90 | 72 | .556 | 1st in AL West | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost ALDS (BAL) |
SEA | 1998 | 161 | 76 | 85 | .472 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
SEA | 1999 | 162 | 79 | 83 | .488 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
SEA | 2000 | 162 | 91 | 71 | .562 | 2nd in AL West | 5 | 4 | .556 | Lost ALCS (NYY) |
SEA | 2001 | 162 | 116 | 46 | .716 | 1st in AL West | 4 | 6 | .400 | Lost ALCS (NYY) |
SEA | 2002 | 162 | 93 | 69 | .574 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
SEA total | 1551 | 840 | 711 | .542 | 15 | 19 | .441 | |||
TB | 2003 | 162 | 63 | 99 | .389 | 5th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
TB | 2004 | 161 | 70 | 91 | .435 | 4th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
TB | 2005 | 162 | 67 | 95 | .414 | 5th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
TB total | 485 | 200 | 285 | .412 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
CHC | 2007 | 162 | 85 | 77 | .525 | 1st in NL Central | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost NLDS (ARI) |
CHC | 2008 | 161 | 97 | 64 | .602 | 1st in NL Central | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost NLDS (LAD) |
CHC | 2009 | 161 | 83 | 78 | .516 | 2nd in NL Central | – | – | – | – |
CHC | 2010 | 125 | 51 | 74 | .408 | resigned | – | – | – | – |
CHC total | 609 | 316 | 293 | .519 | 0 | 6 | .000 | |||
Total[21] | 3548 | 1835 | 1713 | .517 | 23 | 27 | .460 |
Broadcasting career
In 1989, Piniella worked as a
On February 22, 2012, it was announced Piniella would join the YES Network as an analyst for Yankees games. He made his YES debut on March 4 during a Yankees-Phillies spring training game.[43][44] He left the network after the season.
Personal life
Piniella married his wife Anita (Garcia)[1] in 1967, and together they have three children.[45]
Piniella suffered what was described as a "mini-stroke" in June 2017, but sufficiently recovered to resume his role as senior advisor to baseball operations with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2018 season.[46]
Hall of Fame consideration
Piniella has been a candidate for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee three times, in 2016,[47] 2018, and 2023 but has thus far failed to be elected. In 2018 he received 11 of a required 12 votes for the 2019 induction class.[48] On the ballot for December 2023, he again received eleven votes, one short of induction.
In other media
Piniella made a cameo appearance in the 1994 film Little Big League.
In late 2007, Piniella appeared in a
Piniella and
In 2009, Piniella did a commercial for DirecTV and in 2018, commercials in the Seattle area for Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations (SHAG), formerly Senior Housing Assistance Group, a non-profit senior citizen affordable living organization.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Bamberger, Michael (March 3, 2003). "Safe At Home". Sports Illustrated. p. 56.
- ^ Deford, Frank (March 5, 2007). "episode 120". Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. HBO.
- ^ "Jewish Calendar 1943 Diaspora - Hebcal". www.hebcal.com.
- ^ Deford, Frank (March 19, 2001). "Sweet & Lou". Sports Illustrated. p. 88.
- Tampa Bay Online. Archived from the originalon July 29, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ^ Isaacson, Melissa (August 30, 2010). "Lou Piniella was born into baseball". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ^ Mitchell, Fred; David Kaplan (April 15, 2010). "MLB honors Jackie Robinson". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- ^ Kay, Michael (October 17, 1990). "Hot-tempered Lou always had big plans for the majors". The Day. New London, Connecticut. (New York Daily News). p. E8.
- ^ Scanlon, Dick (June 17, 2005). "Rays to face NL-leading Cards". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. p. C5.
- ^ Price, S.L. (October 16, 1990). "29 years later". Toledo Blade. Knight-Ridder. p. 24.
- ^ Bender, Bob (March 29, 1972). "Piniella faces important year". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3C.
- ^ "Radcliff hits 40 as Greenies defeat Jesuit". St. Petersburg Times. February 17, 1960. p. C1.
- ^ "Dunedin bows 65-35 to Jesuit". St. Petersburg Times. December 10, 1960. p. 3C.
- ^ "King to appear with South five". St. Petersburg Independent. Associated Press. May 10, 1961. p. 9A.
- ^ a b Scanlon, Dick (October 29, 2002). "Piniella set to captain Devil Rays' shaky ship". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. p. A1.
- ^ "Lou recalls signing day". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 10, 2003. p. 6C.
- ^ Jones, Tom (August 13, 2003). "Lou sees Nettles as model for Sandberg". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- ^ "Royals, Pilots swap players". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. April 2, 1969. p. 2C.
- ^ James, Bill (1986). The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1987. Ballantine Books. p. 46.
- ^ "Piniella signs new contract with Yanks". Evening News. (Newburgh, New York). Associated Press. October 11, 1986. p. 2B.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lou Piniella". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- ^ a b "Lou Piniella named Reds manager". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 3, 1989. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ Chass, Murray (February 22, 1993). "BASEBALL; A Sweet Lou Primer On Marge and Loyalty". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Piniella says he won't be back with Reds". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 7, 1992. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ "Mariners have new owner as sale completed". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 2, 1992. p. C3.
- ^ a b Finnigan, Bob (November 10, 1992). "Piniella takes Mariners' helm". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (Seattle Times). p. C1.
- ^ a b Cour, Jim (November 10, 1992). "Piniella faces his biggest challenge". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 1B.
- ^ Thiel, Art. "Ellis issued challenge, and M's got their leader", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 24, 2003. Accessed August 21, 2011. "By the time they returned to their Allendale, N.J., home, he was ready to say no -- perhaps because that was the word that Anita pounded into his ear on the flight. 'No, no, no, no, no,' Piniella recalled her saying. 'She said, 'You're not going to Seattle. Just get that totally out of your mind.' Her reasons were obvious: Too far from home, and spring training was in Arizona instead of Florida."
- ^ "Plummer, all coaches fired by M's". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 14, 1992. p. C1.
- ^ "AMERICAN LEAGUE: ROUNDUP; Victory No. 1,000 for Piniella". The New York Times. August 19, 1999.
- ^ Withers, Tom (October 29, 2002). "Four baseball teams settle on new skippers". The Argus-Press. Oswosso, Michigan. Associated Press. p. 10.
- ^ a b Scanlon, Dick (October 29, 2002). "Piniella set to captain Devil Rays' shaky ship". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). p. A1.
- ^ Scanlon, Dick (September 22, 2005). "Report: Piniella gone in '06". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). p. C1.
- ^ "Devil Rays buy out Piniella's final season for $2.2M". ESPN. Associated Press. September 30, 2005. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ Scanlon, Dick (October 1, 2005). "Piniella out after 2005 season". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). p. C1.
- ^ Cubs come to terms with Piniella, MLB.com.
- ^ "Manager of the Year Award | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune's Blog".
- ^ Madden, Bill (July 20, 2010). "Lou Piniella, former Yankees manager and player, will retire as manager of Cubs at end of season". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ Lacques, Gabe (January 8, 2010). "Outgoing Cubs manager Lou Piniella: 'This will be the last time I put on a uniform'". Content.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ "Lou Piniella to help Giants". February 2, 2011.
- ^ Shea, John (February 1, 2011). "Sweet Lou joining the champs". The San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ The New York Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ Kercheval, Nancy (February 23, 2012). "Lou Piniella Joins Yankees YES Television Network as Special Contributor". Bloomberg.
- ^ "Mrs. Piniella: She, too, has managed". products.kitsapsun.com.
- ^ "Lou Piniella back to work for Cincinnati Reds after a mini-stroke", February 23, 2018 (Retrieved December 10, 2018).
- ^ "Ten Named to Today's Game Era Ballot for National Baseball Hall of Fame Consideration". Baseball Hall of Fame. October 3, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- ^ Ackert, Kristie (December 9, 2018). "George Steinbrenner, Lou Piniella both fall short in Hall of Fame bids". NYDailyNews.com. New York Daily News. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- ^ Lazare, Lewis (June 18, 2008). "Pinch runners cover bases for Lou, Ozzie". Chicago Sun-Times.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Lou Piniella managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- Lou Piniella at the SABR Baseball Biography Project
- Lou Piniella at Baseball Almanac
- Lou Piniella at Baseballbiography.com
- Sports Illustrated – Lou Piniella through the years (photo gallery)