When MLB Managers Were Players

All managers listed have played in at least 300 major league games.Though many younger baseball fans associate Joe Torre strictly with his success as Yankees manager, the current Dodgers skipper spent 18 seasons as a player for four teams. He was a nine-time all star, a Gold Glove winner and the 1971 NL MVP. Before taking over as the Yankees skipper in 1996, Torre managed the Mets (1977-81), the Braves (1982-84) and the Cardinals (1990-95). In 12 seasons in the Bronx, Torre compiled a 1,173-767 record with four World Series titles.

Kirk Gibson is one of baseball's newest managers, getting the interim tag with the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 1 after A.J. Hinch was let go. Gibson is best remembered for belting one of the greatest home runs in World Series history, a pinch-hit, two-run blow with two out in the bottom of the ninth that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Oakland. The NL MVP in 1988, Gibson played for three other teams (Detroit, Kansas City and Pittsburgh).

Though Dusty Baker is one of baseball's most experienced and well-regarded managers -- he's in his 16th season and has won three Manager of the Year awards -- he made a name for himself long before he took control of the Giants dugout in 1993. In 16 years playing mostly for Atlanta and Los Angeles, Baker, an outfielder, made two All-Star teams, won a World Series and amassed 243 career home runs with 1,013 RBIs.

Like most current managers, Mike Scioscia spent his apprenticeship as a major league player. In 12 seasons with the Dodgers, he was a two-time All-Star, a three-time World Series winner and widely regarded as one of the best minds in the game. He was hired to lead Anaheim in 2000 and led the franchise to its first World Series victory in 2002. He is currently in his 10th season in charge of the Angels and has led the team to four AL West titles and has been honored with one Manager of the Year Award (2002).

Ozzie Guillen, one of baseball's most controversial managers, was as feisty on the field as in the clubhouse. In 16 seasons (13 with the White Sox), he won Rookie of the Year, was named to three All-Star teams and was one of the league's top fielding shortstops. After Guillen served as third base coach for the 2003 World Series champion Marlins, the White Sox lured him back to the city in which he spent much of his pro career. The team's faith was quickly rewarded as Guillen's team won the 2005 World Series.

Bud Black spent 15 seasons in the big leagues, pitching for six teams, winning one World Series title (1985, Kansas City Royals) and compiling a career record of 121-116 with a 3.84 ERA. After spending seven seasons as Angels pitching coach (including their World Series championship in 2002), Black got his chance to manage the Padres in 2007.

Juan Samuel compiled a 16-31 record during his brief tenure as the Baltimore Orioles interim manager in 2010 (he was replaced by Buck Showalter). His major league playing career was much longer and more distinguished as he played 16 seasons for seven teams and made the All-Star Game three times as a second baseman. He retired with a lifetime batting average of .259 with 161 home runs, 703 RBI and 396 stolen bases.

Piniella is the definition of a baseball lifer. Prior to his 22 seasons as a manager, Sweet Lou spent 18 as a leftfielder for four franchises -- the Orioles (1964), Indians (1968), Royals (1969-73) and Yankees (1974-84), where he won five AL East titles, four AL pennants and two World Series titles. After taking a year off in 1985, Piniella returned to the Bronx as manager in 1986 and has been a big league skipper since. He has won three Manager of the Year Awards (1995, 2001, 2008) and led the Reds to the 1990 World Series title. He is currently managing the Cubs.

Before taking over as Marlins manager in 2006, Joe Girardi spent 15 years as a big league catcher. Though he never hit more than eight home runs or 55 RBIs in a season, Girardi won three World Series rings with the Yankees (1996, 1998, 1999), caught a no-hitter (Dwight Gooden, 1999) and a perfect game (David Cone, 1999). In only his third season as a manager, Girardi has already won a Manager of the Year Award (2006, Marlins) and his Yankee squad currently boasts the best record in baseball.

Though best known for his two tenures as Toronto manager, Cito Gaston played 11 seasons in the major leagues, from 1969 to '78. His best season came in 1970, when he belted 29 home runs, 93 RBIs to go along with his .318 batting average for the Padres. He was voted to his only All-Star team that season. After retiring, Gaston took over as Toronto's hitting coach in 1982 and worked his way up to manager by 1989. The team quickly took to their laid-back manager and won the World Series in 1992 and 1993. By 1997, the Blue Jays faded and Gaston was fired in the last week of the season. After a decade of failure, however, the Blue Jays went back to Gaston in 2008 and he led them to a 51-37 record in 88 games. He's currently in his first full season of his second tenure with the Jays.

In nine seasons as a catcher, Bochy hit a pedestrian .239 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs playing for Houston (1978--80), New York Mets (1982) and San Diego (1983--87). His career as a manager has been much more successful. He is in his 15th season as a big league skipper and his third with the Giants. Before San Francisco, Bochy spent 10 seasons in San Diego, where he won the 1996 NL Manager of the Year Award and led the team to the 1998 World Series.

In 10 seasons for Philadelphia (1984-1988), Atlanta (1989) and Texas (1990-93), Russell, a part-time player, compiled a career average of .225 with 34 home runs and 129 RBIs. He may best be known as the guy behind the plate for Nolan Ryan's 1990 no-hitter while a member of the Rangers. After retiring, Russell spent time managing in the Twins organization before being named the Pirates third base coach in 2003. He held the post for three seasons before being fired. The team saw something in the former catcher they liked, however, as Russell was named Pirates manager two years later and has a contract that runs through the 2010 season.

Ron Washington played 10 seasons for five clubs, compiling lifetime totals of 20 home runs and 146 RBIs. His managerial apprenticeship took place in Oakland, where he served as the team's third base and infield coach from 1997 to 2006, tutoring many of the A's young stars. He was given his chance to take over a big league squad in 2006, when Texas fired Buck Showalter and named Washington the new manager. He currently has the Rangers in the hunt to make the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

Terry Francona grew up at the ballpark, hanging out with his father, Tito, who played 15 years in the big leagues. Though Terry's MLB career left much to be desired (he batted .274 with 16 home runs and 143 RBIs in 10 seasons), he has thrived as a manager. After a rocky start in Philadelphia (Francona was 285-363 from 1997 to 2000), the Red Sox hired the former 1B/OF to lead their "cursed" franchise. In his first season, Francona led the team to a World Series title, repeated the feat three years later and has become one of the most respected managers in the game.

Bob Geren may not have been the most talented player in baseball, but he certainly was among the most persistent. He spent 10 seasons in the minor leagues before finally getting his call up to the bigs in 1988 as a backup catcher for the Yankees. He spent four seasons with the Yankees, the best being 1990, when he appeared in 100 games and swatted eight home runs and 31 RBIs. After spending three seasons years as the A's bullpen coach and one as their bench coach, Geren was promoted to full-time manager in 2007 and has been at the helm ever since.Send comments to siwriters@simail.com