Charlie Manuel
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Charles Fuqua Manuel (born January 4, 1944 in Northfork, West Virginia) is the current manager of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.
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[edit] Baseball playing career
[edit] Major League Baseball
Manuel played from 1969-1972 with the Minnesota Twins and in 1974-75 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, primarily as a pinch-hitter and left fielder. A four-sport star at Parry McCluer High School in Buena Vista, Virginia, Manuel's first love was basketball but saw a chance to earn more money as a baseball player. Manuel had offers from the Pirates, Tigers, Yankees and signed with the Twins out of high school in 1963 for $20,000.
[edit] Japan's Pacific League
Manuel's baseball career took off when he left the United States to play in Japan. Wildly popular for his tenacious style of play and his power-hitting abilities, Manuel was dubbed "The Red Devil" by fans and teammates.
In 1977, he hit .316 with 42 home runs and 97 RBI, helping the Central League's Yakult Swallows reach second place for the first time in franchise history. In 1978, he hit .312 with 39 homers and 103 RBI, powering the Swallows to their first pennant and the Japan Championship Series. In 1979, helping the Pacific League's Kintetsu Buffaloes. Manuel became the first American to be named the Pacific League MVP after hitting .324 with 37 home runs and 94 RBI. A year later, Manuel set the record for most home runs by an American with 48 and led the league with 129 RBI in only 118 games, cut short when he was beaned in the face by a pitch. In 1981, he returned Yakult Swallows.
Manuel finished his successful run in Japan with a .303 career average, 189 home runs and 491 RBI.
[edit] Minnesota Twins minor league manager
Ultimately, injuries -- including a vicious beaning in Japan -- cut Manuel's playing days short. He returned to the United States to work as a scout for the Minnesota Twins organization before turning to coaching. As a minor league manager for nine years in the Twins' (1983-87) and Indians' (1990-93) farm systems, Manuel compiled a 610-588 (.509) record, winning the Pacific Coast League and International League championships in his final two seasons (1992-93). He was thrice named Manager of the Year (1984, 1992, 2005) and managed the IL All-Star team in 1993.
[edit] Cleveland Indians manager
Manuel returned to the Majors as a coach in 1988 as the Indians' hitting coach (1988-89, 1994-99), where under his tutelage, the Tribe led the American League in runs three times (1994-95, 99) and set a franchise record in 1999 with 1,009 runs, becoming the first team to score 1,000 runs since the 1950 Boston Red Sox. The club also led the league in home runs in 1994 and 1995. From 2000 to 2002, he served as the Indians' manager.
[edit] Philadelphia Phillies manager
Shortly after serving as manager for the Cleveland Indians, Manuel was hired by the Phillies as special assistant to the general manager. After the 2004 season, Manuel was hired as the club's 51st Manager, replacing Larry Bowa.[1] In his first season, Manuel and the Phillies went 88-74, only one game back of the Wild Card.
In 2006, Manuel and the Phillies finished just short of the playoffs once again, this time three games back of the wild card. However, the season did have certain positives that bode well for next season. 2nd year slugger Ryan Howard hit a franchise record 58 homeruns. Second Baseman Chase Utley was named a starter in the 2006 MLB All-Star Game, and rookie pitcher Cole Hamels showed progress and potential that he could one day become the club's ace.
[edit] Personal
Manuel has survived a heart attack, quadruple bypass surgery, and cancer. During his time with the Indians he worked in the dugout with a colostomy bag beneath his jacket.
[edit] Quotes
"If you got it you got it, if you don't go get it" - made in reference to Gavin Floyd's lack of mound poise "Ryan Howard is god" - made in reference after Ryan Howard hit a homerun over the center field wall. "I drive a Ford" - Ford Commercials on tv on Fox Sports Ohio (2001)
[edit] Jim Thome
Charlie Manuel is known as Jim Thome's mentor because he perfected his swing, they remain friends today.
[edit] External link
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career managing record and playing statistics.
| Preceded by Mike Hargrove |
Cleveland Indians Manager 2000-2002 |
Succeeded by Joel Skinner |
| Preceded by Larry Bowa |
Philadelphia Phillies Manager 2005- |
Succeeded by Current Manager |
