Tom Runnells
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Thomas William Runnells (born April 17, 1955, Greeley, Colorado) is the manager of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League, and a former infielder, coach and manager in American Major League Baseball.
Runnells attended the University of Northern Colorado and originally signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He played parts of two seasons (1985-86) with Cincinnati, appearing in 40 games and batting .174 in 46 at bats without a home run or run batted in. He was a switch hitter who threw righthanded. Runnells began his managerial career with the Reds' AA Eastern League affiliate in Burlington, Vermont in 1987. In 1989, his Indianapolis Indians won the American Association championship and the "AAA Classic," earning him a promotion to a coaching position with the parent Montreal Expos.
On June 2, 1991, he was promoted again to manager of the Expos, who were lodged in last place in the National League East Division after 49 games, but Runnells could not rouse them, and the club finished in the basement. The following May 22, with the 1992 Expos still under .500 and in fourth place, Runnells was released in favor of Felipe Alou, who would forge the longest and winningest managerial career in Montreal's history.
With a career major league managing record of 68-81 (.456), Runnells then returned to minor league baseball, managing in the farm systems of the Detroit Tigers and the Colorado Rockies.
[edit] Sources
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
- Managing record
| Preceded by Buck Rodgers |
Montreal Expos Manager 1991 - 1992 |
Succeeded by Felipe Alou |
