Jim Leyland

1 Biography
2 Statistics
3 References
4 Related Articles
- 4.1 Recent Jim Leyland ArmchairGM Stories

[edit] Biography

Named the 36th manager in Tigers history on October 4, 2005...a veteran of 42 years in professional baseball, he returns to the organization that originally signed him as a catcher on September 21, 1963...Prior to his appointment as the Tigers manager, he served for six seasons (2000-05) as a major league scout for the St. Louis Cardinals -- scouted National League clubs from PNC Park and American League clubs from Jacobs Field...Previously served 14 seasons as a manager at the major league level with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-96), Florida Marlins (1997-98) and Colorado Rockies (1999)...Won three straight National League East Division championships with the Pirates (1990-92)...advanced to the post-season with the Marlins as the National League's wild card winner in 1997 -- advanced past San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves in the playoffs to defeat the Cleveland Indians to claim the World Series title...Named the National League Manager of the Year by the BBWAA twice during his career, 1990 and 1992...earned the same honor from The Sporting News three times during his career, 1988, 1990 and 1992...Served as the National League's manager at the 69th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Coors Field in Colorado in 1998, his third appearance at the All-Star Game -- served as a coach for the National League squad in both 1991 and 1994 while managing the Pirates...Earned his 1,000th career win as a major league manager on April 15, 1999, as the Rockies defeated San Diego 6-4 at Coors Field.

Served as Tony LaRussa's third base coach for four seasons (1982-85) with the Chicago White Sox before being named the 33rd manager in Pirates history on November 20, 1985...managed two games for the White Sox while LaRussa was suspended in 1985, winning the first game and losing the second...Managed for 11 seasons at the minor league level in the Tigers organization (1971-81), advancing to the postseason six times and claiming his respective league championship three times.

Selected as the manager of the year in the Florida State League in both 1977-78 and in the American Association in 1979...Served as a coach for Rocky Mount in the first half of the 1971 season before receving his first managerial experience with Bristol that same season...Spent six seasons as minor league catcher in the Tigers organization (1964-69) before serving as a coach at Montgomery in 1970 -- appeared in two games as a player with Montgomery in 1970...In recognition of his accomplishments in 1990, he won the Dapper Dan Man of the Year Award, an annual honor given to a Pittsburgh sports figure for outstanding achievement on a national level...A native of Perrysburg, OH, he lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Perrysburg High School...the school's baseball field is named after Leyland.