Jim Leyland

Guide Note:

Jim Leyland is a Major League manager who has led four teams—the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers—during his 17-season managerial career. In 1997, he led the Marlins to a World Series Championship, and in 2006, he led the Tigers to the World Series before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: December 15, 1944
2. Birthplace: Perrysburg, OH, Ohio
3. 1997: World Series Champion
4. Notorious Smoker

Leyland began his career as a catcher with the Detroit Tigers organization, but despite playing six years in the minor leagues, never appeared in a Major League game with the franchise. Instead, Leyland began managing minor league teams, and after serving as the Chicago White Sox's third base coach under Tony LaRussa between 1982 and 1985, he was hired as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 1986 season. In his last few years with the Pirates, Leyland enjoyed his greatest success, leading the team to three straight National League Championship Series between 1990 and 1992, although the Pirates lost all three. In 1990 and 1992, Leyland was named Manager of the Year in the National League.

In 1997, Leyland became manager of the Marlins and quickly led them to a World Series championship. However, the next year, most of the Marlins' talent was sold off by owner Wayne Huizenga, and Leyland left the team at the end of 1998 and moved to lead the Colorado Rockies. After the 1999 season, Leyland left the team to become a scout. However, he would emerge from his low profile position in 2005 to manage the perennially under-performing Detroit Tigers, and he quickly turned the team around, leading them to their first World Series since 1984. Leyland currently has a contract to manage the Tigers through the end of the 2009 season.