Lou Piniella

Guide Note:

Lou Piniella is currently the manager of the Chicago Cubs and a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played primarily for the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees during his 18-season career. Piniella began managing in 1986 with the Yankees, but has since managed the Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Seattle Mariners before assuming his current position with the Cubs.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: August 28, 1943
2. Birthplace: Tampa, Florida
3. School: University of Tampa
4. 1990: Won World Series managing the Cincinnati Reds
5. American League Manager of the Year in 1995 and 2001

Piniella briefly began his career in 1964 at the age of 21 with the Baltimore Orioles, but after being sent down to the minors, did not reappear in the major leagues until 1968, when he again briefly played for the Cleveland Indians. However, in 1969, Piniella joined the Royals, and his career took off. With his gritty play, Piniella earned Rookie of the Year honors, and became an important part of the Royals lineup. In 1975, Piniella signed with the New York Yankees, a team recently purchased by George Steinbrenner, and stayed with the team until his retirement in 1984. In those years, Piniella helped lead the Yankees to four pennants and two World Series.

A favorite of the Steinbrenner-run Yankee front office, Piniella began managing the team in 1986 and served in that role until 1987, when, after the season, he was promoted to General Manager. After Billy Martin came back for his fifth stint as Yankees skipper, and was summarily fired mid-season, Piniella reassumed managerial duties for the rest of 1988. Piniella then managed the Reds from 1990 to 1992, leading the team to the World Series and an upset victory over the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in 1990. Between 1993 and 2002, Piniella managed the Mariners, earning himself Manager of the Year honors in 1995 and 2001, but no World Series appearances. After moving to the underfunded Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2002 to 2005, Piniella began managing the Windy City's Cubbies in 2007. Piniella is one of the more hot-tempered managers in baseball, often engaging in angry altercations with umpires and players alike.