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.
Early Career
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.
Recent Career
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.
After an disappointing 2008 season, where the Detroit Tigers were in first place at the All Star Break, and finished the season in last place in their division, Tigers General Manger Dave Dombrowski extended Leyland’s contract to run through the 2011 season.
In 2009 Leyland is credited with the success of a team that managed to stay in first place for nearly the entire season. That team missed the 2009 playoffs after losing a one game playoff against the Minnesota Twins.
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Jim Leyland Timeline
December 15, 1944 : Born
1985: Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates
1997: Manager of the Florida Marlins
1997: Wins World Series
1999: Manager of the Colorado Rockies
2005: Manager of the Detroit Tigers
2006: Loses in World Series
2006: Manager of the Year
Fast Facts
Born: December 15, 1944
Birthplace: Perrysburg, Ohio
1997 World Series Champion
Manged the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers
