| Charlie Manuel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Manuel in 2018 | |
| Left fielder /Manager | |
| Born: (1944-01-04)January 4, 1944 (age 81) Northfork, West Virginia, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: April 8, 1969, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| NPB: April 3, 1976, for the Yakult Swallows | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: September 21, 1975, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| NPB: October 12, 1981, for the Yakult Swallows | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .198 |
| Home runs | 4 |
| Runs batted in | 43 |
| Managerial record | 1,000–826 |
| Winning % | .548 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .303 |
| Home runs | 189 |
| Runs batted in | 491 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
NPB
MLB | |
Charles Fuqua Manuel Jr. (born January 4, 1944) is an American former professionalbaseball player, coach, and manager. During his playing career, he appeared over parts of sixMajor League Baseball seasons for theMinnesota Twins andLos Angeles Dodgers, before playing another six seasons inNippon Professional Baseball with theYakult Swallows andKintetsu Buffaloes. Over four successive seasons in NPB, Manuelhit at least .312 with 37home runs each season and won the 1979Pacific LeagueMost Valuable Player Award.
After his playing career, he coached and managed theCleveland Indians and managed thePhiladelphia Phillies, winning the2008 World Series over theTampa Bay Rays and the2009 National League Championship Series over theLos Angeles Dodgers. He was inducted to thePhiladelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 2014.
On August 13, 2019, Manuel replacedJohn Mallee as hitting coach for the Phillies for the remainder of the season.[1]
Although Manuel was born inNorthfork, West Virginia, his family was actually living in Virginia at that time and all throughout his childhood. He was born in an automobile while his mother, June, was visiting her mother.[2] Manuel's father, Charles Sr., was aPentecostal preacher, and the family lived inWythe andGrayson Counties in Virginia until they settled inBuena Vista, Virginia, when Charlie, the third of 11 children and the oldest son, was 12.[2]
Manuel became a four-sport star atParry McCluer High School in Buena Vista, playing baseball, football, basketball, and track and field, captaining the baseball and basketball teams. His first love was basketball and he had received scholarship offers in that sport, but his plans and his life would dramatically change just before his high school graduation.
In April 1963, Manuel's father died by suicide due to being severely ill withdiabetes and heart problems. Leaving behind asuicide note, he asked that Charlie – who was already married with a child – take care of his mother and siblings.[2][3] He turned down his basketball scholarship offers, and an academic scholarship to theUniversity of Pennsylvania,[4] to consider offers from thePittsburgh Pirates,Detroit Tigers,Minnesota Twins, andNew York Yankees, ultimately signing with the Twins out of high school in1963 for $30,000 ($310,000 in current dollar terms).
In 1971, Manuel hit .372/.462/.764 for thePortland Beavers, leading thePacific Coast League in each category.[5] In 1974, he batted .329/.433/.600 with 30 home runs and 102 RBIs for theAlbuquerque Dukes in thePacific Coast League.[6] Over 11 seasons in the minor leagues, in 3,430 at bats, Manuel batted .290/.374/.483 with 133 home runs and 624 RBIs.[7]
Manuel played from1969 to1972 with theMinnesota Twins and in1974 and1975 with theLos Angeles Dodgers, primarily as a pinch-hitter andleft fielder. His earliestToppsbaseball cards listed him as "Chuck" Manuel. He batted .198 in 384 at bats.[8]
Manuel's baseball career took off when he left the United States to play in Japan. Wildly popular for his tenacious style of play and his power-hitting abilities, Manuel was dubbed "Aka-Oni" (The Red Devil) by fans and teammates. He was also nicknamed "Uncle Chuck", most likely in reference to some of his Topps cards.
In 1977, he hit .316/.403/.690 (2nd in the league) with 42 home runs (3rd) and 97 runs batted in (5th),[9] helping theCentral League'sYakult Swallows reach second place for the first time in franchise history. In 1978, he hit .312/.372/.596 with 39 homers (3rd in the league) and 103 RBIs (5th),[10] powering the Swallows to their first pennant and theJapan Championship Series.
Playing for thePacific League'sKintetsu Buffaloes, Manuel hit 25 home runs in the first eight weeks of the 1979 season.[11] In a game against theLotte Orions on June 19, 1979, he was hit by a pitch from Soroku Yagisawa. The pitch broke Manuel's jaw in six places. He was wearing adental bridge, as a result of an earlier accident in the minor leagues. There was nothing for doctors to wire together, so they inserted three metal plates in his head and removed nerves from his face.[11] Manuel was discharged from the hospital after six weeks and immediately began playing again, against the advice of doctors and worried family. The Buffaloes were struggling to stay in the Pacific League lead and had never won a pennant. To protect his jaw, Manuel wore a helmet equipped with a football facemask. He wore the helmet for the first few games but stopped using it because it obscured his vision at the plate.[12] He finished the 1979 season with 37 home runs to win the home run title. He led Kintetsu to its first pennant win. He was voted theMost Valuable Player, the first American to receive the honor since 1964, hitting .324/.434 (2nd in the league)/.712 (leading the league) with 65 walks (2nd), 37 home runs (leading the league) and 94 RBIs (5th).[13]
A year later, Manuel returned to lead Kintetsu to the second-half championship and the pennant. He finished the season hitting .325 (5th in the league)/.400/.673 (leading the league), with 88 runs (4th), 48 home runs (leading the league), and 129 RBIs (leading the league).[14] It was one of the best seasons for an American player in Japan up to that point. However, his Buffaloes would fall to the Hiroshima Carp in the Japan Series once again.
In 1981, he returned to the Yakult Swallows after being released by Kintetsu over contract negotiations.
Manuel finished his successful run in Japan with a .303 career average, 189 home runs, and 491 RBIs. He was considered one of the best imported baseball players to Japan in those days, along with brothersLeron andLeon Lee andRandy Bass.
During his time in Japan, Manuel learned to speak Japanese. The language skill and experience in Japan were useful back in the U.S. for managing players such asSo Taguchi andTadahito Iguchi.
Ultimately, injuries, including his beaning in Japan, cut Manuel's playing days short. He returned to the United States to work as a scout for theMinnesota Twins organization before turning to coaching. As a minor league manager for nine years in the Twins' (1983–1987) andCleveland Indians' (1990–1993) farm systems, Manuel compiled a 610–588 (.509) record, winning thePacific Coast League andInternational League championships in his final two seasons (1992–93). He was named Manager of the Year three times (1984, 1992,1993) and managed the IL All-Star team in 1993.
Manuel returned to the Majors in 1988 as the Indians' hitting coach (1988–1989,1994–1999), where under his tutelage, the Tribe led the American League in runs three times (1994–1995, 1999) and set a franchise record in 1999 with 1,009 runs, becoming the first team to score 1,000 runs since the1950 Boston Red Sox. The club also led the league in home runs in 1994 and 1995.
From2000 to2002, he served as the Indians' manager, becoming the 37th manager in Indians history.[15]
The 2000 season had a 44–42 start, but Manuel's squad caught fire after the All Star break and went 46–30 the rest of the way to finish 90–72.[16] The team had one of the league's best offenses that year and a defense that yielded three gold gloves. However, they ended up five games behind theChicago White Sox in the Central division and missed the wild card by one game to theSeattle Mariners.
2001 saw a return to the postseason. After the departures ofManny Ramírez andSandy Alomar Jr., the Indians signedEllis Burks and formerMVPJuan González, who helped the team win the Central division with a 91–71 record. One of the highlights came on August 5, when the Indians completed the biggest comeback in MLB History. Cleveland rallied to close a 14–2 deficit in the seventh inning to defeat theSeattle Mariners 15–14 in 11 innings. The Mariners, who won an MLB record-tying 116 games that season, had a strong bullpen, and Manuel had already pulled many of his starters with the game seemingly out of reach.
Seattle and Cleveland would eventually meet in theALDS, with the Indians taking a 2 games to 1 lead, then losing two straight to drop the series 3 games to 2. Following the season, Manuel received a single third place vote inAmerican League Manager of the Year voting, finishing in a tie for sixth.[17]
The 2002 season started with eleven wins in their first twelve games, but the team sputtered thereafter, finishing April with a .500 record before spiraling with losing records in each of the next three months. He was fired as manager of the Cleveland Indians on July 11, 2002, with the team at 39-47, over a contract dispute with general managerMark Shapiro, who Manuel said "wasn't totally honest". Manuel finished his time as Indians' manager with a record of 220 wins and 190 losses.[18][19]
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Shortly after he was fired as manager for the Cleveland Indians, Manuel was hired by thePhiladelphia Phillies as special assistant to thegeneral manager. After the2004 season, Manuel was hired as the club's 51st manager, replacingLarry Bowa.[20] Inthe 2005 season, the Phillies went 88–74, only one game back of the Wild Card. Following the season, Manuel received three votes inNational League Manager of the Year voting, finishing in sixth place.[21]
In2006, the Phillies finished just short of the playoffs once again, this time three games back of the wild card. However, the season did have certain positives that boded well for next season. Second-year sluggerRyan Howard hit a franchise-record 58 home runs, second basemanChase Utley was named a starter in the2006 MLB All-Star Game, and rookie pitcherCole Hamels showed progress and the potential to one day become the club's ace. After once again just missing the playoffs, Manuel received three second-place votes inNational League Manager of the Year voting, finishing in fifth place.[22]
The team got off to a slow start again in 2007 (in 2005, they opened at 9–12; in 2006, 6–10). They began the season with a 3–9 record and during the Phillies' post-game press conference following the team's 8–1 loss to theNew York Mets on April 17, 2007, Philadelphia radio personalityHoward Eskin repeatedly questioned Manuel why he did not challenge his players. Eskin, a controversial afternoon drive host on local sports-talk stationWIP-610, had criticized Manuel since the manager's hiring three years earlier.[23] The Phillies proceeded to lose two of their next three games after the confrontation before going on a five-game winning streak. After the streak, the Phillies took another step back, winning only 5 of their next 13 games. The Philles were still one game below .500 on July 19 and only four games over .500 on August 25. From August 25 through the end of the season the Phillies went 23–11 to overtake the Mets.
Manuel's Phillies battled injuries all season, including losing newly acquired pitcherFreddy García for the season. Howard, Utley, and Hamels also missed significant playing time. Hamels led the pitching staff with a 15–5 record, whileJimmy Rollins set the Major League Baseball record for at bats in a season with 716 through all 162 games played, and was named NL MVP. In a dramatic finale to the season, the Phillies captured theNational League East title from the collapsing Mets, but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by theColorado Rockies. Manuel finished second in balloting for theNational LeagueManager of the Year Award for 2007.[24]
The 2008 season started out much like 2005 through 2007, as the Phillies once again got off to a slow start with a record of 8 wins and 10 losses. They recovered quickly after their slow start to go over the .500 mark on April 24. They peaked at 22 games over the .500 mark on the final day of the season, winning 92 games and earning 1st place in the NL East for the second consecutive year. On October 29, Manuel guided the2008 Phillies to their second world title. It was his firstWorld Series ring after years of close calls (including the 1997 Cleveland Indians). He was voted by fans as MLB "This Year in Baseball Awards" Manager of the Year,[25] and finished second in balloting for theNational LeagueManager of the Year Award for the second consecutive season. Manuel reached a contract agreement with the Phils on December 9, 2008, to keep him with the team through the 2011 season.
On October 21, 2009, Manuel became the first manager infranchise history to lead the Phillies to two consecutive World Series appearances. It was the first time a National League team won back-to-back pennants since the 1995–96Atlanta Braves. During the2009 World Series, Manuel was criticized for not pitchingCliff Lee in Game 4, a game the Phillies eventually lost.[26] He defended his decision by noting that Lee had never pitched on three days' rest before. Manuel finished sixth in balloting for the 2009 National LeagueManager of the Year Award.[27]
In2010, Manuel managed the Phillies to their fourth consecutive NL East title.[28] The Phillies became the third NL team in history to play in thepostseason in four consecutive seasons, joining the Braves (1991–1995,excluding 1994) and theNew York Giants (1921–24).[29] The Phillies finished the season at 97–65; it was the first time in franchise history that Philadelphia had completed a season with Major League Baseball's best record.[30] In November, theRotary Club of Pittsburgh named Manuel the recipient of itsChuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award. However, the Phillies would be eliminated by the eventual World Series championSan Francisco Giants in the NLCS. Following the season, Manuel finished fifth in balloting for the 2010 National LeagueManager of the Year Award, marking the sixth consecutive season in which he received votes for Manager of the Year.
In September 2011, Manuel again led the Phillies to the NL East title, their fifth consecutive in as many years, and quickest post-season clinch ever: at game #150.[31] During the sweep of the final series against theAtlanta Braves on September 26–28, records were set. First on the 26th, with the Phillies' 4–2 victory, he became the second manager in Phillies' history to manage a team to at least 100 wins in a season, afterDanny Ozark during back-to-back 101-win seasons in1976 and1977.[32][33] The next day, with the Phillies' 7–1 victory, Manuel moved into a franchise-record tie withGene Mauch with 645 regular-season victories.[32] In the final game of the season with a victory in 13 innings, he led the Phillies to a franchise-record 102 regular season wins. With the victory he picked up his 646th win, setting a new Phillies' managerial record for victories and assuring that the Phillies would face the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals, who defeated them in the NLDS. Following the season, Manuel finished fourth in balloting for the 2011 National LeagueManager of the Year Award, marking the seventh consecutive season, and eighth (and final) time overall, in which he received votes for Manager of the Year.
In 2012, he managed the Phillies to an 81–81 record. It marked the first time since 2006 the Phillies failed to reach the postseason.
In 2013, Manuel won his 1,000th game on August 12.[34] However, Manuel did not win another game with the Phillies, and after the team lost their 15th game out of 20 after the All-Star Break, Manuel was fired on August 16. He was replaced by third-base coachRyne Sandberg.[35] Reaction around the league and from the Phillies fan base mostly consisted of sadness and gratitude to Manuel for his tenure.[36] Several Phillies veterans, includingChase Utley andCole Hamels, expressed regret and guilt, believing their lack of production led to Manuel's firing; they said that they viewed Manuel as a fatherly figure.[37] Sandberg commented the next day, "It was a roller coaster of a day emotionally. It affected me and I think it affects the players."[38] Manuel received praise from the media for his class in handling the situation,[39] and sportswriters mostly exonerated him of the blame for the Phillies' performance, focusing on his not having had better players.[40][41] When asked if he had enough pieces to win the last two years, he said "The last two years? No. I can straight face tell you that."[42] He finished with a record of 780 wins and 636 losses.[18] Of the six managers to have lasted for twelve seasons in the position inMajor League Baseball, Manuel is the only one to have won 1,000 games. He is also one of just a dozen managers to have won a thousand games without having also lost a thousand as well (of those, six are in the Hall of Fame). Despite stepping down, Manuel returned to the Philles in 2019 as a senior advisor to the General Manager.
On August 13, 2019, he was hired as interim hitting coach of the Phillies, replacingJohn Mallee. The 75-year old Manuel held that position for the remainder of the 2019 season before returning to his advisory role at the conclusion of the campaign.[1][43]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CLE | 2000 | 162 | 90 | 72 | .556 | 2nd in AL Central | – | – | – | |
| CLE | 2001 | 162 | 91 | 71 | .562 | 1st in AL Central | 2 | 3 | .400 | LostALDS (SEA) |
| CLE | 2002 | 86 | 39 | 47 | .453 | Fired | – | – | – | |
| CLE total | 410 | 220 | 190 | .537 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |||
| PHI | 2005 | 162 | 88 | 74 | .543 | 2nd in NL East | – | – | – | |
| PHI | 2006 | 162 | 85 | 77 | .525 | 2nd in NL East | – | – | – | |
| PHI | 2007 | 162 | 89 | 73 | .549 | 1st in NL East | 0 | 3 | .000 | LostNLDS (COL) |
| PHI | 2008 | 162 | 92 | 70 | .568 | 1st in NL East | 11 | 3 | .786 | WonWorld Series (TB) |
| PHI | 2009 | 162 | 93 | 69 | .574 | 1st in NL East | 9 | 6 | .600 | LostWorld Series (NYY) |
| PHI | 2010 | 162 | 97 | 65 | .599 | 1st in NL East | 5 | 4 | .556 | LostNLCS (SF) |
| PHI | 2011 | 162 | 102 | 60 | .630 | 1st in NL East | 2 | 3 | .400 | LostNLDS (STL) |
| PHI | 2012 | 162 | 81 | 81 | .500 | 3rd in NL East | – | – | – | |
| PHI | 2013 | 120 | 53 | 67 | .442 | Fired | – | – | – | |
| PHI total | 1416 | 780 | 636 | .551 | 27 | 19 | .587 | |||
| Total[18] | 1826 | 1000 | 826 | .548 | 29 | 22 | .569 | |||
Manuel has survived aheart attack,quadruple bypass surgery, a blocked and infectedcolon, andkidney cancer.[44] During his time with the Indians, he worked in the dugout with acolostomy bag beneath his jacket.
Manuel's mother June died on October 10, 2008, at age 87, in Buena Vista, Virginia. She had suffered a heart attack earlier in the week.
In 2015, he was married to his wife, Melissa "Missy" Martin.[45] He lives with his wife in Florida. He has two children, Chuck and Julie; three step-children, Collin, Hailey and Allie; and five grandchildren.[46]
On September 16, 2023, Manuel suffered a stroke during surgery.[47] Manuel survived the stroke and was released fromICU two days later. The following day, he tweeted a message of gratitude for all those supporting him, and for the efforts of Lakeland (FL) Regional Health medical staff.[48]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Wisconsin Rapids Twins Manager 1983 | Succeeded by last manager |
| Preceded by | Orlando Twins Manager 1984–1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Toledo Mud Hens Manager 1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Portland Beavers Manager 1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cleveland Indians Hitting Coach 1988–1989 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Colorado Springs Sky Sox Manager 1990–1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Charlotte Knights Manager 1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cleveland Indians Hitting Coach 1994–1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Philadelphia Phillies Hitting coach 2019 (hired Aug. 13, 2019) | Succeeded by |
Members of thePhiladelphia Phillies Wall of Fame | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inducted as Phillies |
|  |
| Inducted as Athletics | ||
