| Frank Lucchesi | |
|---|---|
 Lucchesi as manager of the Rangers, May 1977 | |
| Manager | |
| Born:(1926-04-24)April 24, 1926 San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| Died: June 8, 2019(2019-06-08) (aged 93) Colleyville, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games managed | 715 |
| Managerial record | 316–399 |
| Winning percentage | .442 |
Managerial record atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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Frank Joseph Lucchesi (/luːˈkeɪsiː/loo-KAY-see;[1] April 24, 1926 – June 8, 2019) was an Americanprofessional baseballplayer,manager, andcoach. He was the manager of threeMajor League Baseball (MLB) teams: thePhiladelphia Phillies (1970–1972);Texas Rangers (1975–1977); andChicago Cubs (1987, on an interim basis). Overall, Lucchesi posted a careerwin–loss record of 316–399 (.442).
A native ofSan Francisco, Lucchesi had a long career as anoutfielder and manager inminor league baseball. As a player (1945–1957), he toiled largely in the mid- and lower minors, in the Class BWestern International League and Class CCalifornia League. Hebatted .276 in 1,149 games with 56home runs. Lucchesi batted and threwright-handed, stood 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
His managerial career began in 1951 in the Class DFar West League as aplayer-manager. After a brief, early-1950s stint in theSt. Louis Browns' organization, Lucchesi joined the Phillies'farm system in 1956. He logged 14 seasons as a manager there, includingTriple-A assignments with theArkansas Travelers,San Diego Padres andEugene Emeralds, winning two championships; Eugene's 1969Pacific Coast League regular-season division title earned Lucchesi promotion to the manager's job in Philadelphia the following season. In the 1970s and 1980s, Lucchesi also managed in theCleveland Indians andCincinnati Reds organizations.
Lucchesi took over the Phillies at the beginning of the1970 season as the team was rebuilding with young players. Although hisinitial squad showed a ten-game improvement from1969's club, the1971 Phillies fell into the basement of theNational League East Division, and when the Phils started only 26–50 in1972, Lucchesi was fired on July 9 by the club's newgeneral manager,Paul Owens, who took over as manager himself.
After returning toTriple-A to manage Cleveland'sOklahoma City 89ers affiliate in 1973, Lucchesi was appointed third-base coach of the Texas Rangers of theAmerican League (AL) for 1974. The following season, on July 21, 1975, Lucchesi succeeded the firedBilly Martin as manager of the1975 Rangers, who were a disappointing 44–51 in Martin's second season at the helm. Lucchesi led them to a 35–32 mark for the remainder of the year, and was rehired for1976, when the Rangers continued to struggle at 76–86, tied for fourth in theAL West. Lucchesi was invited to return as manager for1977, but a violent incident inspring training withsecond basemanLenny Randle marred the season.[2]
Lucchesi was auditioning rookieBump Wills to take over Randle's second base job. When Randle complained publicly about being benched, Lucchesi was quoted as responding: "I'm sick and tired of punks making $80,000 a year moaning and groaning about their situation."[3] A few days later, before an exhibition game against theMinnesota Twins inOrlando, Randle and Lucchesi became embroiled in an argument. Randle struck his manager, who was still clad in street clothes, knocking Lucchesi to the ground and causing his hospitalization for aconcussion and broken jaw.[4] Randle was suspended without pay for 30 days, fined an additional $10,000,[4] then traded to theNew York Mets.
Meanwhile, Lucchesi recovered from his injuries and returned to the bench, but on June 21, with the1977 Rangers stalled at 31–31, he was fired.[5] Randle was found guilty of assault, and Lucchesi later sued him for $200,000, blaming Randle for the loss of his job.[6] The case was settled, and in 1979–80 Lucchesi returned to the Rangers as third-base coach, serving under managerPat Corrales, whom he had managed 15 years earlier in the Phillies' farm system.
In1987, Lucchesi was named caretaker pilot of the Chicago Cubs on September 8 upon the firing ofGene Michael. He had been serving the team as an "eye in the sky"scout from thepress box. The Cubs went 8–17 over the season's final month, then hired both a new general manager,Jim Frey, and a new manager,Don Zimmer, for1988. Lucchesi, then 61, returned to the minor leagues for two final seasons, managing theNashville Sounds, the Reds' top affiliate in the Triple-AAmerican Association.
On June 8, 2019, Lucchesi died at his home in Colleyville, Texas, at the age of 93.[7]
| Preceded by | Texas Rangersthird base coach 1974–1975 1979–1980 | Succeeded by |