The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2023
Leo Durocher
- Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2023
- Embed from Getty Images
- Sport(s): Baseball
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Statistics:
2 World Series Championships (1954) (1963 as a Coach)
2,008-1,709 Record
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
*2 World Series Championships (1928 & 1934)
*3 All-Star Games (1936, 1938 & 1940)
*As a player -
Forgotten amongst Leo Durocher's managerial resume is that he was a decent player who was a three-time All-Star. While still a good player, he became a player/manager in 1939 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Durocher turned Brooklyn around, taking them to pennant win in 1941, though they lost to the New York Yankees.
Durocher clashed with Larry MacPhail, who became a co-owner of the Yankees. Accusing MacPhail of poaching two of his coaches, MacPhail countered with an accusation of running an illegal gambling racket. MacPhail had more pull, and Durocher was suspended for the 1947 season but did come back briefly for the 1948 season, but the poor start resulted in Durocher's dismissal.
It is worth noting that before his 1947 suspension, he made it known that Jackie Robinson, who would start the season in the minors, would be welcomed on his team regardless of his color, and he expected his players to comply.
After Durocher was sacked, the New York Giants signed him. It was a good fit, and Durocher took them to two pennants, with a win in 1954, making this the only one of four World Series rings that Durocher obtained as a manager.
Durocher would later win his fourth World Series as a coach with the Dodgers, and he later had stints running the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.
Oh, his most famous quote? "Nice guys finish last." He actually said: "The nice guys are all over there, in seventh place," about the 1946 Giants.
He owned it, however, and it would be the title of his autobiography.
We are proud to nominate Leo Durocher for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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