Buck Showalter
Encyclopedia
William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III (born May 23, 1956) is an American Major League Baseball (MLB)
manager
for the Baltimore Orioles
. He has previously served in a similar capacity with the New York Yankees
(1992–1995), Arizona Diamondbacks
(1998–2000), and Texas Rangers
(2003–2006). He was formerly a professional baseball player and a television analyst for ESPN
.
A two-time American League (AL)
Manager of the Year
, Showalter has earned a reputation for building baseball teams into postseason contenders in short periods of time. He helped the Yankees rise from the bottom half of the AL East
to first place before a players' strike prematurely ended the 1994 campaign
. Under his watch, the Diamondbacks made its first-ever playoff appearance in only its second year of existence. He would leave both franchise
s just prior to seasons when they won the World Series
.
The details-driven Showalter is well-known for outworking opposing managers and having an ability to spot over-looked talent. But he also has the reputation as a control freak
who burns out his players and loses the confidence of management by tending towards information overloading and poor communications skills. The fact that his stints as field boss have been both very successful and relatively short has been attributed to such micromanagement
tendencies.
. His father, William Nathaniel II, served 23 years as a teacher and principal
at Century High School, from which the younger Showalter eventually graduated. Before becoming a teacher, his father had been a Little All-American fullback
in 1940 at Milligan College
, and had considered a career in the National Football League
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
, but chose to become a high school coach and teacher instead.
, where he was an All-American who batted
.459 in 1977. He was selected by the New York Yankees
in the fifth round of the draft, and spent seven seasons in the Yankees' minor league
system where he had a career average of .294 with 17 home run
s and 336 RBIs
. Showalter never played in the majors
with the Yankees in part because he played first base, the same position as Don Mattingly
. According to interviews with Buck, he has said it was around this time he was given the nickname "Buck," as he tended to hang out in the locker room "Buck" naked.
, leading the league with an 85–53 record in his first season. By 1989, Showalter was with the Double-A Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Eastern League, where he was named Minor League Manager of the Year.
as the team's manager for the 1992 season. During his four years as the Yankees' manager, the team posted a record of 313–268, finishing first during the strike-shortened season
, thereby being named by the Associated Press
as the American League
Manager of the Year
and became the 1995 American League manager for the All-Star Game
. The Yankees won the AL wild card in 1995, participating in the playoffs for the first time since 1981, but he left the Yankees after the 1995 season. The Yankees won the World Series
the following year and they would win the World Series in 4 of the next 5 years. During this time period Showalter appeared as himself in the 1994 Seinfeld
television episode The Chaperone.
two years before the team was scheduled to begin play in order to take a more active role in developing the eventual roster. In the Diamondbacks' first season (1998) Showalter managed the team to a 65–97 record, but following numerous off-season player acquisitions which included Randy Johnson
, Armando Reynoso
, Todd Stottlemyre
and Steve Finley
, Showalter managed the 1999 team to a 100–62 record, the best in the National League's Western Division
. Following a mediocre third season, however, the Diamondbacks fired Showalter, leaving him with a 3-year record of 250–236. Just as the Yankees did after replacing him, the Diamondbacks won the World Series
the following year.
, Buck Showalter was hired as manager of the Texas Rangers on October 11, 2002, following a last-place season under manager Jerry Narron
. In his first season with the Rangers, Showalter managed the team to a 71–91 record – again in last place; but following the high-profile, off-season trade which sent Alex Rodriguez
to the Yankees, Showalter's Rangers jumped out to an early-season record of 17–9 by early May of the 2004 season. The Rangers stayed in playoff contention for most of the season, performing far better than most had predicted. The Rangers failed to make the playoffs, finishing third in the AL West
, though Showalter was again named Manager of the Year
. In Showalter's 4 years with the Rangers the team failed to finish better than third (of four teams) in the AL West
. He was fired as manager on October 4, 2006.
on December 1, 2006. He then returned to ESPN
as an analyst
.
as Baltimore Orioles manager on July 29, 2010. He chose to wear uniform number 26 as a tribute to Johnny Oates
. Signed to a contract through the 2013 campaign, he inherited a ballclub with the worst record in the majors at 32–73. A 6–3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
at Camden Yards
in his debut on August 3 led to a three-game sweep. The team's first-ever season series sweep of the Angels was completed by the end of the month. The Showalter-led Orioles finished 2010
at 34–23, second only to the Phillies during the same stretch.
Upon assuming his role as Orioles manager, his former Baseball Tonight
colleague Steve Berthiaume
often refer to the team as the "Fighting Showalters."
On September 26, 2011 Showalter was woozy during the first inning in a game against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. He was physically carried out of the dugout to receive medical help. Initial reports indicated that he had sprained his ankle earlier in the day and was in pain due to the sprain.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He has previously served in a similar capacity with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1992–1995), Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
(1998–2000), and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(2003–2006). He was formerly a professional baseball player and a television analyst for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
A two-time American League (AL)
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Manager of the Year
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
, Showalter has earned a reputation for building baseball teams into postseason contenders in short periods of time. He helped the Yankees rise from the bottom half of the AL East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
to first place before a players' strike prematurely ended the 1994 campaign
1994 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 1994 season was the 92nd season for the Yankees. New York was managed by Buck Showalter and played at Yankee Stadium. The team finished with a record of 70-43 finishing games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, having the best record in the American League and the second-best...
. Under his watch, the Diamondbacks made its first-ever playoff appearance in only its second year of existence. He would leave both franchise
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
s just prior to seasons when they won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
The details-driven Showalter is well-known for outworking opposing managers and having an ability to spot over-looked talent. But he also has the reputation as a control freak
Control freak
In psychology-related slang, control freak is a derogatory term for a person who attempts to dictate how everything around them is done — "a control freak. Scared to let us have differences"...
who burns out his players and loses the confidence of management by tending towards information overloading and poor communications skills. The fact that his stints as field boss have been both very successful and relatively short has been attributed to such micromanagement
Micromanagement
In business management, micromanagement is a management style where a manager closely observes or controls the work of her or his subordinates or employees...
tendencies.
Early life
Showalter, who was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, on May 23, 1956, grew up in nearby CenturyCentury, Florida
Century is a town in Escambia County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,714 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Century is located at ....
. His father, William Nathaniel II, served 23 years as a teacher and principal
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
at Century High School, from which the younger Showalter eventually graduated. Before becoming a teacher, his father had been a Little All-American fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
in 1940 at Milligan College
Milligan College
Milligan College is a Christian liberal arts college founded in 1866 and located immediately outside of Elizabethton in Carter County, Tennessee, United States. The school has a student population of just over 1,100 students as well as a campus that is located just minutes from downtown Johnson City...
, and had considered a career in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, but chose to become a high school coach and teacher instead.
Playing career
Showalter played baseball at Chipola Junior College (now Chipola College in Marianna, FL) in 1976. From there he moved on to Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, where he was an All-American who batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.459 in 1977. He was selected by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the fifth round of the draft, and spent seven seasons in the Yankees' minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system where he had a career average of .294 with 17 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 336 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. Showalter never played in the majors
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with the Yankees in part because he played first base, the same position as Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
. According to interviews with Buck, he has said it was around this time he was given the nickname "Buck," as he tended to hang out in the locker room "Buck" naked.
Becoming a coach
Showalter was hired as manager of the Single-A minor league Oneonta Yankees of the New York-Penn League in 1985, leading them to 114 victories in two seasons. In 1987, he became manager of the minor league Fort Lauderdale YankeesFort Lauderdale Yankees
The Fort Lauderdale Yankees, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was an American minor league baseball franchise that existed from 1962 through 1992. The team was a Class A Florida State League affiliate of the New York Yankees and won seven FSL championships during its 31 years of existence.The...
, leading the league with an 85–53 record in his first season. By 1989, Showalter was with the Double-A Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Eastern League, where he was named Minor League Manager of the Year.
New York Yankees
In 1990 Showalter was promoted to the coaching staff of the New York Yankees, and eventually succeeded Stump MerrillStump Merrill
Carl "Stump" Merrill is a former manager in Major League Baseball who served as manager of the New York Yankees in and...
as the team's manager for the 1992 season. During his four years as the Yankees' manager, the team posted a record of 313–268, finishing first during the strike-shortened season
1994 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 1994 season was the 92nd season for the Yankees. New York was managed by Buck Showalter and played at Yankee Stadium. The team finished with a record of 70-43 finishing games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, having the best record in the American League and the second-best...
, thereby being named by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
as the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Manager of the Year
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
and became the 1995 American League manager for the All-Star Game
1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 66th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 11, 1995 at The Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas, the...
. The Yankees won the AL wild card in 1995, participating in the playoffs for the first time since 1981, but he left the Yankees after the 1995 season. The Yankees won the World Series
1996 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkGame 1 and Game 2 were originally scheduled for Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, respectively. Rain on October 19, however, washed out Game 1. The schedule was moved up one day, with Game 1 and Game 2 rescheduled for...
the following year and they would win the World Series in 4 of the next 5 years. During this time period Showalter appeared as himself in the 1994 Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
television episode The Chaperone.
Arizona Diamondbacks
In 1996 Showalter was hired by the expansion Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
two years before the team was scheduled to begin play in order to take a more active role in developing the eventual roster. In the Diamondbacks' first season (1998) Showalter managed the team to a 65–97 record, but following numerous off-season player acquisitions which included Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
, Armando Reynoso
Armando Reynoso
Armando Martin Reynoso Gutierrez is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.During a 12-year baseball career, Reynoso compiled 68 wins, 554 strikeouts, and a 4.74 earned run average...
, Todd Stottlemyre
Todd Stottlemyre
Todd Vernon Stottlemyre is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 15 seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. He is the son of Mel Stottlemyre, former New York Yankees pitcher. His brother...
and Steve Finley
Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...
, Showalter managed the 1999 team to a 100–62 record, the best in the National League's Western Division
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
. Following a mediocre third season, however, the Diamondbacks fired Showalter, leaving him with a 3-year record of 250–236. Just as the Yankees did after replacing him, the Diamondbacks won the World Series
2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
the following year.
Texas Rangers
After a few years as an analyst on ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, Buck Showalter was hired as manager of the Texas Rangers on October 11, 2002, following a last-place season under manager Jerry Narron
Jerry Narron
Jerry Austin Narron is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He currently serves as the bench coach of the Milwaukee Brewers. During an 8-year playing career, he played from 1979–1987 for three different teams...
. In his first season with the Rangers, Showalter managed the team to a 71–91 record – again in last place; but following the high-profile, off-season trade which sent Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
to the Yankees, Showalter's Rangers jumped out to an early-season record of 17–9 by early May of the 2004 season. The Rangers stayed in playoff contention for most of the season, performing far better than most had predicted. The Rangers failed to make the playoffs, finishing third in the AL West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
, though Showalter was again named Manager of the Year
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
. In Showalter's 4 years with the Rangers the team failed to finish better than third (of four teams) in the AL West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
. He was fired as manager on October 4, 2006.
After Texas
Showalter was hired as a senior advisor to baseball operations for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
on December 1, 2006. He then returned to ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as an analyst
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
.
Baltimore Orioles
Showalter was appointed to succeed Juan SamuelJuan Samuel
Juan Milton Samuel is a retired second baseman who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies , New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , Kansas City Royals , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays...
as Baltimore Orioles manager on July 29, 2010. He chose to wear uniform number 26 as a tribute to Johnny Oates
Johnny Oates
Johnny Lane Oates was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees from 1970 to 1981...
. Signed to a contract through the 2013 campaign, he inherited a ballclub with the worst record in the majors at 32–73. A 6–3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
in his debut on August 3 led to a three-game sweep. The team's first-ever season series sweep of the Angels was completed by the end of the month. The Showalter-led Orioles finished 2010
2010 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles' 2010 season was the 110th season in franchise history.-Offseason:The Orioles made many significant roster moves prior to the 2010 season. The team parted ways with several contributors from the 2009 season including Aubrey Huff, and Melvin Mora who was the team's longest...
at 34–23, second only to the Phillies during the same stretch.
Upon assuming his role as Orioles manager, his former Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
colleague Steve Berthiaume
Steve Berthiaume
Steve Berthiaume is an anchor on ESPN and a former sportscaster for SportsNet New York . He is married to current SportsCenter anchor Cindy Brunson...
often refer to the team as the "Fighting Showalters."
On September 26, 2011 Showalter was woozy during the first inning in a game against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. He was physically carried out of the dugout to receive medical help. Initial reports indicated that he had sprained his ankle earlier in the day and was in pain due to the sprain.