Chuck LaMar
Encyclopedia
Charles G. "Chuck" LaMar (born 1956) was the first general manager
of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise in American
Major League Baseball
, being hired July 19, 1995
— several months after the Tampa Bay franchise was awarded. It began play in the American League East Division in 1998
.
, where his father, Chuck, Sr., was a coach at Willow Creek Little League. He attended Madison High School
where he was a three-sport captain. He played college baseball
at Texas Christian University
. After his senior year, LaMar taught and coached at St. Thomas Catholic High School in Houston. During this time, his high school-aged brother, Dan, was selected in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds
.
, tabbed LaMar to be his assistant coach when Smith took the head coaching job at Indiana University
in the Big Ten Conference
. LaMar earned his masters degree in physical education from Indiana, then went on to become the head coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
.
. LaMar signed the first working agreement between a Mexico and America professional baseball team.
, holding the position between 1989-1990. From 1990-1992, the Pirates won three National League East Division titles.
, LaMar moved to the Atlanta Braves
and served as director of player development and scouting (through 1993
), with the team winning its division in both seasons. He then served as assistant general manager and director of player personnel (1994
-95
), working with General manager
John Schuerholz
during one of the most successful periods in Braves' history, as the club won the 1995 World Series
.
).
LaMar's tenure was characterized by moves such as trading Bobby Abreu
and Dmitri Young
while receiving Kevin Stocker
and Mike Kelly
in return. Those trades proved to be failures, as Abreu and Young went on to have successful careers. He was also responsible for signing Juan Guzmán, Wilson Alvarez
, Wade Boggs
, Roberto Hernández, and trading for Fred McGriff
.
LaMar was fired on October 6, 2005 by incoming owner Stuart Sternberg
.
as special assistant to the general manager and national crosschecker.
In October 2007
, LaMar was appointed director of professional scouting by the Philadelphia Phillies
, later promoted to assistant general manager of player development & scouting in November 2008. On September 6, 2011, Lamar resigned from the Phillies.
as a special assistant for amateur scouting.
and is married with a son and two daughters.
LaMar has stated many times that his hero is Ted Williams.
In February 2007 Deadspin guest columnist R.J. Anderson announced LaMaritis; a book about the LaMar reign as GM of the Tampa Ray Devil Rays
.
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
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...
, being hired July 19, 1995
1995 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians ; Tom Glavine, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at The Ballpark in Arlington: National League, 3-2; Jeff Conine, MVP-Other champions:...
— several months after the Tampa Bay franchise was awarded. It began play in the American League East Division in 1998
1998 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
.
Early life
Chuck grew up in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, where his father, Chuck, Sr., was a coach at Willow Creek Little League. He attended Madison High School
Madison High School (Houston, Texas)
James Madison High School is a public secondary school located at 13719 White Heather Drive in the Hiram Clarke area of Houston, Texas, United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 and is part of the Houston Independent School District...
where he was a three-sport captain. He played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. After his senior year, LaMar taught and coached at St. Thomas Catholic High School in Houston. During this time, his high school-aged brother, Dan, was selected in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Early career
Larry Smith, former head coach at Texas Wesleyan UniversityTexas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university founded by the United Methodist Church in 1890. The main campus is located in the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas, with branch campuses in Burleson and downtown Fort Worth.-History:Texas Wesleyan...
, tabbed LaMar to be his assistant coach when Smith took the head coaching job at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. LaMar earned his masters degree in physical education from Indiana, then went on to become the head coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
The University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, generally referred to as UMHB, is a Christian co-educational liberal arts institution of higher learning located in Belton, Texas, United States. Founded by the Republic of Texas in 1845 as "Baylor Female College," it has grown to approximately 2,700 students...
.
Cincinnati Reds
In 1985, Lamar left to become a full time scout with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. LaMar signed the first working agreement between a Mexico and America professional baseball team.
Pittsburgh Pirates
From the Reds, LaMar became the director of minor league operations with the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, holding the position between 1989-1990. From 1990-1992, the Pirates won three National League East Division titles.
Atlanta Braves
In 19911991 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves ; Jack Morris, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirby Puckett*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Avery...
, LaMar moved to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and served as director of player development and scouting (through 1993
1993 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies ; Paul Molitor, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Dave Stewart*National League Championship Series MVP: Curt Schilling...
), with the team winning its division in both seasons. He then served as assistant general manager and director of player personnel (1994
1994 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason is played...
-95
1995 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians ; Tom Glavine, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at The Ballpark in Arlington: National League, 3-2; Jeff Conine, MVP-Other champions:...
), working with General manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
John Schuerholz
John Schuerholz
John Schuerholz is the President of the Atlanta Braves of the National League. Before joining Atlanta, he spent twenty-two years with the Kansas City Royals organization, including nine as the club's General Manager. Among the teams he has built are the 1985 Royals and 1995 Braves, both world...
during one of the most successful periods in Braves' history, as the club won the 1995 World Series
1995 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta ace Greg Maddux pitched a two-hit complete game victory in his first World Series appearance ....
.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
During the eight seasons (1998–2005) when LaMar oversaw the Devil Rays franchise, the expansion team compiled a 518–777 (.400) record and only once won more than 70 games (20042004 Major League Baseball season
* Playoff MVPs** Manny Ramírez ** David Ortiz ** Albert Pujols * All-Star Game, July 13 at Minute Maid Park: American League, 9-4; Alfonso Soriano, MVP-References:* *...
).
LaMar's tenure was characterized by moves such as trading Bobby Abreu
Bobby Abreu
Bob Kelly "Bobby" Abreu , nicknamed "El Comedulce" and also "La Luche", is a Major League Baseball left fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim....
and Dmitri Young
Dmitri Young
Dmitri Dell Young is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Young is 6'2" and 275 pounds...
while receiving Kevin Stocker
Kevin Stocker
Kevin Douglas Stocker is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and switch-hitter. Stocker played with the Philadelphia Phillies , Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Anaheim Angels ....
and Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly (outfielder)
Michael Raymond Kelly was an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Colorado Rockies....
in return. Those trades proved to be failures, as Abreu and Young went on to have successful careers. He was also responsible for signing Juan Guzmán, Wilson Alvarez
Wilson Alvarez
Wilson Eduardo Álvarez Fuenmayor is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher...
, Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
, Roberto Hernández, and trading for Fred McGriff
Fred McGriff
Frederick Stanley McGriff is a left-handed former Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era to lead both...
.
LaMar was fired on October 6, 2005 by incoming owner Stuart Sternberg
Stuart Sternberg
Stuart L. Sternberg is a Wall Street investor. He is the principal shareholder of the ownership group that owns the Tampa Bay Rays, and has acted as the team's Managing General Partner since November 2005....
.
Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies
Lamar spent the 2007 season with the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
as special assistant to the general manager and national crosschecker.
In October 2007
2007 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, LaMar was appointed director of professional scouting by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, later promoted to assistant general manager of player development & scouting in November 2008. On September 6, 2011, Lamar resigned from the Phillies.
Toronto Blue Jays
On November 4, 2011, it was announced that LaMar would be joining the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
as a special assistant for amateur scouting.
Personal life
LaMar resides in Clearwater, FloridaClearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
and is married with a son and two daughters.
LaMar has stated many times that his hero is Ted Williams.
In February 2007 Deadspin guest columnist R.J. Anderson announced LaMaritis; a book about the LaMar reign as GM of the Tampa Ray Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
.