George Scherger
Encyclopedia
George Richard Scherger (born November 10, 1920 in Dickinson, North Dakota
, died October 13, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina
), nicknamed "'Sugar Bear," was a retired coach
in American
Major League Baseball
and a former longtime minor league
infielder
and manager
. Scherger was an infielder from 1940 to 1956, but never made it higher than the low minor leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers
' Class C California League
team in Santa Barbara
from 1951 to 1953. Scherger also spent three years in the U.S. armed forces in World War II
.
Scherger managed as a player/manager in the last nine years of his playing career, including his years with Santa Barbara, and managed and coached in the minors from 1961-1969. He joined the Cincinnati Reds
organization in 1967.
When Sparky Anderson
was named manager of the Reds for the season, Scherger — who had managed the young Sparky in the Brooklyn organization — was hired as first base coach. With the exception of third base coach Alex Grammas
, who left the Reds in to manage the Milwaukee Brewers
for two seasons, Anderson's coaching staff of Scherger, Grammas, Larry Shepard
(pitching coach) and Ted Kluszewski
(hitting coach) remained intact from Anderson's hiring to his dismissal after the 1978 season. During that time, Cincinnati won five NL West Division Titles, four National League
pennants and two World Series
titles.
After Anderson's firing, Scherger was named manager of the Double-A Southern League
's Nashville Sounds
. In 1979, he managed the Sounds to win the SL championship. He also managed the team for part of 1988. In 1981, Scherger took over as skipper of the Triple-A American Association
's Indianapolis Indians
, before returning to the Reds as a coach from 1982 to 1986. He was described by Reds manager Pete Rose
as the "smartest baseball mind in the world".
Dickinson, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,010 people, 6,517 households, and 4,020 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,690.7 inhabitants per square mile . There were 7,033 housing units at an average density of 742.7 per square mile...
, died October 13, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
), nicknamed "'Sugar Bear," was a retired coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
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...
and a former longtime 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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and 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...
. Scherger was an infielder from 1940 to 1956, but never made it higher than the low minor leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
' Class C California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
team in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
from 1951 to 1953. Scherger also spent three years in the U.S. armed forces in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Scherger managed as a player/manager in the last nine years of his playing career, including his years with Santa Barbara, and managed and coached in the minors from 1961-1969. He joined 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....
organization in 1967.
When Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
was named manager of the Reds for the season, Scherger — who had managed the young Sparky in the Brooklyn organization — was hired as first base coach. With the exception of third base coach Alex Grammas
Alex Grammas
Alexander Peter Grammas is a former Major League infielder and manager. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Grammas played in the National League for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. He finished his career with a .969 overall fielding percentage...
, who left the Reds in to manage the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for two seasons, Anderson's coaching staff of Scherger, Grammas, Larry Shepard
Larry Shepard
Lawrence William Shepard was a manager in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1968 to 1969. During his playing days, Shepard was a right-handed pitcher who played minor league baseball from 1941 through 1956, with time out for military service during World War II...
(pitching coach) and Ted Kluszewski
Ted Kluszewski
Theodore Bernard "Big Klu" Kluszewski was a Major League first baseman from 1947 through 1961. He batted and threw left-handed.-Career:...
(hitting coach) remained intact from Anderson's hiring to his dismissal after the 1978 season. During that time, Cincinnati won five NL West Division Titles, four National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennants and two 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...
titles.
After Anderson's firing, Scherger was named manager of the Double-A Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
's Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
. In 1979, he managed the Sounds to win the SL championship. He also managed the team for part of 1988. In 1981, Scherger took over as skipper of the Triple-A American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
's Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, before returning to the Reds as a coach from 1982 to 1986. He was described by Reds manager Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
as the "smartest baseball mind in the world".