Stan Wasiak
Encyclopedia
Stanley Wasiak was an American
manager
in minor league baseball
who, by the time of his retirement, held the record for most games managed (4,844), most victories (2,530) and most defeats (2,314) as a skipper in the minor leagues.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Wasiak was a catcher
in his playing days. In 1950
, he was named playing manager of the Valdosta, Georgia
, Dodgers of the Class D Georgia-Florida League
. He led the team to a second-place, 81-56 record – one half game behind the Albany, Georgia
, Cardinals. Wasiak's Valdosta team came back in 1951
to win the league pennant by five games.
Wasiak spent the vast majority of his managing career in the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers'
farm system, although he briefly worked for the Detroit Tigers
and Chicago White Sox
. He managed in the AAA Pacific Coast League
from 1973-76 as skipper of the Albuquerque Dukes
, the Dodgers' top minor league affiliate, winning a division title in 1974
. But most of his assignments came below the AA level.
Officially, Wasiak managed for 37 consecutive seasons (1950-86) in the minors. However, in 1982
, in the middle of a seven-year term as skipper of the Vero Beach Dodgers of the Class A Florida State League
, he was sidelined by illness for almost the entire season. But Wasiak was able to manage one game on August 24, keeping his skein alive. When he retired after the 1986 campaign, he had compiled a career winning percentage of .522. Although his minor-league accomplishments were well-known throughout the game, Wasiak never officially appeared in a Major League Baseball
uniform as a coach or manager.
In 1985 he was presented with the King of Baseball
award given by Minor League Baseball.
He died at age 72 in Mobile, Alabama
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
in minor league baseball
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...
who, by the time of his retirement, held the record for most games managed (4,844), most victories (2,530) and most defeats (2,314) as a skipper in the minor leagues.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Wasiak was a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in his playing days. In 1950
1950 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas...
, he was named playing manager of the Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
, Dodgers of the Class D Georgia-Florida League
Georgia-Florida League
The Georgia-Florida League was a minor baseball league that existed from 1935 through 1958 and in 1962–1963...
. He led the team to a second-place, 81-56 record – one half game behind the Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
, Cardinals. Wasiak's Valdosta team came back in 1951
1951 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:Baseball's Shot Heard 'Round the World gives the New York Giants the National League Pennant in the third game of a best-of-three-games tiebreaker series over the Brooklyn Dodgers.-Major League Baseball:...
to win the league pennant by five games.
Wasiak spent the vast majority of his managing career in the Brooklyn/Los Angeles 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...
farm system, although he briefly worked for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He managed in the AAA Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
from 1973-76 as skipper of the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
, the Dodgers' top minor league affiliate, winning a division title in 1974
1974 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*1974 World Series: Oakland Athletics over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Rollie Fingers, MVP*All-Star Game, July 23 at Three Rivers Stadium: National League, 7-2; Steve Garvey, MVP-Other champions:...
. But most of his assignments came below the AA level.
Officially, Wasiak managed for 37 consecutive seasons (1950-86) in the minors. However, in 1982
1982 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals*World Series MVP: Darrell Porter**American League Championship Series MVP: Fred Lynn**National League Championship Series MVP: Darrell Porter...
, in the middle of a seven-year term as skipper of the Vero Beach Dodgers of the Class A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
, he was sidelined by illness for almost the entire season. But Wasiak was able to manage one game on August 24, keeping his skein alive. When he retired after the 1986 campaign, he had compiled a career winning percentage of .522. Although his minor-league accomplishments were well-known throughout the game, Wasiak never officially appeared in a 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...
uniform as a coach or manager.
In 1985 he was presented with the King of Baseball
King of Baseball
King of Baseball is a ceremonial title awarded by Minor League Baseball to one person each year in recognition of longtime dedication and service to professional baseball.- Background :The title was first awarded in 1951...
award given by Minor League Baseball.
He died at age 72 in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.