Charlie Manuel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charlie Manuel
Manuel in 2018
Left fielder / Manager
Born: (1944-01-04) January 4, 1944 (age 81) Northfork, West Virginia, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 8, 1969, for the Minnesota Twins
NPB: April 3, 1976, for the Yakult Swallows
Last appearance
MLB: September 21, 1975, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
NPB: October 12, 1981, for the Yakult Swallows
MLB statistics
Batting average	.198
Home runs	4
Runs batted in	43
Managerial record	1,000–826
Winning %	.548
NPB statistics
Batting average	.303
Home runs	189
Runs batted in	491
Teams
As player Minnesota Twins (1969–1972) Los Angeles Dodgers (1974–1975) Yakult Swallows (1976–1978) Kintetsu Buffaloes (1979–1980) Yakult Swallows (1981) As manager Cleveland Indians (2000–2002) Philadelphia Phillies (2005–2013) As coach Cleveland Indians (1988–1989, 1994–1999) Philadelphia Phillies (2019)
Career highlights and awards
NPB Japan Series champion (1978) Pacific League MVP (1979) 3× Best Nine Award (1978–1980) MLB World Series champion (2008) Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame

Charlie Manuel (born January 4, 1944) is a famous American baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan for the Yakult Swallows and Kintetsu Buffaloes.

In Japan, Manuel was a powerful hitter. He won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1979. After his playing days, he became a coach and manager. He managed the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2008, he led the Phillies to win the World Series. He was added to the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 2014. In 2019, he returned to the Phillies as a hitting coach.

Early Life and Baseball Dreams

Charlie Manuel was born in Northfork, West Virginia. His family lived in Virginia. He was the third of 11 children. His father was a preacher.

Charlie was a great athlete in high school. He played baseball, football, basketball, and ran track. Basketball was his favorite sport. He even received scholarship offers for basketball.

In 1963, his father passed away due to serious health problems. Charlie, who was already married with a child, decided to help his family. He turned down his basketball scholarships. Instead, he signed with the Minnesota Twins baseball team in 1963.

Playing Baseball

Minor League Success

Before playing in the major leagues, Charlie Manuel played in the minor leagues. In 1971, he had an amazing season for the Portland Beavers. He led the league in batting average, hitting .372. He also hit 30 home runs and had 102 RBIs (runs batted in) in 1974 for the Albuquerque Dukes.

Major League Games

Manuel played in MLB from 1969 to 1972 with the Minnesota Twins. He also played in 1974 and 1975 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He mostly played as a left fielder or a pinch-hitter.

Playing in Japan

Charlie Manuel's baseball career really shined when he moved to Japan. Fans and teammates loved his strong playing style and powerful hitting. They called him "Aka-Oni," which means "The Red Devil." He was also known as "Uncle Chuck."

In 1977, he helped the Yakult Swallows reach second place. This was the best they had ever done. In 1978, he led the Swallows to win their first championship.

In 1979, while playing for the Kintetsu Buffaloes, Charlie Manuel faced a tough challenge. He was hit in the face by a pitch. This broke his jaw in six places. Doctors had to put metal plates in his head. Even with this serious injury, he returned to play quickly. He wore a special helmet to protect his jaw. He finished the 1979 season leading the league with 37 home runs. He helped Kintetsu win their first championship. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) that year.

In 1980, Manuel continued his success. He hit 48 home runs and had 129 RBIs. This was one of the best seasons for an American player in Japan. He finished his time in Japan with a .303 batting average and 189 home runs. He was one of the best foreign players in Japan during that time. While in Japan, he also learned to speak Japanese. This skill helped him later when managing Japanese players in the U.S.

Managing Baseball Teams

Injuries eventually ended Charlie Manuel's playing career. He then became a scout for the Minnesota Twins. After that, he started coaching and managing.

Minor League Manager

Manuel managed minor league teams for nine years. He won championships in the Pacific Coast League and International League. He was named Manager of the Year three times.

Cleveland Indians Coach and Manager

In 1988, Manuel became the hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians. Under his guidance, the Indians' offense was very strong. They led the American League in runs scored several times. In 1999, they scored 1,009 runs, a team record.

From 2000 to 2002, Charlie Manuel was the manager of the Cleveland Indians. In 2001, he led the team back to the playoffs. They won their division with 91 wins. A famous moment that season was when the Indians came back from a 14-2 deficit to win 15-14 against the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners were one of the best teams that year. The Indians lost in the playoffs to the Mariners. Manuel was later fired in 2002.

Philadelphia Phillies Manager

Manuel managing the Phillies in 2006

Charlie Manuel argues a call with an umpire

After leaving the Indians, Manuel joined the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2005, he became the Phillies' manager.

Building a Winning Team

In 2005 and 2006, the Phillies just missed the playoffs. However, the team was getting stronger. Young stars like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Cole Hamels were developing.

In 2007, the Phillies had a slow start. But they finished the season very strong. They won the National League East title in a dramatic finish. They passed the New York Mets to win the division. Jimmy Rollins was named the NL MVP that year. The Phillies lost in the first round of the playoffs.

World Series Champions

The 2008 season also started slowly for the Phillies. But they quickly improved. On October 29, 2008, Charlie Manuel led the Phillies to win the World Series! It was his first World Series championship. Fans voted him the MLB Manager of the Year.

Charlie Manuel and the Phillies meet with President Barack Obama during their visit to the White House

In 2009, Manuel made history for the Phillies. He led them to the World Series for a second year in a row. This was the first time a National League team had done that since 1996. The Phillies lost the World Series that year.

Continued Success

In 2010, Manuel led the Phillies to their fourth straight division title. They had the best record in Major League Baseball that season. They lost in the playoffs to the San Francisco Giants.

In 2011, the Phillies won their fifth straight division title. They set a new team record with 102 wins in the regular season. Manuel also set a new record for most wins as a Phillies manager. However, they lost in the playoffs to the St. Louis Cardinals.

End of Managerial Role

In 2012, the Phillies did not make the playoffs. In 2013, Manuel won his 1,000th game as a manager. But the team was struggling, and he was fired on August 16, 2013. Many players and fans were sad to see him go. They felt he was like a father figure to the team. Manuel finished his time with the Phillies with 780 wins and 636 losses. He is one of only a few managers to win 1,000 games without losing 1,000.

Philadelphia Phillies Hitting Coach

In August 2019, Charlie Manuel returned to the Phillies. He became the interim hitting coach for the rest of the season. After the season, he went back to his advisory role with the team.

Managerial Record

Personal Life

Charlie Manuel has faced several health challenges throughout his life, including heart issues and other medical conditions. In 2023, he had a stroke during surgery but recovered well.

He is married to Melissa "Missy" Martin. They live in Florida. He has two children and three step-children, along with five grandchildren.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball managers with most career wins