Grady Little facts for kids

William Grady Little (born March 30, 1950) is a former American baseball player and manager. He led teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). Grady Little managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003. He also managed the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007. More recently, he worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their main office.

In his second year with the Red Sox, Little helped the team win 95 games and lose 67. They made it to the 2003 American League Championship Series. There, they played against their rivals, the New York Yankees. Even with his team's success, many people remember Little for a tough decision. In Game 7 of that series, he kept his star pitcher, Pedro Martínez, in the game. This happened in the eighth inning, with the Red Sox leading by three runs. The Yankees then tied the game and won later, which led to some people blaming Little for the loss.

Playing Baseball

Grady Little finished high school at Garinger High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. After that, the Atlanta Braves picked him in the 15th round of the 1968 MLB Draft.

After spending 1969 in the Marine reserves, Grady played as a catcher. He played in 167 games over five years in the minor leagues. He played for teams connected to the Braves and New York Yankees. He had a batting average of .207, hit two home runs, and had 37 runs batted in. He stopped playing baseball in 1973.

Coaching Baseball

From 1996 to 2001, Grady Little worked as a coach. He coached for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians.

High School Coaching

Grady Little worked in the main office for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also spent time as the head of baseball operations. He was even the head coach for the varsity baseball team at Hickory Grove Christian School in Charlotte, NC. Now, he is retired and lives with his wife in the area where he grew up.

Minor League Coaching

In 1971, Little became a player-coach for the West Haven Yankees. He continued coaching there until 1974, even after he stopped playing.

From 1975 to 1979, he took a break from baseball. During this time, he worked as a cotton farmer.

He managed minor league teams for 16 years. His teams won 1,054 games and lost 903. This means his teams won about 53.9% of their games.

While he was managing the Triple-A Durham Bulls, Little helped train the actors for the movie Bull Durham.

Managing Major League Teams

Boston Red Sox (2002–2003)

In March 2002, the Boston Red Sox hired Grady Little as their manager. He was very popular with his players. He made the team's clubhouse a relaxed place and supported players who were having a tough time. His time with the Red Sox was successful. The team won 188 games in his two seasons. They almost won the American League championship in 2003.

However, the 2003 season is often remembered for a difficult decision Little made. This happened during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox were leading 5–2 in the 8th inning. They were only five outs away from reaching the World Series. Little went to the pitcher's mound after Pedro Martínez gave up three hits and a run. Martínez had already thrown 118 pitches. Little decided to keep him in the game. The Yankees then tied the game with a hit from Jorge Posada. They went on to win the game and the championship in the 11th inning with a home run.

After the Red Sox lost, many people were upset with Little's decision. Critics pointed out that Martínez's pitching was not as good after he threw more than 100 pitches. The Red Sox also had three well-rested relief pitchers ready to play. These pitchers had performed well that day. Some believed Little's choice was the main reason for the Game 7 loss. Others argued that Little's decision to trust Martínez fit his style, which had brought the Red Sox so far. Still, the Red Sox decided they needed a change. They did not renew Little's contract.

He was replaced by Terry Francona. Francona managed the team from 2004 to 2011. He led them to win the World Series in 2004 and 2007.

After Little's contract was not renewed, a minor league team, the Brockton Rox, planned to give away Grady Little bobble arm dolls. These dolls were meant for the first 1,000 fans at a game on May 29, 2004. The doll's arm would bounce, like a manager calling a pitcher from the bullpen. It also showed the date October 16, 2003, and Little's win totals. The plans were canceled because Little did not want his image used. Later, Little agreed to let the dolls be sold. The money raised went to a charity that helps retired baseball scouts.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2007)

In 2004 and 2005, Little worked as a consultant, instructor, and scout for the Chicago Cubs. On December 8, 2005, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Little as their new manager. He was the seventh manager for the team since they moved to Los Angeles in 1958. As Dodgers manager, Little worked again with some players from his Red Sox teams. These included pitcher Derek Lowe and first baseman Nomar Garciaparra. Little and the new general manager were praised for bringing a fresh start to the team.

In 2006, the Dodgers won 88 games. They earned a spot in the playoffs. However, they lost to the New York Mets in the NLDS. In 2007, the Dodgers had many key players injured. They also had a lot of young players. Because of this, they did not make the playoffs.

The Dodgers' general manager first said Little would return in 2008. But Little seemed unsure after the general manager partly blamed him for the 2007 season. Little did not contact the general manager for over two weeks. This led to the Dodgers looking for other managers. Little then resigned on October 30, 2007, saying it was for personal reasons.

Working in the Front Office

Pittsburgh Pirates (2014–present)

On December 8, 2014, Grady Little joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. He worked as a senior advisor in the team's main office.

Managerial Record

Personal Life

Grady Little and his wife, Debi, have a son named Eric. They also have three grandchildren: Braden, Luke, and Jace. His brother, Bryan Little, also played in Major League Baseball. Grady Little has been honored in several baseball halls of fame. He was inducted into the Kinston, North Carolina Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. He also joined the Charlotte, North Carolina Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. On April 13, 2009, he was inducted into the Hagerstown Suns Hall of Fame.