Jim Leyland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Leyland |
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Leyland with the Detroit Tigers in 2013
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| Manager | ||||||||||||||
| Born: December 15, 1944 Perrysburg, Ohio, U.S. |
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| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Games managed | 3,499 | |||||||||||||
| Managerial record | 1,769–1,728 | |||||||||||||
| Winning % | .506 | |||||||||||||
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As manager
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| Vote | 93.8% | |||||||||||||
| Election Method | Contemporary Baseball Era Committee | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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James "Jim" Richard Leyland (born December 15, 1944) is a famous American baseball manager. He used to be a professional baseball player and coach. Jim Leyland is known for leading teams to big wins.
He guided the Florida Marlins to a 1997 World Series championship. He also won three division titles in a row with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Leyland is one of only a few managers to lead three different teams to the playoffs. He also won league championships in both the National and American League.
Leyland has won the Manager of the Year Award three times. In 2017, he led the U.S. national team to its first gold medal in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. In 2023, Jim Leyland was chosen for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Jim Leyland was born on December 15, 1944, in Perrysburg, Ohio. He went to Perrysburg High School and was a great baseball player there.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
Leyland started his baseball journey with the Detroit Tigers. They signed him as a catcher in 1963. He played for seven seasons in the Tigers' minor league system. He also coached for the Montgomery Rebels during his last year as a player.
Becoming a Coach
After playing, Leyland became a coach. In 1982, he joined the Chicago White Sox. He was the third base coach for four seasons. During this time, the White Sox won their division in 1983.
Leading Teams: Managerial Career
Starting as a Minor League Manager
In 1972, Leyland became a manager in the Tigers' minor league system. He managed teams like the Clinton Pilots. From 1979 to 1981, he managed the Evansville Triplets. He led them to two division titles.
Pittsburgh Pirates (1986–1996)
In 1985, Leyland became the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He managed the team for 11 seasons. He won the Manager of the Year Award in 1990 and 1992.
Leyland helped many young players become All-Stars. These included players like Barry Bonds and Tim Wakefield. Under Leyland, the Pirates won their division three years in a row. They went to the National League Championship Series from 1990 to 1992. Even though they played well, they lost all three times.
Leyland left the Pirates after the 1996 season. He wanted to manage a team that could win a championship.
Florida Marlins (1997–1998)
In 1997, Leyland became the manager of the Florida Marlins. He quickly led them to their first World Series championship. They beat the Cleveland Indians in a thrilling seven-game series. The Marlins won the World Series in only their fifth year. This was the fastest for an expansion team at the time.
After the World Series win, the team sold many of its best players. Leyland stayed for one more season. He then resigned after the 1998 season when the team had a tough year.
Colorado Rockies (1999)
Leyland then managed the Colorado Rockies in 1999. On April 15, he earned his 1,000th win as a manager. He later said that managing at Coors Field was hard for him. He felt it was difficult to manage pitchers there. He left the team after just one season. After this, he became a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Detroit Tigers (2006–2013)
In 2006, Leyland returned to the Detroit Tigers as their manager. This was the team he started his professional career with. In his first year, he led the Tigers to a great season. They made it to the playoffs as a wild card team.
The Tigers beat the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics. They won the American League championship. They then played in the 2006 World Series but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. After this successful season, Leyland won his third Manager of the Year Award. He was one of only a few managers to win this award in both leagues.
The Tigers had high hopes after 2006. Leyland led them to another division title in 2011. He also reached 1,500 wins as a manager that year. In 2012, Leyland led the Tigers to another division win. Their star player, Miguel Cabrera, won the Triple Crown that season. This was the first Triple Crown winner in baseball since 1967.
In the 2012 playoffs, the Tigers won their league championship again. They swept the New York Yankees to reach the 2012 World Series. However, they lost to the San Francisco Giants.
In 2013, Leyland won his 700th game with the Tigers. The team also won their third straight division title. Leyland retired from managing after the 2013 season. He stayed with the Tigers as a special assistant.
Leading Team USA
On April 15, 2016, Leyland was chosen to manage the U.S. national team. He led them in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Under his leadership, the U.S. team won the tournament. This made Leyland the only manager to win both a World Series and a World Baseball Classic title.
Honors and Achievements
On May 30, 2017, Jim Leyland was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
On December 3, 2023, Leyland was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was officially honored on July 21, 2024. In May 2024, he was also inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame.
The Detroit Tigers retired his number 10 jersey on August 3, 2024. This means no other Tigers player will wear that number.
Personal Life
Jim Leyland lives in Thornburg, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. He has two children, Patrick and Kellie, with his wife Katie. His son, Pat, also played baseball in the minor leagues.
