John McNamara (baseball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John McNamara
McNamara managing the Red Sox in 1986
Manager
Born: (1932-06-04)June 4, 1932 Sacramento, California, U.S.
Died: July 28, 2020(2020-07-28) (aged 88) Brentwood, Tennessee, U.S.
Career statistics
Games	2,395
Win–loss Record	1,160–1,233–2
Winning %	.485
Teams
As manager Oakland Athletics (1969–1970) San Diego Padres (1974–1977) Cincinnati Reds (1979–1982) California Angels (1983–1984; 1996) Boston Red Sox (1985–1988) Cleveland Indians (1990–1991) As coach Oakland Athletics (1968–1969) San Francisco Giants (1971–1973) California Angels (1978)
Career highlights and awards
AL Manager of the Year (1986)

John Francis McNamara (June 4, 1932 – July 28, 2020) was an American professional baseball player, manager, and coach. He spent over 15 years playing and managing in the minor leagues. Later, McNamara managed six Major League Baseball (MLB) teams for parts of 19 seasons between 1969 and 1996.

He led the 1986 Boston Red Sox to win the American League pennant, which means they won their league championship. He was also named "Manager of the Year" that season. However, the Red Sox lost to the New York Mets in the 1986 World Series. They lost in seven games, even after having a big lead in Game 6 and Game 7.

Early Life and Playing Baseball

McNamara was born in Sacramento, California, in 1932. He was the fourth of five children. His father, an immigrant from Ireland, worked on the railroad and died when John was 12. His mother worked for the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

John went to Christian Brothers High School. There, he was chosen as an All-City player in both basketball and baseball. At Sacramento City College, he helped his team win the state championship in 1951. He was later added to the college's Athletic Hall of Fame.

McNamara was a right-handed catcher who stood 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals team in 1951. He played in the highest level of minor league baseball, the Pacific Coast League, in 1956. However, he didn't hit very well, with a batting average of only .171 in 76 games.

Managing and Coaching Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

McNamara began his managing career in 1959 with the Lewiston Broncos in Idaho. In 1960, he joined the Kansas City Athletics' minor league system. He managed the Triple-A Dallas Rangers in 1964.

He then won league championships with the Double-A teams in Mobile (1966) and Birmingham (1967). While managing these teams, he helped train many players who would later become stars for the Oakland Athletics. These included Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Reggie Jackson. He also mentored future Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa. Reggie Jackson said McNamara helped him a lot during his time in Birmingham, especially with the challenges players faced back then.

Managing the Oakland Athletics

McNamara became a coach for the Oakland Athletics in 1968. In September 1969, the team's owner, Charlie Finley, made McNamara the manager. The Athletics finished second in their division that year. In 1970, they finished second again with 89 wins. After that season, Finley replaced McNamara with Dick Williams. The Athletics then went on to win three straight World Series titles.

San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds

After coaching for the San Francisco Giants from 1971 to 1973, McNamara became the manager of the San Diego Padres in 1974. The Padres slowly got better each year. In 1977, after a slow start, McNamara was fired.

He then coached for the California Angels in 1978. In 1979, he was hired to manage the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds had won the World Series in 1975 and 1976.

McNamara's 1979 Reds team, without star player Pete Rose, won 90 games. They won their division and made it to the playoffs. However, they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1979 National League Championship Series. The Pirates went on to win the World Series.

In 1981, the Reds had the best record in their league, but a player strike changed the season format. This meant they didn't make the playoffs. In 1982, the Reds played very poorly, and McNamara was fired in July.

California Angels Again

After leaving the Reds, McNamara was hired to manage the California Angels in 1983. The Angels didn't play as well that year, winning only 70 games. In 1984, they improved to an even record of 81 wins and 81 losses.

Leading the Boston Red Sox

In 1985, McNamara became the manager of the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox had an even record that year, winning 81 games.

However, 1986 was a much better year. With star pitcher Roger Clemens winning his first 14 games, the Red Sox won 95 games and their division title. They then came back from being down 3-1 in games to beat the Angels in the 1986 American League Championship Series. This sent them to the World Series against the New York Mets.

The 1986 World Series

McNamara's decisions during the 1986 World Series, especially in the last two games, were talked about a lot. In Game 6, he took out Roger Clemens in the eighth inning, even though Clemens was pitching well. There are different stories about why Clemens left the game.

McNamara also faced questions for keeping first baseman Bill Buckner in the game in the 10th inning. Buckner was known for his hitting, but another player, Dave Stapleton, often replaced him for better defense late in games. McNamara later said he felt Buckner "deserved to be on the field when we won."

Game 7 was delayed by rain. McNamara decided to start Bruce Hurst, who had won Games 1 and 5, instead of the originally planned pitcher, Oil Can Boyd. Hurst pitched well for five innings, giving the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. But he got tired in the sixth inning, and the Mets tied the game. McNamara then brought in Calvin Schiraldi, who had struggled in Game 6. Schiraldi gave up a home run, and the Red Sox lost the game 8-5, losing the World Series.

Final Seasons with the Red Sox

In 1987, McNamara's Red Sox team did not play as well, finishing with 78 wins. He returned for the 1988 season, but the team was not meeting expectations. McNamara was fired in July 1988. His replacement, Joe Morgan, led the team to win 19 of his first 20 games, and they went on to win the division.

Cleveland Indians and Final Angels Stint

McNamara then worked as a scout for the Seattle Mariners in 1989. In November 1989, the Cleveland Indians hired him as their manager. The 1990 Indians team improved, but in 1991, they played very poorly. McNamara was fired in July 1991.

He returned to the Angels organization as a minor league coach. In 1996, at age 64, he became the interim manager for the Angels again when their manager resigned. He managed for a short time before he had to go to the hospital for a blood clot. After he recovered, he finished the 1996 season. He was then replaced by Terry Collins for 1997.

Managerial Record

John McNamara's managing career ended in 1996. Over 19 seasons, his total record was 1,160 wins and 1,233 losses, which is a winning percentage of .485.

Personal Life

John McNamara married his first wife, Kathleen, early in his playing career. They had four children: three daughters (Peggy, Maureen, and Susan) and one son (Mike). He later married Ellen Goode. They moved to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, after McNamara retired from baseball.

John McNamara passed away at the age of 88 on July 28, 2020, at his home in Tennessee.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball managers by wins