Terry Collins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Terry Collins
Collins with the New York Mets in 2015
Miami Marlins
Manager/consultant
Born: (1949-05-27) May 27, 1949 (age 76) Midland, Michigan, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB statistics
Managerial record	995–1017
Winning %	.495
NPB statistics
Managerial record	83–105
Winning %	.441
Teams
As manager Houston Astros (1994–1996) Anaheim Angels (1997–1999) Orix Buffaloes (2007–2008) (NPB) New York Mets (2011–2017) As coach Pittsburgh Pirates (1992–1993) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001)

Terry Lee Collins, born on May 27, 1949, is a well-known American baseball manager. He led several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), including the Houston Astros, the Anaheim Angels, and the New York Mets. He also managed the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Before becoming a manager, Collins played as a Minor League Baseball shortstop. He managed minor league teams like the Albuquerque Dukes and the Buffalo Bisons. He also managed the Duluth Huskies in a summer college league.

Collins is known for his strong leadership. His longest time as a manager was with the New York Mets. In 2015, he led the Mets to their first playoff appearance in nine years. They even made it to the 2015 World Series, which was their first time in the championship since 2000. After retiring from managing, Collins worked for the Mets' front office. He also became a baseball analyst for SNY and Fox Sports.

Early Life and College Baseball

Terry Collins grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey. He went to Midland High School in Midland, Michigan. There, he played on the school's baseball team alongside Jim Kern. Collins finished high school in 1967.

From 1968 to 1971, Collins attended Eastern Michigan University. He played shortstop for the college baseball team. During all four years, he was the team leader in stolen bases. In 1971, his team won the NAIA national championship. Collins was named the Outstanding Defensive Player of that tournament. In 1994, he was honored by being added to the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Playing Baseball Professionally

In 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Terry Collins. He played professional baseball for 10 years, from 1970 to 1978, and again in 1980 and 1984. He played for teams in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. However, he never played in the major leagues.

Collins batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall. Throughout his playing career, he had a batting average of .255 in 671 games played.

Starting His Coaching Career

Early Managing Years (1981–1993)

A 1987 baseball card of Collins as manager of the Albuquerque Dukes

Terry Collins started his managing career in 1981. He led the Dodgers' Single-A team in the California League. In 1983, he became the manager of the Albuquerque Dukes. This was the Dodgers' Triple–A team. He managed the Dukes until 1987, winning the PCL championship that year. He also led the Tigres de Licey to win the 1984 Caribbean Series.

Collins then managed the Buffalo Bisons, the Pirates' Triple–A team, for three years. He won 246 games with them. In 1992, he was promoted to be the bullpen coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He coached there until the end of the 1993 season. Because of his success in Buffalo, he was inducted into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. He also joined the Albuquerque Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Managing the Houston Astros (1994–1996)

After the 1993 season, Terry Collins became the manager of the Houston Astros. He replaced Art Howe. Collins never had a losing season during his three years with the Astros. The team finished in second place each year.

The 1994 season was a strong one for the Astros and Collins. They had a record of 66 wins and 49 losses. First baseman Jeff Bagwell was having an amazing year, batting .368. The team was only half a game behind in their division. However, the 1994 baseball strike ended the season early. Bagwell had also gotten a hand injury just before the strike. He still became the first MVP in Astros history.

The 1995 season was shorter due to the strike, with 144 games. The Astros finished with 76 wins and 68 losses. This placed them second in their division behind the Cincinnati Reds. Collins was a coach at the All-Star Game that year. The Astros were close to getting a Wild Card spot, but the Colorado Rockies won it by one game.

In 1996, the Astros faced some challenges. They led their division for over 100 days. But a tough September, where they lost 8 of 17 games, hurt their chances. They finished second, six games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Collins was let go at the end of the 1996 season. He finished his time with the Astros with 224 wins and 197 losses.

During a 1996 game, Collins was hit by a batting helmet thrown by an opposing player during a fight. He needed stitches above his lip. Baseball analyst Joe Morgan later suggested that Collins's intense style might have put too much pressure on his players. Years later, Collins agreed that he "probably demanded too much" from his team.

Managing the Anaheim Angels (1997–1999)

Less than a month after leaving the Astros, Collins was hired to manage the Anaheim Angels for the 1997 season. His first two years with the Angels also resulted in winning records and second-place finishes.

In 1999, the Angels struggled. Collins resigned with 29 games left in the season. He finished his time with the Angels with 220 wins and 237 losses.

Managing in Japan and College Baseball (2006–2009)

At the end of the 2006 season, Collins signed a two-year contract to manage the Orix Buffaloes in Japan's Pacific League. He resigned from the Buffaloes on May 21, 2008. The team was in 5th place at the time.

Later that year, Collins became the manager of the China national baseball team. He led them in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. On July 20, 2009, the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League announced that Collins would manage their team for the rest of the season.

Leading the New York Mets (2011–2017)

In 2010, Collins worked as a minor-league coordinator for the New York Mets. On November 23, 2010, he was introduced as the Mets' new manager. He signed a two-year deal. Collins wore jersey number 10 to honor his friend and mentor, Jim Leyland, who managed the Detroit Tigers.

In 2012 and 2013, Collins was chosen as a coach for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In September 2013, he agreed to a two-year extension with the Mets. When Jim Leyland retired in October 2013, Collins became the oldest active manager in Major League Baseball.

On June 16, 2015, Collins won his 340th game as Mets manager. This put him third in franchise history for wins. On September 26, 2015, the Mets won their division, the National League East. This was Collins's first time leading a team to the playoffs. On October 15, 2015, the Mets won the National League Division Series. On October 21, 2015, they won the National League Championship Series, advancing to the 2015 World Series.

In the 2015 World Series, the Mets played the Kansas City Royals. In Game 5, Collins made a decision to keep pitcher Matt Harvey in the game for the ninth inning. The Mets had a 2–0 lead, but Harvey gave up two runs, and the Royals tied the game. The Royals eventually won the Series.

In 2015, Collins received the Sporting News Manager of the Year Award for the National League. On August 3, 2016, Collins recorded his 468th loss as Mets manager. This made him the manager with the most losses in Mets history, passing Bobby Valentine.

In 2016, despite a tough start, the Mets played very well in their final 40 games. They made the postseason for the second year in a row. They lost to the San Francisco Giants in the Wild Card Game.

Collins with the Mets during spring training in 2017

On May 20, 2017, Collins managed his 1013th game with the Mets, which was the most in the team's history. On August 25, 2017, he won his 537th game with the Mets. This made him the second-winningest manager in franchise history, behind only Davey Johnson.

Collins retired as manager after the last game of the 2017 New York Mets season on October 1, 2017. Right after retiring, he was named a special assistant to the General Manager of the New York Mets.

Current Role (2023–Present)

On February 16, 2023, the Miami Marlins hired Terry Collins as a baseball consultant.

Managerial Record

Collins's overall managerial record in Major League Baseball is 995 wins and 1017 losses.