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Jack McKeon

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For other people named John McKeon, see John McKeon (disambiguation).
Jack McKeon
Jack McKeon (left) shaking hands with,
President George W. Bush (right) on January 24, 2004.
Florida Marlins – No. 25
Manager
Born: (1930-11-23) November 23, 1930 (age 94)
South Amboy, New Jersey
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
April 6, 1973, for the Kansas City Royals
Career statistics
Games1972
Win-Loss Record1035–964
Winning %.518
Managerial record at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

As manager

Career highlights and awards
  • NL Manager of the Year in 1999 and 2003
  • World Series Champion (2003)

John Aloysius McKeon (pronounced /məˈkiːən/; born November 23, 1930 in South Amboy, New Jersey[1][2]), nicknamed Trader Jack, is a Major League Baseball manager for the Florida Marlins. In 2003, he won a World Series with the Marlins. When he took over as manager of the Marlins in 2011 at age 80, he became the second oldest manager in major league history, behind only Connie Mack.

McKeon previously managed the Kansas City Royals from 1973 to 1975, the Oakland Athletics in 1977 and 1978, the San Diego Padres from 1988 to 1990, and the Cincinnati Reds from 1997 to 2000. From 1981 to 1990, he served as general manager of the Padres, forming the team which won the 1984 National League pennant.

Career

Minor Leagues

As a player, McKeon, a catcher, spent his entire career in the minor leagues. He managed in the farm system of the original Washington Senators franchise, and its successor, the Minnesota Twins, and scouted for the Twins before joining the Royals in 1968 as skipper of their Class A High Point-Thomasville farm team. He led their AAA affiliate, the Omaha Royals of the American Association, from 1969 through 1972, and won two league championships.

Major League

McKeon was named National League Manager of the Year in 1999 and 2003. The latter award was a result of leading the Marlins, who had a record below .500 when he took the job as their manager during the season, to a World Series victory. With that victory, he became, at 72, the oldest manager to win the World Series, winning against the New York Yankees, against whom he wanted to play his first World Series, having lived in South Amboy, New Jersey and attending Yankee games while a child.[1]

On October 2, 2005, just after the Marlins won the last game of the 2005 season, McKeon announced that he would not be returning the following season. McKeon led the Marlins to three of the six winning seasons in franchise history, but there was a consensus within the organization that a managerial change was in order. Players complained that McKeon was too abrasive, and clubhouse tension mounted as the season soured.

On June 20, 2011, after manager Edwin Rodriguez resigned, the Florida Marlins held a press conference to announce that McKeon had been named interim manager. "I don't need this job but I love it," McKeon said, in taking over a team that had lost 10 straight and 18 of its last 19.

In his managerial career, McKeon has won 1,011 games and lost 940, for a winning percentage of .518, over all or parts of 15 seasons. (As of June 19, 2011)

Personal life

McKeon currently lives in Elon, North Carolina. Prior to his latest managerial stint, he was serving as a Special Assistant to Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.[3]

McKeon is a devout Catholic and attends daily Mass even while his team is traveling.[4] He attributes much of his success, especially the Marlins' win in the 2003 National League Championship Series, to the intercession of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.[4]

McKeon is the author of two books, Jack of All Trades and I'm Just Getting Started.

Major League Managerial records

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
KC 1973 88 74 .543 2nd in AL West - - - -
KC 1974 77 85 .475 5th in AL West - - - -
KC 1975 50 46 .521 2nd in AL West - - - (Fired)
OAK 1977 26 27 .491 7th in AL West - - - -
OAK 1978 45 78 .366 6th in AL West - - - (Fired)
SD 1988 67 48 .583 3rd in NL West - - - -
SD 1989 89 73 .549 2nd in NL West - - - -
SD 1990 37 43 .463 5th in NL West - - - (Fired)
CIN 1997 33 30 .524 3rd in NL Central - - - -
CIN 1998 77 85 .475 4th in NL Central - - - -
CIN 1999 96 67 .589 2nd in NL Central - - - -
CIN 2000 85 77 .525 2nd in NL Central - - - (Fired)
FLA 2003 75 49 .605 2nd in NL East 11 6 .647 Won World Series
FLA 2004 83 79 .512 3rd in NL East - - - -
FLA 2005 83 79 .512 3rd in NL East - - - (Retired)
FLA 2011 23 15 - - - - -
Total 1034 958 -

References

  1. ^ a b Bodley, Hal (October 27, 2003). "Reality of title beats McKeon's wildest dreams". USA Today. p. 4C. McKeon grew up in Perth Amboy, N.J. As a youngster he made repeated trips to Yankee Stadium. 'I wanted to have my first World Series in Yankee Stadium,' he said. 'Win or lose, I wanted to play it in Yankee Stadium. What finer presence could I have than getting the opportunity to manage my first World Series team in Yankee Stadium.'
  2. ^ Reusse, Patrick (October 18, 2003). "McKeon, young Marlins work magic". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Tom Kelly and Jack McKeon share the hometown of South Amboy, N.J.
  3. ^ Jack McKeon still wants to manage
  4. ^ a b A Career Sustained by Unwavering Faith

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