Mike Scioscia, Former Manager, Los Angeles Angels

Date of Birth: 11/27/1958
Birthplace: Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
College: Pennsylvania State University

Mike Scioscia, former long-time manager of the Los Angeles Angels, had a successful and long career as a major league catcher from 1980 through 1992. He played the entire time for the Los Angeles Dodgers, although he was with the San Diego Padres in 1993 and the Texas Rangers in 1994. However, he was sidelined by injuries both of those years and he never played for either team.

Scioscia was known as a good defensive player and he ended his playing career with a .988 fielding percentage. His career statistics include 1,395 games caught (most of any Dodger), 1,131 hits, 198 doubles, 68 home runs, 446 RBIs, 567 walks to 307 strikeouts, and a .259 batting average. He was selected as an All Star twice (1989, 1990).

After his playing career ended, Scioscia worked for five years as a minor league manager and/or coach. In 2000, he returned to major league baseball, again in Los Angeles, but this time in the American League as manager of the Angels. At 15 years as the Angels manager, Scioscia has the longest tenure of any active manager in major league baseball. The team is so pleased with his work that they have extended his contract through the 2018 season.

Scioscia led the Angels to the best record in major league baseball in 2014. The team finished with a 98-64 record. They lost the AL Division series in three games to the Kansas City Royals. Although the Angels had a strong season in 2015 (85 wins to 77 losses), they finished third in the American League West division and they didn't make it to the playoffs.

Scioscia and the Angels had a poor and disappointing year in 2016, finishing fourth in the AL West division with a 74-88 record. They fared better in 2017, finishing in second place in the division with 80 wins and 82 losses.

The Angels again had 80 wins and 82 losses in 2018. At the end of the season, on September 30th, Scioscia stepped down as manager.

In his 19 years as manager of the Angels, Scioscia has led the team to 12 winning seasons, six first place and six second place finishes in the AL West division, three seasons with over a .600 win percentage (.611 in 2002, .617 in 2008, .605 in 2014), and seven seasons with over 90 wins, with a high of 100 wins in 2008. In 2002, he led the Angels to a World Series win. Scioscia has won the AL Manager of the Year award twice for his outstanding leadership of the Angels, first in 2002 and again in 2009. His total statistics as manager include a 1,650-1,428 win-loss record and a .536 win percentage.

Scioscia was a coach for Team USA at the 2021 Summer Olympics. The team won the silver medal.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Mike Scioscia
Baseball Reference - Mike Scioscia