Jim Leyland

Date of Birth: 12/15/1944
Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio

Jim Leyland, former manager of the Detroit Tigers, had one of the longest tenures as a manager, with 21 years of experience managing four teams (Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers).

Although Leyland was drafted in 1963 by the Detroit Tigers as a catcher, he only played in two games in Detroit's minor leagues. Instead of ending up a player, he spent seven years as a coach in the minor leagues.

Leyland didn't make it up to the major league level until 1982 when he became the third base coach for the Chicago White Sox. After four years with Chicago, he finally got the chance to manage with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Although he never led the Pirates to a World Series, they did win three consecutive division titles (1990, 1991, 1992) under Leyland's leadership and he won two National League Manager of the Year awards (1990, 1992) for his efforts. Leyland remained manager of the Pirates for eleven years, ending with a 851-863 record (.496 win percentage).

In 1997, Leyland became manager of the Florida Marlins and he led the team to a World Series victory. However, the following year was not a good one for the Marlins and they ended with a 146-178 record for the two years that Leyland managed them. In 1999, he managed the Colorado Rockies, ending the year with his poorest managerial record (.444 win percentage). Leyland's career as a manager was temporarily ended with the 1999 season.

From 2000 through 2005, Leyland was a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2006, he rejoined the Detroit Tigers, this time as their manager. In his first year, he led the team to the best record they had since 1987, ending the season with a 95-67 record. The Tigers won the AL Wild Card and then went on to win the AL pennant, earning Leyland his third award as Manager of the Year.

In 2011, the Tigers under Leyland's leadership, once again ended with a 95-67 record but they lost the ALCS to the Texas Rangers. Last year, although the win-loss record for the Tigers was not great (88-74), they won the AL Central Division and they swept the New York Yankees in the ALCS to go on to the World Series, which the Tigers lost to the San Francisco Giants.

Leyland left his position as manager of the Tigers on October 21, 2013. He was then given a position with the Tigers as a special assistant.

Leyland managed Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and he led the team to wins in all rounds. No other manager has ever led a team to both a World Series title and a WBC title.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jim Leyland
Baseball Reference - Jim Leyland