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Cuyahoga calling Indians surprise by promoting hitting coach to manager
Posted: Tuesday November 02, 1999 01:20 AM
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Charlie Manuel was hired as manager of the Cleveland Indians today after working as their hitting instructor the past six years. Manuel, who has never managed in the major leagues, replaces Mike Hargrove, fired after the Indians blew a 2-0 lead in the first round of the AL playoffs against the Boston Red Sox. "The only way we're going to get national recognition, I know, is to win a World Series," Manuel said at a news conference as he was introduced as the Indians' 37th manager. "Believe me, I'm starting to work for October. I want it to go down to the end of October." Manuel is popular with Indians' players and that clearly helped him get the job. It didn't hurt that the Indians scored more runs this season than any other team in the last half century. When Hargrove was fired, Cleveland general manager John Hart talked about the need for a 'new voice and new energy' in the clubhouse to get the Indians their first World Series title since 1948. It was believed Hart would go outside the organization for a new manager. In the last two weeks he interviewed former Cubs manager Jim Riggleman, former Toronto manager Cito Gaston and Yankees hitting coach Chris Chambliss. But, it turns out, Hart's 55-year-old hitting instructor may have been his man all along. "Having a true baseball guy like Charlie is the right move and the right fit," Hart said. "It's based on the fact that we know him -- there are no gray areas." "Today's announcement is going to be a big hit in our clubhouse," Hart added. "There's a tremendous amount of respect and love for Charlie Manuel." Manuel will inherit a team he knows well, and one that has done just about everything but win a World Series. The Indians fought through an injury-filled season to win their fifth straight AL Central title before the playoff collapse. Manuel had great rapport with many of the Indians, who relied on him for hitting advice when they in slumps. He worked with players before games, tossing balls they would hit into a net. All the while he kept them loose with wisecracks in his West Virginian drawl. Before joining the Indians' staff in 1993, Manuel managed the club's Triple-A affiliates in Colorado Springs and Charlotte. In '92, he led Colorado to the Pacific Coast League title and was honored as the league's manager of the year. The next year, he took Charlotte to an International League title and began forming a strong relationship with such young future stars as Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome. Manuel played 19 years in the minors, majors and in Japan. He spent three seasons with the Minnesota Twins (1969-71) and parts of two years (1974 and '75) with the Dodgers. He then went to Japan where he starred for the Yakult Swallows and Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1976-81. He hit 192 homers during his time in Japan, connecting for 48 in 1980. After hitting .324 with 37 homers and 97 RBIs in 1979, he was named MVP, the first American to receive the honor.
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