Jerry Narron

Jerry Narron
Catcher, Manager
Born: January 15, 1956 (1956-01-15) (age 55) Goldsboro, North Carolina
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1979 for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1987 for the Seattle Mariners
Career statistics
Batting average	.211
Hits	177
Home runs	21
Teams
As Player New York Yankees (1979) Seattle Mariners (1980-1981) California Angels (1983-1986) Seattle Mariners (1987) As Manager Texas Rangers (2001-2002) Cincinnati Reds (2005-2007)

Jerry Austin Narron (born January 15, 1956 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He currently serves as the bench coach of the Milwaukee Brewers. During an 8-year playing career, he played from 1979–1987 for three different teams. During a 7-year managing career, he managed from 2001–2007 for the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds. He went to college at East Carolina University.^[1]

Early years

Narron grew up in Goldsboro, where he was involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as a youth, and is a 1974 graduate of Goldsboro High School.

Playing career

Narron was drafted out of high school in the sixth round by the New York Yankees in the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft and played alongside brother Johnny in Johnson City, Tennessee, during his first professional season. Narron played for the Yankees (as one of two catchers recalled from the minors to replace Thurman Munson, after the latter's death in an airplane crash during the 1979 season), Seattle Mariners, and California Angels before retiring as a player in 1989. He was the Yankees' starting catcher the day after Munson's death,^[2][3] and remained in the dugout during the pregame ceremonies, leaving the catcher's position empty, out of respect for Munson.^[2]

Coaching history

Narron was a manager in the Baltimore Orioles farm system from 1989 through 1992, when he was hired as a coach for the Orioles by skipper Johnny Oates. After two seasons in Baltimore, he moved with Oates to the Texas Rangers. Narron was third-base coach for the Rangers from 1995 until he was named interim manager May 4, 2001 after the firing of manager Johnny Oates. He had the interim tag removed and coached the team during the 2002 campaign. He was replaced in Texas by Buck Showalter in December 2002. Narron then served as bench coach for the Boston Red Sox during their 2003 run to the ALCS and performed the same role for Cincinnati in 2004–05.

In 1995, when the Rangers opened their season after the strike which canceled the World Series the previous year, it was at Yankee Stadium. The first game back from the strike held special significance for Narron since it reminded him of the day after Thurman Munson died and he was the Yankees' starting catcher for the first game after that tragedy, which was also played at the old Yankee Stadium. On this particular day after the baseball strike ended, Narron was the Rangers' 3rd-base coach.^[3]

Narron was named as the Reds' interim manager on June 20, 2005. On September 29 of that year, his contract was extended to cover the 2006 season with mutual option for 2007. Narron was fired as manager of the Reds on July 1, 2007. The Reds named advance scout Pete Mackanin as the interim manager. Narron's record with the Reds was 157–179.

On February 25, 2008, Narron was named a special assignments scout and front-office consultant with his former team, the Rangers.

Personal life

Narron is the father of five children, Callie, Caitlyn, Clare, Cara, and Connor. Connor is the fourth ranked prospect for the high school class of 2010 by ESPN's Perfect Game. Narron's brother, Johnny is currently a coach with the Texas Rangers.

He is the nephew of former Major League catcher Sam W. Narron and cousin of pitcher Sam F. Narron.[1]

See also

• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2006
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007

References

1. ^ "Jerry Narron #36". Roster. Major League Baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=mil&coachorstaffid=119655. Retrieved October 4, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Brennan, Sean (August 2, 2009). "Jerry Narron recalls night he replaced Thurman Munson for Yankees". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/08/02/2009-08-02_the_mourning_after_munsons_death.html?print=1&page=all. Retrieved August 2, 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Chass, Murray (April 27, 1995). "BASEBALL; Ceremony, Circus Act And Even Some Fans Greet Game's Return". The New York Times: p. B11. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/27/sports/baseball-ceremony-circus-act-and-even-some-fans-greet-game-s-return.html?pagewanted=print. 

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Jerry Narron managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
• Retrosheet

Sporting positions
Preceded by franchise created	Frederick Keys manager 1989	Succeeded by Wally Moon
Preceded by	Baltimore Orioles Bench Coach 1993	Succeeded by Don Buford
Preceded by Mike Ferraro	Baltimore Orioles Third Base Coach 1994	Succeeded by Steve Boros
Preceded by Johnny Oates	Texas Rangers Manager 2001–2002	Succeeded by Buck Showalter
Preceded by Mike Stanley	Boston Red Sox Bench Coach 2003	Succeeded by Brad Mills
Preceded by Dave Miley	Cincinnati Reds Manager 2005–2007	Succeeded by Pete Mackanin

Persondata
Name	Narron, Jerry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 15, 1956
Place of birth	Goldsboro, North Carolina
Date of death
Place of death