Tom Runnells

Thomas William Runnells (born April 17, 1955, Greeley, Colorado) is the manager of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League, and a former infielder, coach and manager in American Major League Baseball.

Runnells attended the University of Northern Colorado and originally signed with the San Francisco Giants. He played parts of two seasons (1985-86) with the Cincinnati Reds, appearing in 40 games and batting .174 in 46 at bats without a home run or run batted in. He was a switch hitter who threw right-handed. Runnells began his managerial career with the Reds' AA Eastern League affiliate in Burlington, Vermont in 1987. In 1989, his Indianapolis Indians won the American Association championship and the "AAA Classic," earning him a promotion to a coaching position with the parent Montreal Expos.

On June 2, 1991, he was promoted again to manager of the Expos, who were lodged in last place in the National League East Division after 49 games. His time as Expos manager was short but tumultuous. Succeeding the very popular Buck Rodgers, he had trouble establishing his credibility with the media and the team. He was General Manager Dave Dombrowski's hand-picked man but failed to replicate his minor league success as the Expos finished the 1991 season in last place for the first time since 1976. In what became his defining moment, he made an entrance at spring training in 1992 dressed in marine fatigues, apparently trying to channel the spirit of General Norman Schwartzkopf. Everyone who witnessed the performance found it eerily distressing. He then proceeded to try to shake up the team through various strange moves, such as shifting three-time Gold Glove winner Tim Wallach from third base to first base in order to slot in Bret Barberie, who had hardly ever played the position in organized baseball. The players quickly were in open revolt against their leader. Runnells' position with the front office had become shaky anyway, as Dombrowski had bolted the organization and had been replaced by Dan Duquette, who sacked Runnells on May 22, 1992 in favor of Felipe Alou, who would forge the longest and winningest managerial career in Montreal's history.

With a career major league managing record of 68-81 (.456), Runnells then returned to minor league baseball, managing in the farm systems of the Detroit Tigers and the Colorado Rockies.

Tom Runnells is married to Chrys Peterson. She is the lead anchor for WTOL-TV, the CBS affiliate, in Toledo, Ohio. They have one child together.

Managerial Statistics

ources

*baseball-reference|id=r/runneto01
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/runneto01.shtml Managing record]