Jack McKeon

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=#009494
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Jack McKeon


position=Manager
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1930|11|23
debutdate=April 6
debutyear=by|1973
debutteam=Kansas City Royals
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=by|2005
finalteam=Florida Marlins
stat1label=Games
stat1value=1952
stat2label=Win-Loss Record
stat2value=1011-940
stat3label=Winning %
stat3value=.518
teams managed=
*Kansas City Royals (by|1973-by|1975)
*Oakland Athletics (by|1977-by|1978)
*San Diego Padres (by|1988-by|1990)
*Cincinnati Reds (by|1997-by|2000)
*Florida Marlins (by|2003-by|2005)
highlights=
*NL Manager of the Year in 1999 and 2003

John Aloysius McKeon (born November 23, 1930 in South Amboy, New Jersey [Reusse, Patrick. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-109041021.html "McKeon, young Marlins work magic."] , "Minneapolis Star Tribune", October 18, 2003. Accessed March 31, 2008. "Tom Kelly and Jack McKeon share the hometown of South Amboy, N.J."] ), nicknamed "Trader Jack", is a former manager in Major League Baseball, most recently for the Florida Marlins. When he retired after the 2005 season at age 74, he was the third oldest manager in major league history, behind only Connie Mack and Casey Stengel. He currently works in the Marlins' front office.

McKeon previously managed the Kansas City Royals from 1973 to 1975, the Oakland Athletics in 1977 and 1978, the San Diego Padres from 1988 to 1990, and the Cincinnati Reds from 1997 to 2000. From 1981 to 1990, he served as general manager of the Padres, forming the team which won the 1984 National League pennant.

Florida Marlins

McKeon was named National League Manager of the Year in 1999 and 2003. The latter award was a result of leading the Marlins, who had a record below .500 when he took the job as their manager during the season, to a World Series victory. On October 2, 2005, just after the Marlins won the last game of the 2005 season, McKeon announced that he would not be returning the following season. McKeon led the Marlins to three of the four winning seasons in franchise history, but there was a consensus within the organization that a managerial change was in order. Players complained that McKeon was too abrasive, and clubhouse tension mounted as the season soured.

As a manager, he won 1,011 games and lost 940, for a winning percentage of .518, over all or parts of 15 seasons. He is the only manager in Marlins history to date with a winning record for his tenure with the team (241-207, .538 in just under three seasons).

Legacy

As a player, McKeon, a catcher, spent his entire career in the minor leagues. He managed in the farm system of the original Washington Senators franchise, and its successor, the Minnesota Twins, and scouted for the Twins before joining the Royals in 1968 as skipper of their Class A High Point-Thomasville farm team. He led their AAA affiliate, the Omaha Royals of the American Association, from 1969 through 1972, and won two league championships.

McKeon is also the author of two books, "Jack of All Trades" and "I'm Just Getting Started".

Recently, the Miami Herald reported that after attending a Florida Marlins game, McKeon has aspirations to return to managing baseball.

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mckeoja99.shtml Baseball-Reference.com] - managerial record

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=45% align="center"
-! style="background:#ccccff"| Managerial jobs
-|succession box
title = Kansas City Royals Manager
years = 1973–1975
before = Bob Lemon
after = Whitey Herzogsuccession box
title = Oakland Athletics Manager
years = 1977
before = Chuck Tanner
after = Bobby Winklessuccession box
title = Oakland Athletics Manager
years = 1978
before = Bobby Winkles
after = Jim Marshallsuccession box
title = San Diego Padres General Manager
years = 1980–1990
before = Bob Fontaine Sr.
after = Joe McIlvaine succession box
title = San Diego Padres Manager
years = 1988–1990
before = Larry Bowa
after = Greg Riddochsuccession box
title = Cincinnati Reds Manager
years = 1997–2000
before = Ray Knight
after = Bob Boonesuccession box
title = Florida Marlins Manager
years = 2003–2005
before = Jeff Torborg
after = Joe Girardi