Dickey, Houk, Yogi, and Joe
Girardi is the Fourth Former Yanks' Catcher to Manage the Team
Being an ex- teammate of Posada, Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, and Farnsworth will have no effect., Joe's problem is starting pitching thinner than a young Twiggy.
Joe Girardi played alongside some of the players he now manages. The list includes Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and Kyle Farnsworth. Girardi is not the first former Yankees' catcher to go on to manage the team.
Bill Dickey Became a Playing Manager
In 1946, Bill Dickey was the playing manager for 105 games, winning 57 and losing 48. Dickey succeeded Joe McCarthy, who resigned in late May due to health problems. Dickey was playing in his first season since returning from the Navy, and he was taking over a club that was trailing Boston by 5 games. The players pledged to give Dickey the same unity and cooperation that McCarthy insisted upon and always received, but it wasn't enough. By the middle of August, the Yankees trailed Boston by 14 1/2 games.
Dickey Resigned
Yankees' President Larry MacPhail hired Bucky Harris, the "boy wonder" playing manager who had led the Senators to the 1924 World Championship as a special consultant. He refused to confirm if Dickey would manage the team in 1947. Dickey resigned, telling the press that "I regret leaving New York. I have played only with the Yankees and they will always be my team. The members of the team gave me loyal support and there never was any truth to the rumors that there was dissension among them." Johnny Neun took over for the rest of the season as the Yankees limped home in third place, 17 games behind Boston.
Houk Managed a World Champion His First Two Seasons as Skipper
Ralph Houk was the next former Yankees' catcher to manage the team. Ralph had been the Yankees third string backstop from 1947-1954. He was a member of the teams that won five consecutive World Championships, batting 36 times during those five seasons. Houk took over for Casey Stengel when Casey was fired because he committed the sin of getting older. Houk had been teammates with Bill Skowron, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Bob Cerv, and Whitey Ford. Houk had no problems with any of the players. He was the boss and they knew it. He was respected by the entire team and won the World Series his first two years as manager.
Yogi Manages the Yankees
Following the 1963 season, Houk became the Yankees' general manager and was succeeded by Yogi Berra as manager. One baseball executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity immediately before Yogi was hired, said "Yogi has every qualification to be a manager. His problem will be to enforce discipline. He's been a good-guy, friendly type ballplayer. Now he'll be boss." Yogi led the Yankees to the 1964 pennant, but discipline, as the Phi Linz harmonica incident reveals, was a problem. After the Yankees lost the World Series to the Cardinals, Yogi was released from his duties.
Torre Was the Mets' Playing Manager
Joe Torre never played for the Yankees, but in 1977, Joe was the Mets' playing manager. He managed New York's other team until he was relieved of his duties in 1981. The Mets were not successful under Torre, but they were not a good team. Joe had many problems as Mets' manager, but managing his former mates was not high on the list problems.
Girardi is Tough
Torre has been succeeded as Yankees' manager by Joe Girardi. Having been a teammate of Posada, Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, and Farnsworth will have no effect. The problem Joe has is that his starting pitching is as thin a Twiggy used be and Hank Steinbrenner may want to rush Joba Chamberlain into the rotation, but Joe is tough and there is little doubt that he is the boss and the players will hustle for him as much or more as they would for any other manager. The problem is that today's players have fat contracts, and everyone knows, fat kills.
References:
- Sheehan, Joseph M. "Yankees Make Houk Executive; Yogi Berra Due to be Manager." New York Times. 23 October 1963, p. 1.
- "McCarthy Resigns; Dickey Yank Pilot." New York Times. 25 May 1946, p. 23.
- "Neun to Run Club Until Season Ends." New York Times. 14 September 1946, p. 10.
