Legends are made of coaches; these individuals can push their teams to new heights through their innovative strategies and commitment to their players. Out of all the coaches who have been around, these five are some of the greatest.
With that said, specific coaches will always stand out in our memories. Here are some of history’s most iconic baseball coaches.
Joe McCarthy
McCarthy is regarded as the best manager in the history of Major League Baseball. He never had a losing team in 24 seasons as a manager, and he led the New York Yanks to seven World Series championships. During his time with the team, he earned a record of .615, the best among all managers, with at least 2,000 victories.
Despite being a legend with the New York Yanks, McCarthy was able to lead his teams to a .579 winning percentage during his time with the various organizations he managed. His incredible .763 winning percentage during the playoffs is the best among all managers who have ever worked with a single team.
Sparky Anderson
Before he became a manager, Sparky Anderson was a baseball player. While he managed the Cincinnati Reds, he reached the championship series in 1975 and 1976. He led the Detroit Tigers to another World Series title in 1984. Anderson was eventually admitted into the Hall of Fame due to his achievements as a manager. During his career, he led the teams to over 2,000 victories.
Paul Mainieri
At present, Mainieri is known for leading the Louisiana State University baseball team to several appearances in the College World Series. However, before he became a successful coach, he had a lot of impressive victories. For instance, during his time in Air Force, he won over 150 games in six seasons. He won 38 games in each of his 12 years at Notre Dame.
John McGraw
During the 1800s, John was one of the best managers in the history of baseball. He was able to lead his team to three World Series championships. Throughout his career as a manager, he won over 2,000 games. His total managerial victories are the second-highest in Major League Baseball history.
One of the most prominent examples of a hothead manager is John McGraw, who was ejected from over a hundred games during his career. His .586 winning percentage is regarded as the best among all managers with at least 30 years of experience.
Tony La Russa
La Russa was born on February 14, 1944. He began his career as a player before becoming a manager. After his playing career, he obtained a law degree from Florida State University. As a manager, he led his teams to multiple division titles and the World Series.
From the 33 seasons he has been involved in Major League Baseball, his teams have won over 2,500 games. This makes him one of the most successful managers in the league’s history. In 2013, he was also inducted into the Hall Of Fame.