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The landscape of Pittsburgh baseball, and maybe even the Major Leagues, could have been altered if former Pirates president Malcolm Prine made another decision.
In late 1985, when manager Chuck Tanner left the Pirates to take the same job with the Atlanta Braves, Prine was tasked with finding the right man to lead a team that had lost 104 games the previous year.
He could’ve hired an MLB veteran and World Series champion Billy Martin, or a young Joe Torre who had previously had senior circuit experience. Instead, Prine opted for a successful minor league manager who had recently broke into the MLB as a White Sox base coach.
That move altered Pirates’ history more than a Bill Mazeroski home run.
Jim Leyland was hired as the 33rd manager of the franchise on Nov. 20, 1985 and he still remembers the exact day and time.
“I’ll remember that moment forever,” said Leyland, who spent 11 years in the Detroit Tigers minor league system, leading his teams to three league titles. “It all starts by being hired by the Pirates. They gave me my first chance at being a manager and I went on to manage for 22 seasons in the big leagues.
“The first one is always the biggest one. they gave me an opportunity that I’m always forever grateful for.”
In a time when the Pirates’ future looked bleak, Leyland molded a bright future. Fighting lagging attendance and threats of leaving town, the organization was building a winner. With young players like Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Jay Bell and Andy Van Slyke breaking into the big leagues, Leyland led the Pirates to an 85-75 record in 1988 – their first winning season in six years. Under Leyland, the Pirates won three-straight National League titles in 1990, 91 and 92.
John Wehner, now a Pirates broadcaster, played under Leyland in Pittsburgh from 1991-1996, then again for two years with the Florida Marlins.
“He was like my insurance group,” Wehner said, “always helping out. I could’ve had a patch on my jersey that said, ‘Project of Jim Leyland.’ I was honored and a fortunate as a kid growing up in Pittsburgh to get to play for the Pirates and play for a great manager like Jim.”
Leyland left the Pirates in 1997 to manage the Marlins and promptly led them to a World Series championship. He also managed the Colorado Rockies before retiring in 2000. Leyland got the coaching bug in 2005 and returned to the Tigers where he would eventually win three-straight division titles and two World Series berths.
He totaled 1,769 wins over his illustrious career which ranks 15th all-time. But it’s his altruism off the field that defines him as a person.
“No one outside of my family has done more for me than Jim,” said former Pirates broadcaster Lanny Frattare. “Believe me, everyone should have a friend as caring and as thoughtful as Jim.”
With five decades of professional baseball experience, Leyland is now a scout for the Tigers. He’s seen an evolution in the game, which now includes instant replay and a countdown clock in between pitches. In his legendary eyes, the players have remained relatively the same. It’s the outside forces that have made the most changes.
“Obviously, the salaries have gone up,” Leyland said. “It’s become a huge, huge business. But it’s still a game to the guys in the dugout and they play it like little kids.”
Leyland said the sport is more popular than ever.
“Baseball is still booming, there’s no question about it,” he said. “We have our fans, and only our fans to thank for that. They come out and our so supportive. There’s unbelievable support in Pittsburgh. They have a good ballclub and it’s really nice to see things flourishing for the Pirates after so many years of losing baseball.”
Clint Hurdle has helped forge a turnaround recently, much like Leyland did in the years before him.
Maybe a new generation will affectionately remember Frank Coonelly’s decision to bring in Hurdle as Prine’s selection is still fondly thought of today.