PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He led the Pirates to three straight division championships in the early ‘90’s after a decade of failure. Sunday the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced Jim Leyland was elected to the hall by the Contemporary Era Committee.
“Surprised, flattered, all of those words come into play when you think about this,” Leyland said.
Leyland is the 44th person who spent at least part of their career with the Pirates to be in the Hall. He managed the Pirates from 1986-96 going 851-863 while being named the Baseball Writers Association of America Manager-of-the-Year in both 1990 and 1992.
“Pittsburgh Pirates will always hold a special place in my heart because they gave me my first opportunity to manage Major League teams,” Leyland said. “They have me that first opportunity, so there is a special place for the Pittsburgh Pirates.”
He would also manage the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies, winning a World Series with the Marlins in 1997. He also managed Team USA to a 2017 World Baseball Classic championship. The only manager to ever to do both.
Leyland said the career goal was not to be a manager in the Hall of Fame, rather to be a player, but he wasn’t good enough so managing was the next, best thing. The Perrysville, Ohio native said he wanted to treat every player like they were the 25th man on the roster.
“I tried to teach them how to be a professional,” Leyland said. “Early on when I managed in the minor leagues, you try to break them in and teach them what professional baseball is all about and try to take that to the next level. I believe in discipline. I believe young players are searching for discipline. They may not act like it, but I think they really seek it out and I think they really appreciate it. They are always looking for that leadership.”
Often emotional, Leyland admitted he had a tear in his eye when he received the phone call from the Hall of Fame at his home Sunday night as his son was there with him.
He said he didn’t take the nomination by the committee comprised of seven Hall of Fame members, six long-time baseball executive and three media members/historians seriously to begin. He didn’t think he really had a chance. As the process continued, he started to become nervous thinking about it, but said honestly, he didn’t think he would get in.
“It’s the final stop as far as your baseball career goes,” Leyland said. “To end up there, to land there in Cooperstown, it doesn’t get any better than that. That’s the ultimate. I certainly never thought it would happen. Most people don’t, but it did. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy.”
The official induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, July 21 in Cooperstown, NY.