Jim Leyland is prepared for his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, on July 21.
The hard part of preparing for going from an electee to an inductee for the former MLB skipper is complete. The three-time National League Manager of the Year’s acceptance speech is written. The logistics of shuttling friends and family to New York State’s most famous hamlet are championed. And, the decision as to which team’s logo, or not, would appear above the bill of his cap on his Hall of Fame plaque was agreed upon months back.
Much thought went into what team would forever be associated with Leyland, for when baseball visitors stroll the plaque gallery. It wasn’t easy. Many were included in the conversation. The conclusion is more obvious than originally thought to be.
During his 22 seasons of MLB managerial career, Leyland spread himself out for clubs from the Alleghenies to the Rocky Mountains, and points in between. So, picking one club above another really turned out to be easier on Leyland’s (and the Hall of Fame) soul than most would have expected.
“I couldn’t have been disrespectful to the other teams, if I selected one for my plaque,” Leyland told The Epoch Times earlier this week from his home in Southwest Florida. “Plus, the Hall of Fame has the last say in the plaque. They agreed 110 percent that there is no logo on my hat.”
The public persona Leyland portrayed for decades calling the shots from inside stadium dugouts (occasionally seen cupping a lit cigarette) is that of a direct, in-your-face, gruff leader. As Leyland dusts off his suitcases bound for Cooperstown, he lets on being emotional about what he can expect this coming weekend. Anticipating a wonderful moment up at the podium, surrounded by 50-plus fellow Hall of Famers and thousands of well-wishes gathered on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center one mile southeast from the center of the Village of Cooperstown, getting through his acceptance speech might be more difficult than most anticipated.
“I’m very humbled and grateful for this honor,” said Leyland about joining Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, and Adrian Beltre in the Class of 2024. “Things are going to get pretty hectic. I’m just going to try [to] enjoy the moment with my family.”
As far as any goals or coming to Cooperstown with a to-do list, Leyland is keeping his expectations open. But, however, there is one new Hall of Fame teammate that the former manager who compiled 1,769 wins with four MLB clubs is looking to see. Johnny Bench (Class of 1989), long argued as one of if not the best catcher of all-time, is at the top of Leyland’s checklist.
“We played against each other in the minors leagues, and Johnny went on to be one of the greatest players that ever lived. It’s going to be great to see all those guys. Johnny has always been special to me.”
As far as who is on the Leyland guest list in joining him, front and center, to take in his acceptance speech that will be seen live on MLB Network, there are still many unknowns. Leyland tells of not putting a full-court press on those who have had a hand in making his career successful.
“I didn’t think it would have been the right thing to do. You don’t want to put people on the spot like that; like they had to come,” explained Leyland. “I let people make up their own minds, whether or not to come or not.”
One past associate from the diamond that Leyland does count on joining him for Sunday’s ceremony is Gene Lamont. Lamont coached with Leyland in the Major Leagues for a lot of years. Seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Lamont was there for Leyland to lean on for advice. Labeling Lamont his “best friend,” the former third base and bench coach on Leyland’s clubs could be one of the faces the former manager focuses on while thousands are staring at him on stage.
These days, Leyland and his wife Katie split their time between homes in suburban Pittsburgh and Florida. Having spent many seasons in Florida’s Gulf Coast during spring training in Bradenton and Lakeland, this is where many memorable moments for Leyland’s career were jump started. This surely played a role in which logo, or not, Leyland and the Hall of Fame decide on.
During his 11 seasons at the helm of the Pirates, Leyland won two of his three National League Manager of the Year awards. He was also inducted into the Pirates’ Hall of Fame. Plus, MLB’s All-Time Home Run Leader Barry Bonds matured under Leyland’s rule. Three of Bonds’ seven National League MVP Awards came with Pittsburgh, and Leyland his bench boss.
The Florida Marlins (now Miami) won their franchise’s first World Series Championship in 1997. That was Leyland’s first season managing the club, after coming over from Pittsburgh. The Marlins won the championship in seven games over the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians).
Leaving the Marlins for Colorado in 1999, the one season Leyland set up shop in Denver, he had a first-row seat in watching a couple of future hall of famers in his everyday lineup. Todd Helton (Class of 2024), in his third season with the Rockies, hit 0.320 for his new manager. Larry Walker (Class of 2020) won his second batting title in 1999, and also collected a Silver Slugger, and Rawlings Gold Glove, and was selected to his fourth National League All-Star Game under the leadership of Leyland.
In his eight seasons guiding the Tigers, three American League Central titles were claimed by Leyland’s players. In 2006, Leyland’s first season on the job in Detroit, the Tigers made the playoffs for the first time since 1987. They also won the American League pennant. A second pennant would be grabbed during the 2012 season. Gene Lamont was on Leyland’s Tigers’ staff throughout his eight seasons running the club.
Next month, on Aug. 3, the Tigers will be retiring Leyland’s uniform number 10 at Comerica Park.
When surmising the managerial journey that Leyland has rode, and the stops where he'd learn levels of success and failure in a game few can tell of, and, most importantly, to the places where he was asked to do so—selecting no logo to appear above the bill of his Hall of Fame plaque hat probably was easier than originally thought to be.
