John McNamara (baseball)

John Francis McNamara (born June 4, 1932 in Sacramento, California) is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He managed six major league teams, directing the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, only to experience an excruciating defeat in that season's World Series at the hands of the New York Mets.

Related Topics:
June 4 - 1932 - Sacramento, California - Manager - Major League Baseball - Boston Red Sox - American League - World Series - New York Mets

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

McNamara's questionable managerial tatics during the 1986 World Series received much criticism and scrutiny. During the now famous (or infamous in the eyes of Boston Red Sox fans) sixth game, McNamara removed ace pitcher Roger Clemens. The story has become a tall tale of sorts concerning who exactly asked out. According to Clemens, it was McNamara who wanted him (against his will) to leave the game (in which the Red Sox had a 3-2 lead going into the 9th inning) since Clemens had a blister on his pitching hand. McNamara on the other hand, claimed that Clemens wanted out rather than continue to pitch during the blister. After Clemens left, Calvin Schiraldi's shakey performance on the mound led to McNamara sending Bob Stanley to the mound. After Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner's error clinched the dramatic come from behind win for the Mets (and thus, sending the World Series to a seventh game), many criticized McNamara for knowingly leaving the injured Buckner on the field instead of Dave Stapleton, whom McNamara had previously used to replace the battered Buckner in late innings for defensive purposes. Some suspected that McNamara left the veteran Buckner out there for sentimental purposes (given the assumption that the Red Sox were at one point, one strike away from winning the World Series).

Related Topics:
Roger Clemens - Tall tale - Blister - Calvin Schiraldi - Bob Stanley - Bill Buckner - Dave Stapleton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Game 7, McNamara bumped initial starting pitcher Oil Can Boyd in favor of a weary Bruce Hurst. Hurst, who would've been the Most Valuable Player of the 1986 World Series hadn't the Red Sox blown Game 6, was working on short rest despite the fact that Hurst was given extra time after Game 7 was pushed back a day due to rain. Despite his performance in Game 6, McNamara once again dispatched Calvin Schiradli, who ultimately became the losing pitcher in Game 7 (a game that the Red Sox actually led relatively late in the game before ultimately losing to the Mets 8-5).

Related Topics:
Oil Can Boyd - Bruce Hurst

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A peripatetic minor league catcher during his playing career, McNamara managed the Oakland Athletics (1969-70), San Diego Padres (1974-midseason 1977), Cincinnati Reds (1979-midseason 1982), California Angels (1983-84, part of 1996), Red Sox (1985-midseason 1988), and Cleveland Indians (1990-midseason 1991).

Related Topics:
Minor league - Catcher - Oakland Athletics - San Diego Padres - Cincinnati Reds - California Angels - Cleveland Indians

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Over all or parts of 19 seasons, he had a managing record of 1,167 ? 1,242 (.484). His 1979 Cincinnati team, defeated by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS, was his only other postseason entry.

Related Topics:
Pittsburgh Pirates - NLCS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

McNamara also served as a major league coach for Oakland (1968-69), the San Francisco Giants (1971-73), and the Angels (1978). He managed many of the future stars of the Oakland dynasty of 1971-75 during almost a decade as a skipper in the Kansas City A's farm system prior to 1968.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~