Johnny Keane

John Joseph Keane (November 3, 1911 - January 6, 1967) was an American baseball player and manager. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in 1964, his final season at the helm of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Related Topics:
November 3 - 1911 - January 6 - 1967 - American - Baseball - Manager - St. Louis, Missouri - 1964 - St. Louis Cardinals

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In mid-August of that year, with the team seemingly out of the race, owner August "Gussie" Busch became convinced that only a thorough housecleaning of Cardinal management would bring him the pennant he had craved since he bought the Redbirds in 1953. He fired (or accepted the resignations of) almost every senior St. Louis front office executive. Keane was temporarily spared, but Busch was rumored to be secretly negotiating with Leo Durocher (then a coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers) to become manager at the close of the 1964 season.

Related Topics:
August "Gussie" Busch - Leo Durocher - Los Angeles Dodgers

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However, in September 1964, the front-running Philadelphia Phillies - who seemed a lock for the pennant - began to unravel. The Phillies lost ten straight games in late September, creating a madcap, four-team scramble - involving the Phils, Cards, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants - for the National League title. On the final day of the season, St. Louis prevailed to win its first NL pennant since 1946. The Cardinals then defeated the New York Yankees in a seven-game World Series.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia Phillies - Cincinnati Reds - San Francisco Giants - National League - New York Yankees - World Series

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The confetti had hardly been swept off the streets after St. Louis' victory parade when the Cards called a press conference. Most expected that it would formally announce a contract extension for Keane. However, the manager handed owner Busch and new general manager Bob Howsam a surprise letter of resignation that he had written late in September, at the height of the pennant chase.

Related Topics:
General manager - Bob Howsam

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Keane thus walked away from the only team he had ever served in his 35-year baseball career. A shortstop, he never played Major League Baseball. He suffered a head injury after being hit by a pitch, and spent his entire active career in the Cardinals' labyrinthine farm system. In 1938 he began his managing career in that system, working his way from Class D (the lowest rung on the ladder) to Class AAA, where he spent over a decade as manager of top St. Louis farm clubs. Keane finally reached the major leagues in 1959, when he was appointed to the Cardinal coaching staff. He replaced Solly Hemus as Redbird manager on July 6, 1961. In his 3 1/2 seasons as Cardinal pilot, he compiled a record of 317-249 (.560). His successor was not Durocher but longtime St. Louis fan favorite Red Schoendienst.

Related Topics:
Shortstop - Major League Baseball - Farm system - Solly Hemus - Red Schoendienst

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But his resignation was only half the story. A few days later, Keane became the surprise new manager of the Yankees, who had dumped Yogi Berra after losing the Fall Classic. It was not a good match. The Yankees, coming off five straight American League pennants and 15 league championships in 18 years, were a veteran team of stars who were aging, breaking down, and resistant to the leadership of an outsider like Keane. The 1965 Yankees fell to sixth place, and when the 1966 version won only four of its first 20 games, Keane was replaced by Ralph Houk, the team's charismatic general manager. (The Yankees barely responded to Houk, finishing in last place.) Keane's 81-101 (.445) record with New York gave him a career managerial mark of 398-350 (.532) over six seasons.

Related Topics:
Yogi Berra - American League - Ralph Houk

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In December 1966, Keane accepted a scouting role with the California Angels. But, a month later, he suffered a fatal heart attack at age 55. He died in Houston, where he had made his home since his days as player and (later) manager for the Cardinals' longtime Texas League farm team, the Houston Buffaloes.

Related Topics:
California Angels - Heart attack - Houston - Texas League

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Keane's role in mentoring young Cardinal players, especially star pitcher Bob Gibson, is retold in the David Halberstam book October 1964.

Related Topics:
Pitcher - Bob Gibson - David Halberstam

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