Former manager John McNamara died Tuesday:
A weak-hitting catcher who first signed with the St. Louis Cardinals but never made it past Triple-A, McNamara went on to win — and lose — more than 1,000 games while managing six major league teams. He took over in Boston, his fifth, in 1985 and guided the Red Sox to the AL pennant the next year.
With a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven World Series against the New York Mets, the Red Sox went ahead 5-3 in the 10th inning of Game 6 at Shea Stadium before a tumultuous series of mistakes allowed the NL champions to tie the score and then win it when Mookie Wilson‘s ground ball rolled through first baseman Bill Buckner‘s legs. The Mets won Game 7, leaving Boston without a championship until they finally won it all in 2004.
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My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
McNamara recorded four first place finishes in nineteen seasons, which is not bad when you consider the division in that time where six or seven teams. Like most managers, he finished with a losing record, but overall he had plenty of success.
After 1986, I made up a joke about McNamara meeting God. The story went that Bill Buckner was driving Mac and Davey Johnson up a steep mountain road. Buckner’s foot seized and he drove the car off a cliff killing all three.
When they get to heaven, God feels bad for Mac and Davey, since they won’t get a chance to manage the All-Star game. “We have some pretty good players up here,” God said. “You two can pick teams and manage against each other. Davey, you won the World Series, so you go first. Pick a first baseman.”
Davey replies, “I’ll take Lou Gehrig.”
“Good choice,” God says. “Mac, who is your pick.”
McNamara says, “I’ll take Buckner.”
“Why him?” God asks. “We have so many great players!”
McNamara replies, “He’s the one that got us here!”