Fun facts about Dallas Green:
-Green was Delaware through and through, a native of Newport who pitched for the Blue Hens before signing with the Phillies in 1955. (He was also inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1983).
-Spent five-plus seasons in the minors (including a 17-win campaign in 1957 with class C Salt Lake City) before debuting in the majors in 1960. Three-hit the Dodgers in his third outing for his first career win.
-Was a so-so swingman for the Phils from 1960-1964, highlighted by a 7-5 record and 3.22 ERA in 1963.
-Spent a good chunk of the 1964-1967 seasons in the minors, while squeezing in a few big league appearances in Philadelphia, Washington, and New York (Mets).
-In all, won 20 games and lost 22 with a 4.26 ERA and four saves in parts of eight seasons. He also completed 12 of 46 starts, which isn't too shabby.
-Rose through the ranks of the Phillies organization after hanging up his spikes, managing minor league clubs in Huron and Pulaski in 1968 and 1969 (with an Appalachian League title in the latter season), serving as assistant farm director from 1970-1972, director of player development from 1973-1975, and scouting director from 1975-1979.
-The Phils had become a consistent winner in that time, and Dallas returned to the field to manage the club in 1979. He didn't win many friends with his blunt, abrasive personality, and some say that his 1980 club won the World Series (the first in their 98-year history) on the fuel of their hatred for the skipper. He also piloted the team to the playoffs in strike-shortened 1981, but they lost to the Dodgers and he quit to take the Cubs' GM job.
-Dallas worked his magic in Chicago, building a 1984 Eastern Division champ (a midseason trade for Rick Sutcliffe, who went 16-1 down the stretch, was key). He was named Executive of the Year and promoted to president, but resigned in 1987 after three straight disappointing seasons. However, his legacy included a hard-line stance that led to stadium lights finally being installed in Wrigley Field and a rebuilding project that produced Mark Grace, Rafael Palmeiro, Jamie Moyer, Greg Maddux, and Shawon Dunston. The Cubs won another division crown in 1989 after his departure.
-Green had two subsequent unsuccessful stints as a manager, in 1989 with the Yankees (he was fired in August after calling George Steinbrenner "Manager George") and from 1993-1996 with the Mets (.447 win percentage).
-Has spent much of this decade as a senior advisor to the GM of the Phillies.
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteYou forgot one of Green's accomplishments as head man with the Cubs: His fleecing of the Phillies, by obtaining Ryne Sandberg for Ivan DeJesus!