Legendary Managers Tip Caps To Bochy
NASHVILLE — As soon as he retires, Bruce Bochy will have a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, according to two legendary managers. Hall of Famer manager Tony La Russa, who was on hand for Jim Leyland’s Hall of Fame press conference at the MLB Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, sees one big similarity between Leyland and the Texas Rangers manager. “The two managers in our time who handled the bullpen the best are Bruce and Jim Leyland,” said La Russa, who was inducted in 2014 after winning three World Series. Bochy joined La Russa and Sparky Anderson as the only managers to win the World Series in both leagues. Bochy, 68, won three with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has four World Series titles under his belt. Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK When asked about Bochy’s success,
Leyland said, “He’s chasing Casey!” As in Casey Stengel, whose seven World Series titles are tied for first with Joe McCarth. Leyland’s formal Hall of Fame induction is in July. Bochy was likely headed for the Hall of Fame already when he retired after the 2019 season for three years. His World Series title with the Rangers — and perhaps more in the future — only enhances his lock for the Hall. Only three managers have won more World Series than Bochy, who won his fourth with the Texas Rangers on Nov. 1. Only seven managers have won more World Series games than Bochy. After Stengel and McCarthy, Connie Mack won five World Series. Then there’s Bochy, Walter Alston and Joe Torre, who won four titles with the Yankees. For Leyland, that speaks for itself.
“If you watched his performance in the postseason all four times, he’s got a real feel for [the bullpen],” La Russa said. “He did it every time. Bruce has got the touch. He’s got a lot of things; he’s got the personality that players embrace, and he gains respect. As soon as he retires, he’s in here.”
