With World Series Close, Mattingly, Leyritz Reflect on Showalter's HOF Career

For Buck Showalter, a World Series ring is the only piece missing from what has otherwise been a Hall of Fame career, and something that has alluded him time and time again.

As his Baltimore Orioles prepare for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals Friday night, Showalter is just a few wins away from his first-ever trip to the Fall Classic.

Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1977, Showalter never reached the majors. He took over the Yankees in 1992 after spending 12 years in the organization as a player and a coach in the minors.

Showalter had his first real shot with a championship-caliber team in 1994. The Bombers were in first place and had the second-best record in baseball 113 games into the season... Then the 1994 strike hit.

The season was over.

Showalter came away with the American League Manager of the Year award, but he was robbed of a chance at more.

"Obviously it would have been great for the both of us if we won a World Series together in 1994," said former Yankee and current Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly, who played under Showalter from 1992-1995. "I feel that was definitely our year but unfortunately because of the strike it was just not in the cards for us."

Showalter took the Yankees back to the playoffs in 1995, but the team fell to the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. The Yankees fired him soon after, replacing him with Joe Torre. The rest is history.

Torre, at the helm of a roster Showalter had spent four years laying the foundation to, went on to win it all in 1996, and then again in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

"There was a growing period with Buck, as far as learning how to deal with all 25 different personalities at the big league level," former big leaguer Jim Leyritz said. "He was a great developer of young talent and knew the game better than anybody, but there was that one thing he was missing. That's why (late Yankees owner George) Steinbrenner fired him... I think he's put it all together now."

Leyritz was there for Showalter's entire New York tenure and for parts of the Torre years.

Showalter then signed on with the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. He led the team to a surprising 100-win, first-place finish in 1999, but it did not buy him enough good will when the team had a mediocre 2000 campaign.

Like the Yankees, Arizona sent Showalter packing, only to win the World Series the year after his departure.

"He hasn't been there before," Leyritz said. "Not that he's been gypped out of the opportunities, but the opportunities never presented themselves."

PAUL CONNORS/Associated Press

In 2003 he signed on with the Texas Rangers, where he would spend four years. He led the Rangers to 89 wins in 2004, earning Manager of the Year honors again.

Perhaps his best work though, has come as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, whom he took over mid-year in 2010. A lowly team, the O's won just 69 games in 2011, his first full year with the team. Showalter turned things around immediately in 2012, winning 93 games and taking Baltimore to the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

The team won 96 games this year and is now just four wins away from baseball's biggest stage.

Over the course of 16 seasons Showalter has managed 2378 games, good enough for 33rd all-time. His 1232 wins makes him sixth all-time. Granted, he was not the manager of any of those previously mentioned World Series teams, but he deserves credit for helping to build them.

A championship could be the only thing standing between him and enshrinement in Cooperstown.

"I think he's putting together that resume, yes," Leyritz said when asked if his former skipper was worthy of the Hall of Fame. "Take a look back where Baltimore was five years ago and see where they are now. I don't know that it's a matter of winning the World Series this year, but it's being able to win consistently over the next few years that really will shape the Hall of Fame credential that Buck needs."

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

"Buck has always been a great student of the game, an excellent leader, as well as a tremendous competitor," Mattingly added. "He deserves to win a World Series as much as anyone out there."

Mattingly went on to say how impressive and quickly Showalter transitioned to managing, a transition he had to make himself when he got into coaching with the Yankees and took over as the Dodgers' manager in 2011.

"I marveled how well he made the transition to manage, and I knew he would do well at anything he put his mind to," Mattingly said. "I'm glad I had the privilege to play for him, it was a wonderful experience for the both of us."

Now, Showalter is hoping for a wonderful experience as the rest of the postseason plays out. If he keeps pushing all the right buttons, he could be heading to the World Series for the first time in his long and distinguished career.

With a little bit of luck, he and the O's will be lifting a trophy when it is all said and done. 

All stats were obtained via Baseball-Reference.com. All quotes were obtained firsthand.

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