Former Century Resident Buck Showalter ‘Heavy Favorite’ To Manage The Orioles

July 12, 2010

ESPN reported Sunday that former Century resident Buck Showalter is the “heavy favorite” to become the next manager of the Baltimore Orioles.

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Showalter, who is currently an analyst with ESPN, reportedly meet with the team again this weekend. He has met with team officials several times since Dave Trebly was fired as the Orioles’ manager in early June. A replacement is not expected to be named until after Tuesday’s All-Star game.

Showalter has managed the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Texas Rangers. Showalter first managed the Yankees from 1992-1995 for 581 games posting a 313-268 record finishing 45 games over .500 with a .539 win/loss percentage. He was voted 1994 AL Manager of the Year after the Yankees finished first in the AL East going 70-43. Unfortunately, there would be no post-season in 1994 due to the strike. He made it to his first post-season appearance in 1995, losing the divisional series 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners.

He moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he managed 486 games from 1998-2000 with a 250-236 record. His best season with the Diamondbacks came in 1999 when they finished first in the NL West going 100-62 and eventually losing in the divisional series 3-1 to the NY Mets. Showalter took over as Texas Rangers skipper in 2003-2006 posting a 319-329 record in 648 games. He was selected 2004 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers going 89-73 with a .549 win/loss percentage.

His father was a high school coach and principal, moving to Century in the late 1950’s. Showalter played Little League ball in Century in a thriving program. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after him.

Photo courtesy ESPN.

Comments

6 Responses to “Former Century Resident Buck Showalter ‘Heavy Favorite’ To Manage The Orioles”

  1. David Huie Green on July 15th, 2010 1:20 am

    good for you, Nat

  2. Jason on July 14th, 2010 11:31 am

    yeah the orioles have been terrible for years. Buck should make em respectable again.

  3. Bobby on July 13th, 2010 5:47 pm

    Buck Showalter (Nat to me) is an old school manager. He expects his players to always give 100% all the time which some prima donna major leaguers don’t understand and he comes from a very fine family. His father and mother had high standards for their children and expected them to always strive for excellence.
    I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Nat for almost as long as I have been alive and even though he has been part of the Big Time he always knows who I am and he always knows where his roots are. If left alone by managment and ownership he will put the Orioles on the rigth path.
    Nat is a fine example of what hard work and motivation can do. HE is a great spokesperson for small town U.S.A. I can’t think of a better person for the job than Nat Showalter and I am not saying this because he is my friend. I was fortunate to have watched Nat play little league, high school, and college baseball, but since I was 3 years older never had the opportunity to play with him on a team except our pick up games of basketball in the gym at CHS. No one wants to win anymore that Nat, but he will do it the right way.

  4. Mary on July 13th, 2010 8:51 am

    I agree with Safebear; he’d be GREAT in Atlanta (my FAVORITE) team. Being born & raised in Century, and it (Century) being in the shape it is in, it jsut goes to show the youth what they can do if the strive to succeed. Pay attention kids, get off the streets and stop selling drugs.

  5. Safebear on July 13th, 2010 5:06 am

    I was hoping he’d end up in Atlanta after Bobby Cox leaves but this is good.

  6. MWM65 on July 12th, 2010 6:18 am

    The Orioles deffinetly need someone to help them be a major force,,,,
    They haven”t been a contender for years, this should help them a bunch for sure .or at least I hope so GO O”s…..