Jack McKeon
Jack McKeon (left) shaking hands with President George W. Bush (right) on January 24, 2004.
Manager
Born: (1930-11-23) November 23, 1930 (age 81) South Amboy, New Jersey
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 6, 1973 for the Kansas City Royals
Career statistics
Games	1972
Win-loss record	1,051–990
Winning %	.515
Teams
As manager Kansas City Royals (1973–1975) Oakland Athletics (1977–1978) San Diego Padres (1988–1990) Cincinnati Reds (1997–2000) Florida Marlins (2003–2005, 2011)
Career highlights and awards
NL Manager of the Year (1999, 2003) World Series champion (2003)

John Aloysius McKeon (pronounced /məˈkiːən/; born November 23, 1930 in South Amboy, New Jersey^[1][2]), nicknamed "Trader Jack", is a former Major League Baseball manager. McKeon played baseball for the College of the Holy Cross. In 2003, he won a World Series with the Florida Marlins. When he took over as manager of the Marlins in 2011 at age 80, he became the second oldest manager in major league history, behind only Connie Mack.

McKeon previously managed the Kansas City Royals from 1973 to 1975, the Oakland Athletics in 1977 and 1978, the San Diego Padres from 1988 to 1990, and the Cincinnati Reds from 1997 to 2000. From 1981 to 1990, he served as general manager of the Padres, forming the team which won the 1984 National League pennant.

Career[link]

Minor Leagues[link]

As a player, McKeon, a catcher, spent his entire career in the minor leagues. He managed in the farm system of the original Washington Senators franchise, and its successor, the Minnesota Twins, handling Triple-A assignments for the Vancouver Mounties (1962), Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers (1963), and Atlanta Crackers (part of 1964). He then scouted for the Twins before joining the Royals in 1968 as skipper of their Class A High Point-Thomasville farm team.^[3] He led their AAA affiliate, the Omaha Royals of the American Association, from 1969 through 1972, and won two league championships. He also managed the Richmond Braves and the Denver Bears during the 1970s, after his firing by the Royals.

Major League[link]

McKeon was named National League Manager of the Year in 1999 and 2003. The latter award was a result of leading the Marlins, who had a record below .500 when he took the job as their manager during the season, to a World Series victory. With that victory, he became, at 72, the oldest manager to win the World Series, winning against the New York Yankees, against whom he wanted to play his first World Series, having lived in South Amboy, New Jersey and attending Yankee games while a child.^[1]

On October 2, 2005, just after the Marlins won the last game of the 2005 season, McKeon announced that he would not be returning the following season. McKeon led the Marlins to three of the six winning seasons in franchise history, but there was a consensus within the organization that a managerial change was in order. Players complained that McKeon was too abrasive, and clubhouse tension mounted as the season soured.

On June 20, 2011, after manager Edwin Rodriguez resigned, the Florida Marlins held a press conference to announce that McKeon had been named interim manager. "I don't need this job but I love it," McKeon said, in taking over a team that had lost 10 straight and 18 of its last 19. He retired after the conclusion of the 2011 season.^[4]

Personal life[link]

McKeon currently lives in Elon, North Carolina. Prior to his latest managerial stint, he was serving as a Special Assistant to Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.^[5]

McKeon is a devout Catholic and attends daily Mass even while his team is traveling.^[6] He attributes much of his success, especially the Marlins' win in the 2003 National League Championship Series, to the intercession of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.^[6]

McKeon is the author of two books, Jack of All Trades and I'm Just Getting Started.

Hall Of Fame Induction[link]

On the evening of May 5, 2012, Jack McKeon was inducted into the Fulton County Baseball & Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements with the Glove City Glover's Minor League Baseball team in which he played for in 1950 and 1951 in Gloversville, NY. He was the keynote speaker at the induction ceremony.

Major League Managerial records[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Baseball portal

• Jack McKeon managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com