Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon
Maddon with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs – No. 70
Manager
Born: (1954-02-08) February 8, 1954 West Hazleton, Pennsylvania
MLB statistics (through November 3, 2016)
Games managed	1,850
Win–loss record	992–858
Winning %	.536
Teams
As manager California Angels / Anaheim Angels (1996, 1999) Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays (2006–2014) Chicago Cubs (2015–present) As coach California / Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1993–2005)
Career highlights and awards
3× Manager of the Year (2008, 2011, 2015) 2× World Series champion (2002, 2016)

Joseph John "Joe" Maddon (born February 8, 1954) is an American professional baseball manager who currently manages the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). Maddon began his coaching career in MLB with the California Angels in 1993 and served under managers Buck Rodgers, Marcel Lachemann, John McNamara, Terry Collins, and Mike Scioscia. He served two stints as interim manager during this time. He managed the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006 through 2014, winning the 2008 American League pennant. After opting out of his contract following the 2014 season, he joined the Cubs, led them to the 2015 National League Championship Series and was named the 2015 National League Manager of the Year. In 2016, Maddon managed the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908, which they won against the Cleveland Indians.

Early life and career

The son of an Italian father, Joe Sr. (who shortened the family name from Maddonini), and a Polish mother, Albina (Beanie), Maddon grew up in an apartment over his father's plumbing shop. His father died in 2002. His mother is still a waitress at the Third Base Luncheonette restaurant in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.^[1]

Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball and football. He graduated in 1976. He is a member of Zeta Psi fraternity. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Lafayette College on September 2, 2010.^[2]

Maddon played in Minor League Baseball as a catcher, having signed with the California Angels as a free agent in 1975,^[3] but never advanced higher than Class A, which he played for four seasons. In his four seasons, he never had more than 180 at bats in a season, and the most home runs he ever hit was three for the Salinas Angels in 1977.^[4]

He worked in the Angels organization for 31 years, including time as a minor league manager, scout, roving minor league hitting instructor, and coach for the major league team.

Coaching/Managerial career

California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1975–2005)

In 1979, after spending four seasons trying to make it as a catcher in the Angels organization, Maddon decided to give up his playing career and become a coach.^[5] He started as a scout and would continue on to such positions as manager in the Angels farm system and Minor League roving hitting instructor.^[6]

As a minor league manager, he had a 279–339 record in six seasons.^[3] He managed in the minors from 1981 to 1986, each team having a losing record. His stops included Idaho Falls, Idaho; Salem, Oregon; Peoria, Illinois and Midland, Texas. After serving as Minor League roving instructor from 1987 to 1993, Maddon was promoted to the big league club as a coach.^[7]

Maddon served as a Major League coach for the Angels from 1994 to 2005. He held such positions as first base coach, bench coach, and interim manager on three occasions following the departures of John McNamara in 1996, the suspension of Terry Collins in 1998, and Collins' eventual departure in 1999. He finished with a combined record of 27 wins and 24 losses as interim manager.^[8] He also served under Marcel Lachemann from 1993 to 1994. While he served as bench coach under McNamara and Collins, he rotated positions often. He finally found stability when the Angels hired Mike Scioscia in 1999. He served as Scioscia's bench coach from 2000 to 2005, winning a 2002 World Series ring in 2002. By the time Maddon left Anaheim, he had spent 31 years overall with the Angels organization.^[9]

Tampa Bay Rays (2006–2014)

Maddon was considered a candidate for the Boston Red Sox manager job in 2004, which went to Terry Francona.^[10] On November 15, 2005, Maddon was hired to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. His signature thick-rimmed glasses led to giveaways featuring mock pairs, and tributes from Angels players wearing the glasses when playing against the Rays.

Maddon with the Rays

2006–2007

The Rays went 121-197 in Maddon's first two seasons.^[11] The Rays were in yet another re-building phase, this time under the management of General Manager Andrew Friedman. Tampa held the lowest payroll in baseball at $44 million. They had yet to have a winning season but were hopeful due to the development of young homegrown stars David Price, Evan Longoria, James Shields and BJ Upton. Unlike his predecessor, Lou Piniella, Maddon preached patience in developing a young core of players. Maddon was able to preach patience and tolerance while enduring back to back 90+ game losing seasons.^[12]

2008 season

In 2008, Maddon guided the Rays to their first American League Eastern Division Title. He led a team of young players that won a division title over the heavily favored New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Maddon's team recorded the franchise's first playoff series victory in the 2008 American League Division Series (ALDS) vs. the Chicago White Sox by 3–1 and a 4-games-to-3 triumph over the rival Boston Red Sox in the 2008 American League Championship Series (ALCS). This was the first World Series appearance for the Rays, in which Tampa Bay held home-field advantage against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies won the World Series in five games. Maddon won the American League Manager of the Year Award.^[13] He also received the Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award.^[14]

2009 season

On May 25, 2009, the Tampa Bay Rays and Maddon agreed to a contract extension that would keep him manager of the Rays through 2012. He had been in the final year of his initial contract when he first became manager of the team. The Rays stated that there was "never a question" on whether to keep Maddon after the conclusion of the 2009 season.^[15]

On July 14, 2009, Maddon managed the American League All Star team to a 4–3 victory. Controversy accompanied his failure to pick second baseman Ian Kinsler as a reserve, despite Kinsler having narrowly come in second in the fan voting, the player voting, and the "Sprint Final Vote" competition. To replace fellow second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Maddon instead chose Tampa Bay's first baseman Carlos Peña.^{[16][17][18][19][20][21]} Similarly, to replace Longoria, Maddon chose Figgins of the Angels.^[21]

2010 season

When MLB ordered in April 2010 that managers and coaches wear the official team jacket or approved Majestic pullover over their jersey, and not "hoodies", Maddon complained that "it's almost like a security blanket for me. Managing without a hoodie on a cool night could be very disconcerting. Furthermore, I think it's wrong."^[22] MLB reversed their decision a few days later.^[23]

On September 28, 2010, the Rays clinched their second playoff berth in team history. This was their second playoff appearance in three years. They finished the year at 96-66.^[24] The Rays won their second AL East championship, but lost to the Texas Rangers 3-2 in the 2010 ALDS.^[25]

2011 season

In 2011, the Rays made a second consecutive playoff appearance, clinching the American League Wild Card on the final day of the season, despite an 0–6 start to the season and a nine-game deficit in the wild card race in September. The Rays lost in the 2011 ALDS to the Rangers 3 games to 1. After the end of the season it was announced that Maddon had been named the AL Manager of the Year for the second time in his career.^[26] On February 13, 2012 the Rays signed Maddon to a three-year extension.^[27]

2012 season

On April 16, 2012, in a game against the Red Sox, Maddon won his 500th career game as manager.^[28] The Rays finished the season at 90-72, good for third place in the AL East and third in the AL Wild Card.

2013 season

Maddon earned his 600th win on May 8, 2013, with a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.^[29] Maddon earned his 700th win on May 25, 2014 with a victory over the Boston Red Sox.^[30] The Rays finished the season with a 92-71 record, clinching the American League Wild Card. They lost the 2013 ALDS to the Boston Red Sox, 3 games to 1.^[31]

2014 season

The Rays finished with their worst record in seven years, at 77-85.^[8] They lost Matt Moore to Tommy John surgery and dealt with constant trade rumors regarding such stars as David Price and Ben Zobrist. Price would end up being traded to the Detroit Tigers, while Zobrist finished the season in Tampa. The Rays dealt with a flurry of injuries, and never recovered. They were officially eliminated from postseason contention on September 19.^[32]

On October 14, 2014, Rays' General Manager Andrew Friedman left Tampa Bay to assume the role of President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[33] When Friedman departed, an opt-out clause in Maddon's contract was activated, stating that if Friedman left at any point in the duration of Maddon's contract, Maddon could opt out as well, as long as he did so within a period of two weeks. The Rays tried "aggresively" to re-sign Maddon, during that period, but Maddon opted out of his contract.^[34] Maddon finished his tenure with a record of 754 wins and 705 losses.^[8]

Chicago Cubs (2015–present)

2015 season

Almost immediately after news broke of Maddon's departure in Tampa, rumors started linking him to the Chicago Cubs' managerial position; which, at the time was held by Rick Renteria. Cubs management had promised Renteria he would indeed be returning to manage the club in 2015 following the completion of the 2014 season.^[35] On November 2, 2014, the Cubs announced that they had fired Renteria and hired Maddon.^[36] While many around baseball thought the situation was controversial, Cubs President Theo Epstein asserted that the move was in the best interests of the organization. Renteria was offered a variety of other positions with the Cubs, which he declined.^[37] After being fired by the Cubs, Renteria signed on as the Chicago White Sox bench coach for the 2016 season, and will manage that team in the 2017 season.^[38]

Almost immediately following Maddon's decision to sign with the Cubs, the Rays filed tampering charges with MLB. They claimed that the only reason Maddon opted out in Tampa was due to his becoming aware that the Cubs would offer him a deal that would make him the highest paid manager in the game. Cubs President Theo Epstein claimed that he had sent an e-mail to MLB to be certain that Maddon was indeed a free agent before contacting him about their managerial position.^[39] On April 29, 2015, MLB cleared the Cubs of any tampering charges.^[40]

On May 14, Maddon logged his 800th managerial win in a 6–5 home victory over the New York Mets, placing him eighth among active managers.^[41] In June, on a road trip to play the Mets, Maddon brought in a magician to perform in the Cubs clubhouse. The Cubs had lost five straight games and it was something Maddon had done before with the Rays.^[42] At the conclusion of the first half of the season, the Cubs held a record of 47-40, good for third place in the highly contested National League Central division. The Cubs had finished in last place for three consecutive seasons.^[43]

After coming out sluggishly after the All Star Break, Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies no-hit the Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 25.^[44] Following a sweep by the Phillies, the team with the worst record in baseball, the Cubs went on a nine-game winning streak, and at the time held the best road record in the Majors.^[45] The Cubs continued their hot streak throughout the second half of the season, which included a no-hitter by Jake Arrieta on August 30 in Los Angeles.^[46] On September 26, following a San Francisco Giants loss to the Oakland Athletics, the Cubs clinched their first postseason berth since 2008.^[47] They finished the season with 97 wins, a improvement of 24 over 2014 and their first 97-win season since 2008.^[48]

In the National League Wild Card Game, the Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 4–0 at PNC Park on a complete game shutout from Arrieta, advancing to the National League Division Series (NLDS) to face the St. Louis Cardinals. The win marked the Cubs' first postseason victory since the 2003 National League Championship Series (NLCS).^[49] After losing game 1 in St. Louis, the Cubs went on to win three straight, winning the NLDS at Wrigley Field. This was the Cubs' first ever postseason clinch at Wrigley Field.^[50] The Cubs played the Mets in the NLCS, but lost in four games.^[51] After the season, Maddon won the National League Manager of the Year Award.^[52]

2016 season

Maddon's young Cubs team entered the 2016 season as the odds-on favorite to win the World Series.^[53] They started the season on a tear, taking over first place in the NL Central on April 11, a lead they never relinquished. By May 10 the Cubs had a record of 25-6 (0.806 win percentage) with a commanding 8.5 game lead in their division. The team would go on to post a 103-58 regular season record, their first 100-win season in over 80 years, and led their division by as many as 19 games. They entered the postseason as heavy favorites, and dispatched the Giants in 4 games with an amazing 4-run 9th inning comeback in the clincher at AT&T Park. On October 22, 2016, the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS, earning their first pennant since 1945, also allowing Maddon to join the small list of managers who won pennants in both leagues. Their streak of not winning a pennant was the longest in MLB history, lasting 71 years. They beat the Cleveland Indians in a thrilling back-and-forth Game 7 of the World Series, for their first World Series title in 108 years.

Personal life

Maddon has two children, Sarah^[54] and Joe from his first marriage to Betty Maddon. He and his second wife Jaye Sousoures^[55] married in 2008.

Managerial record

As of games played on November 2, 2016

Uniform number

Maddon wears the unusual uniform #70. He has said that his preferred number used to be #20, but that he lost that number when future Hall-of-Famer Don Sutton came to the Angels. He was then randomly assigned #70 and declared that he would never change it so that his number would never be taken from him again.^[56]

References

External links

• Joe Maddon managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
• Maddon to be hired as (Devil Rays) manager