Ron Gardenhire: The Diamond General
An in-depth exploration of the impactful career of Ron Gardenhire, from player to decorated manager.
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Biographical Overview
Early Life and Origins
Born Ronald Clyde Gardenhire on October 24, 1957, in Butzbach, West Germany, Ron Gardenhire's early life was shaped by his military family. The family eventually settled in Oklahoma, where his passion for baseball flourished. He pursued higher education at the University of Texas at Austin, laying the groundwork for his future in professional baseball.
Career Trajectory
Gardenhire's extensive career in baseball spans roles as a player, coach, and manager. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets. Transitioning to management, he achieved significant success, notably winning the American League Manager of the Year Award and being inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. His career is marked by dedication and a deep understanding of the game.
Playing Career
Draft and Major League Debut
The New York Mets selected Gardenhire in the sixth round (132nd overall) of the 1979 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut on September 1, 1981, playing for the Mets. During his tenure from 1981 to 1985, he primarily played shortstop, second base, and third base.
Career Challenges and Stats
Gardenhire's playing career was significantly impacted by injuries, particularly to his hamstring. This limited his playing time, with only two seasons (1982 and 1984) seeing him play in more than 70 games. His career statistics include a .232 batting average, 4 home runs, and 49 runs batted in over 201 games played. After the 1986 season, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins organization, where he played one minor league season before retiring as a player.
Managerial Career
Minnesota Twins Tenure (2002-2014)
Named manager of the Twins on January 4, 2002, Gardenhire succeeded the highly successful Tom Kelly. Known for his energetic and often fiery dugout presence, he led the Twins to a turnaround season in 2002, reaching the American League Championship Series. Over 13 seasons, he guided the team to six division titles, though they never reached the World Series, a unique distinction among managers with multiple playoff appearances.
Detroit Tigers Tenure (2018-2020)
In October 2017, Gardenhire was appointed manager of the Detroit Tigers, signing a three-year contract. His debut season saw an unusual ejection due to a video review overturning a game-ending play. He managed the Tigers for three seasons, announcing his retirement in September 2020 due to health concerns.
Accolades and Milestones
Gardenhire's managerial achievements include winning the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2010. He was also a runner-up for the award five times and received the Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award in 2009. He achieved his 1,000th managerial victory on April 5, 2014, becoming one of the few managers to reach this milestone with a single team.
Managerial Record
Team | Year | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
MIN | 2002 | 161 | 94 | 67 | .584 | 1st in AL Central | 4 | 6 | .400 | Lost ALCS (ANA) |
MIN | 2003 | 162 | 90 | 72 | .556 | 1st in AL Central | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost ALDS (NYY) |
MIN | 2004 | 162 | 92 | 70 | .568 | 1st in AL Central | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost ALDS (NYY) |
MIN | 2005 | 162 | 83 | 79 | .512 | 3rd in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
MIN | 2006 | 162 | 96 | 66 | .593 | 1st in AL Central | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost ALDS (OAK) |
MIN | 2007 | 162 | 79 | 83 | .488 | 3rd in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
MIN | 2008 | 163 | 88 | 75 | .540 | 2nd in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
MIN | 2009 | 163 | 87 | 76 | .534 | 1st in AL Central | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost ALDS (NYY) |
MIN | 2010 | 162 | 94 | 68 | .580 | 1st in AL Central | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost ALDS (NYY) |
MIN | 2011 | 162 | 63 | 99 | .389 | 5th in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
MIN | 2012 | 162 | 66 | 96 | .407 | 5th in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
MIN | 2013 | 162 | 66 | 96 | .407 | 4th in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
MIN | 2014 | 162 | 70 | 92 | .432 | 5th in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
MIN Total | 2107 | 1068 | 1039 | .507 | 6 | 21 | .222 | |||
DET | 2018 | 162 | 64 | 98 | .395 | 3rd in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
DET | 2019 | 161 | 47 | 114 | .292 | 5th in AL Central | โ | โ | โ | |
DET | 2020 | 50 | 21 | 29 | .420 | Retired | โ | โ | โ | |
DET Total | 373 | 132 | 241 | .354 | 0 | 0 | โ | |||
Total | 2480 | 1200 | 1280 | .484 | 6 | 21 | .222 |
Coaching Career
Minnesota Twins Coaching (1991-2001)
Gardenhire began his coaching career within the Minnesota Twins organization. He served as the third base coach starting in 1991, a role he held for 11 seasons, including the team's 1991 World Series championship year. He also held other coaching positions within the organization before taking the managerial reins.
Arizona Diamondbacks Bench Coach (2017)
In November 2016, Gardenhire joined the Arizona Diamondbacks as their bench coach. However, his tenure was brief as he took a leave of absence early in the season for prostate cancer surgery. After recovering, he rejoined the team, demonstrating resilience and commitment.
Distinguished Honors
Managerial Awards
Gardenhire's exceptional leadership was recognized with the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2010. He was also a consistent contender, finishing as runner-up five times and receiving the Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award in 2009, highlighting his sustained impact on his teams.
Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame
In recognition of his significant contributions and long-standing association with the franchise, Ron Gardenhire was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2022. This honor celebrates his legacy as both a player and a highly successful manager for the club.
World Series Champion
As a coach for the Minnesota Twins, Gardenhire was part of the staff that led the team to a World Series championship in 1991. This victory represents a pinnacle achievement in his long career within the sport.
Personal Life
Family Connections
Ron Gardenhire is married to Carol (nรฉe Kissling). They have three children: a son, Toby Gardenhire, and two daughters, Tiffany and Tara. Toby has followed in his father's footsteps, playing and coaching in the minor leagues, and is currently a manager in the Twins organization, leading the St. Paul Saints.
Career Statistics & Resources
Player Statistics
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MLB.com ESPN Baseball-Reference Fangraphs Minors RetrosheetManagerial Statistics
Explore detailed managerial records and career performance data.
Managerial Record RetrosheetReferences
- ^ "Gardenhire is the Twins' steady hand". Yahoo! Sports. September 28, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ Thesier, Kelly (October 1, 2010). "Gardenhire's calm comes from father". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on October 3, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "6th Round of the 1979 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "Ron Gardenhire โ Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ a b "Ron Gardenhire โ Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ "Cheers for New Giant Manager : Baseball: Dusty Baker is already a popular figure in San Francisco". Los Angeles Times. December 17, 1992.
- ^ "It's official: Twins name Gardenhire manager". ESPN. Associated Press. January 4, 2002. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Ron Gardenhire". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ "Judge orders Twins to play in 2002". United Press International. November 16, 2001. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ "2002 Minnesota Twins Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "MLB Managers". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Thesier, Kelly; Beck, Jason (November 18, 2010). "Twins' Gardenhire voted AL's top manager". Minnesota Twins. MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
- ^ Thesier, Kelly (November 12, 2008). "Manager of Year eludes Gardenhire". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^ "Ron Gardenhire, Manager of the Minnesota Twins, Selected as the Third Annual "Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year"". PRWeb. Vocus PRW Holdings. October 28, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
- ^ Thesier, Kelly (November 13, 2008). "Twins extend Gardenhire through 2011". Minnesota Twins. MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Twins sign manager Ron Gardenhire to two-year contract extension". Minnesota Twins. MLB.com. November 18, 2010. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Twins agree to contract extension with Gardenhire". Minnesota Twins. MLB.com. September 30, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Twins beat Indians in manager Ron Gardenhire's 1,000th win". ESPN. Associated Press. April 5, 2014.
- ^ Brackin, Dennis (September 29, 2014). "Ron Gardenhire out as Twins manager". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ^ a b "Twins Fire Manager Ron Gardenhire After 13 Seasons". USA Today. Associated Press. September 29, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ a b "Ron Gardenhire โ Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ "Tigers' Ron Gardenhire back in Minnesota: 'Always loved this place'". ESPN. Associated Press. May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ Monitto, Matt (January 22, 2022). "Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, Cรฉsar Tovar named to Twins Hall of Fame". Twinkie Town. SB Nation. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ Beck, Jason (October 20, 2017). "Tigers, Gardenhire finalize skipper's 3-year deal". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ "Manager ejected in Tigers debut after replay erases walk-off". New York Post. Associated Press. March 30, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ Beck, Jason (September 19, 2020). "Citing health, Tigers manager Gardy retires". Detroit Tigers. MLB.com. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ Gilbert, Steve (November 17, 2016). "Gardenhire among D-backs' coaching staff hires". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Nightengale, Bob (April 9, 2017). "As Diamondbacks go on without him, Ron Gardenhire readies for cancer fight". USA Today. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ McManaman, Bob (May 18, 2017). "Ron Gardenhire back where he belongs - in the dugout as Diamondbacks' bench coach". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
- ^ "Coach Bio". Arizona Diamondbacks. MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ Park, Do-Hyoung (January 19, 2021). "Toby Gardenhire to manage St. Paul Saints". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
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