Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher: The Legendary Baseball Manager
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Born Leonard Gerald Durocher on July 27, 1905, Leo Durocher was affectionately known as "The Lip" to his fans and peers. He is also remembered for his time in New York City as the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Birth and Death Dates
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Leo Durocher passed away on July 13, 1991, at the age of 85, after a long and storied career in baseball that spanned over four decades.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Durocher was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He holds the distinction of being one of the most successful managers in Major League Baseball history.
Early Life and Background
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Born into a working-class family in Westphalia, Louisiana, Durocher's early life set him on course for greatness. His father, a French-Canadian immigrant, instilled in Leo a love for baseball that would become an enduring passion throughout his life. As a young man, Durocher played semi-professional baseball before moving to New York City to pursue a career as a player.
Major Accomplishments
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Durocher's illustrious managerial career boasts numerous achievements, including:
Three National League pennants: In 1945 with the Brooklyn Dodgers and in 1951 and 1962 with the New York Giants.
World Series champion: Durocher led the Giants to a World Series victory in 1954 against the Cleveland Indians.
Two-time National League Manager of the Year: Awarded for his outstanding leadership in 1946 and 1973.Notable Works or Actions
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Durocher's time as manager was marked by both triumphs and controversies. One notable event occurred when he was famously ejected from a game by umpire Bill McGowan due to verbal abuse, earning him the nickname "The Lip."
Impact and Legacy
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Leo Durocher's influence on baseball extends far beyond his impressive on-field achievements:
Pioneering manager: He was one of the first managers in Major League Baseball history to implement a modern managerial style, emphasizing player development and strategic game planning.
Mentorship: Durocher is widely regarded for mentoring some of baseball's most iconic players, including Willie Mays and Juan Marichal.
Hall of Fame: In 1994, Leo Durocher was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Leo Durocher is widely remembered for his iconic quotes, fiery personality, and trailblazing managerial style. His legacy as a baseball legend continues to inspire new generations of players, managers, and fans alike.
Quotes by Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher's insights on:
Today a pitcher gets fined if the umpire thinks he threw at a batter. In the olden days, the umpire didn’t have to take any courses in mind reading. The pitcher told you he was going to throw at you.
Kid, show me a man who doesn’t go down on his wife and I’ll show you a man whose wife I can sleep with, tonight.
If you don’t win, you’re going to be fired. If you do win, you’ve only put off the day you’re going to be fired.
Five runs ahead and he’d knock in all the runs I could ask for. One run behind and he was going to kill me.
Buy a steak for a player on another club after the game, but don’t even speak to him on the field. Get out there and beat them to death.
It’s possible to spend money anywhere in the world if you put your mind to it, something I proved conclusively by running up huge debts in Cincinnati.