Jack McKeon has surprised people before. He led the Marlins to a World Series Championship after the team started 16-22 in 2003 and came out of retirement as an octogenarian earlier this season. This time, he's acting as expected - he says he'll retire once the regular season ends Wednesday, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.
The longtime manager and GM told Capozzi that he hopes to continue to work for the Marlins in some capacity. He will return to the advisory position he held from 2005 until earlier this season, according to ESPN.com's Jim Bowden (Twitter link). McKeon turns 81 this offseason, but remains remarkably energetic considering his age (he was born in the same year as Earl Weaver, the Hall of Fame skipper who last managed 25 years ago).
The last-place Marlins posted a 39-48 record under McKeon after manager Edwin Rodriguez resigned in June. McKeon told Capozzi that he can see himself managing again seven or eight years from now, health permitting.
Congrats, Jack. You had a great run, and more success than many managers see in their careers. Enjoy your free time!
I like how the Sox are tagged in this
“Dan Bernstein of 670 The Score just reported that his sources indicate the seeds have already been set for Ozzie to be traded to the Marlins. He reports that Ozzie and his wife were at the UC today to meet with Reinsdorf and its only a matter of time before his sources believe the announcement is made that Ozzie is headed (traded) to the Marlins. He went on to discuss his source referencing Don Cooper as a favorite of KW’s, and is likely to be retained.”
I hope Dan is right
I hope too. If he’s right, I wonder who’s coming to the White Sox. Not expecting Morrison, maybe Coghlan but no more.
“McKeon told Capozzi that he can see himself managing again seven or eight years from now, health permitting”
He must be trying to beat connie macks record for oldest manager in MLB history.
There’s other way to say it: McKeon is just one cool dude.
I never really like McKeon. He seems really grumpy. He’s like the old man next door that sceams to turn down that damn ghetto music.
I like how he will pull a pitcher in the middle of an important at-bat if the pitcher falls behind in the count.
I doubt that the pitcher who gets pulled likes it, however, so he may not be the most popular guy with his players despite his laid back, cigar chomping coolness.
Wow, what a shock. He really had a bright future ahead of him…
Why retire if your going to come back in mid-July. Come on Jack you know better than that.
Jack McKeon’s the man, and whether he retires or not, he’ll always be remembered as the manager of the 2003 World Series Champions and a two-time National League “Manager of the Year!” My favorite Jack memory was when he was on Dan LeBatard’s radio show on 790 The Ticket talking about how he runs five miles every day, and then they asked him what he does with the cigar while he runs, and he responded “why, I take it with me, of course.” LOL — I can just imagine him smoking that darn thing WHILE he’s running. Anyway, he might be a crazy ol’ man, but he really loves the Marlins franchise, and no matter what place we finish in, we’ll always love him right back. Take care, “Skipper!”