Ron Gardenhire is retiring as Tigers’ manager, effective immediately, GM Al Avila announced today (via Chris McCosky of the Detroit News). Bench coach Lloyd McClendon will take over the manager’s chair for the remainder of the season, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Gardenhire intended to step away from the sport at the end of the 2020 season, he informed reporters (via Evan Woodbery of MLive), but a recent bout with food poisoning contributed to his decision to make the move a week and a half early.
“This is a bittersweet day for myself and my family,” Gardenhire said in a press release. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the countless players and coaches that I’ve had the honor of working alongside for the last 16 seasons as manager. I’d also like to thank the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins for giving me the privilege of leading their clubhouses. While I’m stepping away from managing, I’ll be watching this group of Tigers closely in the next few years. There’s a lot of talent on this team, and a lot coming through the farm system. Tigers fans are going to enjoy the exciting times on the horizon.”
The 62-year-old leaves the sport as one of its most successful managers in recent memory. As he alluded to in his statement, he first broke into managing in Minnesota back in 2002. Those Twins teams immediately rattled off a trio of 90-plus win seasons, winning the AL Central each of those years. Gardenhire’s clubs posted above-average records in eight of his first nine seasons at the helm.
Along the way, Minnesota broke in a handful of the game’s brightest stars. Franchise icon Joe Mauer made his MLB debut in 2004 and was named AL MVP five years later. Johan Santana, meanwhile, blossomed into a perennial Cy Young contender during the mid-2000’s, claiming the award twice.
Bright as things were in the early portion of Gardenhire’s Minnesota tenure, they went off the rails rather quickly. The Twins never won more than 70 games in any season from 2011-14. The club fired Gardenhire after the 2014 season, ending his tenure as the second-winningest manager in franchise history.
Somewhat surprisingly, Gardenhire remerged after a three-year hiatus, getting the Tigers’ managerial job in advance of the 2018 season. Detroit has floundered through a trio of miserable seasons since, although that was always expected with the Tigers amidst a massive rebuild. Much more pressing than wins and losses, Gardenhire was tasked with shepherding Detroit’s young players to the big league level. This season, in particular, has seen the Tigers break a few top young players, including Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, into the big leagues.
It’s always difficult to tell from the outside precisely how impactful a coach or manager was behind the scenes. Nevertheless, the well-respected Gardenhire drew plaudits in that regard from Avila. “I’d like to congratulate Gardy for having one of the best managerial careers in baseball history,” the GM said. “His leadership and hard work over three seasons with our ballclub has helped move us towards our goal of bringing winning baseball back to Detroit. His positive impact on our young players will be felt for years to come.”
All told, Gardenhire’s clubs compiled a 1200-1280 record. That .484 winning percentage, of course, somewhat reflects the difficult hand he was dealt over the past few seasons in Detroit. His 1200 managerial wins rank 46th in MLB history. MLBTR congratulates Gardenhire on a fantastic career and wishes him well in retirement.
Umpires rejoice
Also some of the players who didn’t have the mental capacity to handle MLB. He set them straight. I’m sure some of them that are now working in regular jobs or playing in independent or international leagues are somehow rejoicing at his departure because he set them straight. You just know that none of them are up for owning that they were the problem. He even got one of our local South Florida kids who claimed injury after doing bullpens. Kid hasn’t been in MLB since he was called out on it by Gardy.
Couldn’t wait a whole 2 weeks??? Geez.
That’s weird to retire with a week left in the season… although now that I’m writing this… I was about to say “retiring early just because of food poisoning seems kind of strange” it’s occurring to me that maybe there’s a good chance it wasn’t just “food poisoning” — if that’s the case, I hope whatever it is he is okay — and if it is really just “food poisoning” then I stand by my initial statement that I think it’s a little strange to literally retire a week and a half early. UNLESS he (or management) wants Lloyd McClendon to possibly take over as FT manager next year and so Gardenire stepping down with 10 or so games left is his way of giving McClendon a little “tryout” to prove himself. (I know McClendon’s a veteran of baseball but still — I suppose it’s possible)
If McLendon stays, it should improve the running game. He’s an expert base stealer
Are you serious? This guy has no business managing a LL Team let alone a MLB team.
You may have missed joke Halo. Lloyd once pulled up the base after he was ejected and walked off the field with it. Nice one MafiaBass.
MafiaBass, quite well done indeed.
Kudos ….. one of the best comments in MLBTR history!!! Well done, sir.
He is great at pick them up and throwing them down the tunnel
No. Please no. Lloyd’s teams have almost always had a worse record than the prior season. Not even a good hitting coach.
you’re really accusing the guy for lying about his own health with no evidence?
It’s not just food poisoning. The Detroit media is reporting stress related issues resulting in shaking hands, among other things. Sadly, I fear there is more to it than what is being reported, but he deserves to have that info released on his terms.
Or maybe he’s just has food poisoning g and is drained….
Don’t know if it’s a wide move to retire. IT WAS HIS WIFE’S COOKING!!
Rumor has it this is health related..
So he’s going to be the Padres’ next manager then?
No
You know who will be ?
Asmus?
Bobby Valentine is still available.
Don Kelly
Please get rid of Al Velvetta so he not the one hiring a new coach!!
Truly hoping it’s not cancer! He’s already beaten it once and when you get cancer it never truly goes away, just stays dormant in your body. Here’s to you Gardy! As a die hard Tigers fan it was nice having you here the last 3 years after kicking the hell outta us as the Twins skipper. Enjoy retirement and God Speed!
Agreed on all the best wishes. But the statement about cancer just going dormant is incorrect.
Good luck Ron
Very much so. A classy and eloquent goodbye under very trying circumstances for him, I’m sure.
It was enjoyable having Gardenhire as Tigers manager. Great interviews. I really liked him here and was hoping he would stay more years. I wish him well. Thanks Gardy!
Nice caretaker manager while the Tigers rebuild for the future, but too old to be the one who guides them into the future. Thanks for being a positive and loyal example for the youngsters. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
Best of luck to Gardenhire. I always liked him as a manager. He was great with the Twins (much to my dismay as a Sox fan). The Twins weren’t great on paper, but were overachievers, which I mean as a great compliment. The Twins had more heart than the Sox and the rest of the A.L. Central under his watch, and that’s ultimately what won them so many divisions. That’s the kind of team you want to root for.
I think he has the Tigers pointing in the right direction. The Tigers should’ve been lucky to exceed 15 wins this year, being that they were the worst team in baseball last year and didn’t improve much this Winter. And somehow he already has them over 20. That’s another example of him making a team an overachiever, and that’s the best quality you can possibly have as a manager. It might take a few years, but the Tigers have a very bright future ahead of them.
As he should Illich and Avalia only gave him players for Toledo north team. Sparky Anderson couldn’t make hay with what Gardy was given. One bad signing after another Zimmerman etc. And if he gives Lloyd the team that just proves there not in it to win for years, and Lloyd
Class act.
Gardenhire was a perfectly competent, decent baseball man.
Tigers need to be thinking bigger though
He probably just got sick watching the Tigers play and “food poisoning” is a cover story. Just kidding Tiger fans. No hate.
Best wishes to Gardy, I think he did a great job for the Tigers with the roster he had.
Hoping this is not health related.
Gardenhire’s had a good run in baseball. Very good.
Good for him. I know he would have probably liked to have finished the season but he got to make the choice. Not often that happens to a manager. Happy he gets to spend time with his family and take care of himself. We don’t always get those choices. Happy for the Tigers, now they have a jump on hiring the manager that could lead the team into contention.
It was widely known in and out the tigers clubhouse and front office that he was retiring at the end of this season anyways… His contract was up at years end , and the tiger insiders have said they had fully expected him to be done at the end of the year.
Congrats Gardy on a great MLB managing career and your retirement. Sorry you won’t be managing the next few years when the Tigers become serious contenders, again…..All your hard work will be harvested in those coming teams in ’21.’22.23.
Classy guy from head to toe, including today with his exit. Just top notch. Hope all is well for him.
Gardy is one of the last swashbuckling, dirt kickin’, shitz spittin’ Managers baseball will ever see. He was an extremely instrumental coach with Tom Kelly’s two World Series title teams in ‘87 & ‘91 (3rd base coach, primarily) and a huge reason Kelly retired when he did. There weren’t many who were better evaluating talent and plugging ballplayers in where they could succeed as an individual & team. Guy made Nick Punto a major leaguer. That’s some serious magic.
Go enjoy some chill, Gardy. And here’s hoping that “food poisoning” isn’t code for cancer nowadays.
A long time ago – like 1979/80-ish I used to dream of a future Mets infield of Gardenhire at SS and a kid named Brian Giles at 2B.
Man, thats a name (not to be confused with the former Indians/Pirates/Padres/Dodgers Outfielder) that hasn’t been mentioned in a long time.
Looking at how both players careers played out thats about the modern equivalent of dreaming of a Mets Infield with Tim Bogar at SS and Jeff Gardner at 2B…
How about Jordany Valdespin and Reese Havens!
Gardenhire got off to a great start in Minnesota but it pretty much went down hill after Santana was traded. Its a little surprising he took the Tigers job knowing they were not planning on contending during his time. He got to manage almost 2500 games in the Major Leagues so congratulations to him.
Twins played in game 163 (lost) in ‘08, but then won division titles in ‘09 and ‘10. Pretty much didn’t go downhill after Johan was traded in ‘07
The 4 years of over 90 loses tell you the Twins went down hill.
Stop pretending when Ron left the Twins it was on good terms.
Who said any of that? I was simply stating that the Twins didn’t immediately go downhill due to the Johan trade. And I certainly didn’t state that Gardy left the Twins on good terms.
Great guy. Hope he enjoys his time with family now.
Saw him on the field during BP here talking with fans and tossing balls to kids.
Marcus Thames is the rumor…
Why not Rod Allen?
Intrigued by Rod Allen..could be something.
I’ll miss him.
Hire Don Kelly …. #DK!!
It will be interesting to see who takes his place. I think they need some one with a developmental background, but has managing experience. I just don’t see them going with a rookie manager, unless it’s someone from their own system the players are already familiar with (please not McClendon!). They will likely need a new pitching coach as well. Anderson came out of retirement to work with Gardy.
Good Luck Ron!
You had a great MLB managing career and you get to take that ring with you into retirement [a lot of great managers can’t say that]. BE sure to check that fishing boat for holes before you go out in the morning