In the wake of Ryne Sandberg's resignation as the Philadelphia Phillies manager Friday afternoon, this:
Last time a #Phillies manager resigned, Eddie Sawyer lost the opener in 1960, then said: "I'm 49. And I want to live to be 50."
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) June 26, 2015
I'd forgotten about Sawyer. Actually, that's not quite right. I remembered the line, but attributed it to Eddie Stanky, who quit in 1977 after managing the Rangers for exactly one game. Stanky joined his new team in Minnesota, and after one night he felt "lonesome and homesick" and later said, "I would have stayed if I didn't have to go to my room alone each night."
I got that from Gary Webster's book, When in Doubt, Fire the Skipper, which lists all the midseason managerial changes in major-league history.
Working forward from '77, here are some of the best parting words ...
Gene Mauch resigns from Twins, 1980: "For a lot of years, I threw a lot of words to a lot of players. They were words which meant a lot to me; words like pride, dedication and responsibility. It's time for these players to hear some new words from a new voice."
Bob Lemon fired by George Steinbrenner, 1982: "I thought this time it would go nine innings, but I never got out of the first inning. The man felt a change was needed, so why wait? But, 14 days? I had a bad spring. Why didn't he fire me this spring?"
George Bamberger resigns from Brewers, 1983: "There's nothing wrong with me now. But if I continue with this job for another four months, there might be. I had ulcers once, and I don't want to get them back. The thing is, I don't need this. I'm going on 58, and I don't need the job."
Frank Robinson fired by Giants, 1984: "I did everything physically possible and everything mentally possible to get the players to play up to their capabilities. I don't think I've gotten the best out of some of them, totally. Some gave everything they had; but as a 25-man unit, no."
Joe Altobelli fired by Orioles, 1985: "I thought this was a class operation, but I guess I was sadly mistaken."
Ray Miller fired by Twins, 1986: "It's very unfair to me. I have done everything that was asked of me."
Larry Bowa fired by Padres, 1988: "If you're fired by Frank Cashen, you get worried. They're [the Mets] pretty knowledgeable baseball people. But if you're fired by these people, you don't worry about it."
Whitey Herzog resigns from Cardinals, 1990: "I don't think I have done a good job as a manager this year. I just can't get the guys to play, and I think anybody could do a better job than me."
Tony Perez fired by Reds, 1993: "I don't think it's fair (after just 44 games). Was I cheated? I don't know. But I don't think it's fair. I think I did a good job."
Charlie Manuel fired by Indians, 2002: "The meeting didn't last long. Mark [Shapiro] started to talk about our young players. I asked where I fit in their plans. He said this was not the time to talk about it. He seemed surprised that I wanted to talk about it. ... I was either going to get a contract or get fired."
Mike Hargrove resigns from Mariners, 2007: "There are no dark, sinister reasons for this decision. This has been my decision. I have no reason to lie. I don't expect people to understand it, I really don't, because at times I don't understand it myself." (The Mariners had won eight straight games.)
Ned Yost fired by Brewers, 2008: "I'm going to do this thing right. I have nothing to be ashamed about. I'm walking out with my head held high." (Yost was fired in mid-September with the Brewers tied atop the wild-card standings.)
Clint Hurdle fired by Rockies, 2009: "It was a tremendous ride. It was life lesson after life lesson. And I will tell you this: The last seven weeks, I have said the Serenity Prayer more times than I did in the last seven years. I'll be pulling for them from afar."
Lou Piniella resigns from Cubs, 2010: "Mom needs me, and that's where I'm going."
Manuel fired by Phillies, 2013: "I never quit nothin' and I didn't resign."
And finally, Friday...
Sandberg resigns from Phillies, 2015: "I do not like to lose. I hate to lose. I think that's the biggest thing that weighed on me. And with some changes at the top looming, I go back to my statement, I did not want to be in the way of anything happening and progress going forward."
