Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog, who led the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title, has died at the age of 92.
Herzog's death was mourned Tuesday by statements from his family, the Cardinals and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.
As a manager who built offenses in both St. Louis and Kansas City that relied heavily on speed, pitching and defense, Herzog was chosen by the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee for induction into Cooperstown in 2010 after serving as manager for four teams over 18 seasons and compiling an overall record of 1281-1125.
“Whitey and his teams played a big part in changing the direction of the Cardinals franchise in the early 1980s with an exciting style of play that would become known as “Whitey Ball” throughout baseball," said Cardinals chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. "Whitey loved the Cardinals, their fans, and St. Louis. He will be sorely missed.”
Born Dorrel Norman Elvert Herzog in New Athens, Illinois, Herzog was a star baseball and basketball player in high school who chose to sign with the New York Yankees instead of going to college.
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According to his SABR biography, Herzog acquired the nickname "Whitey" while in the Yankees farm system because his light blond hair bore a resemblance to another pitcher, Bob "White Rat" Kuzava.
Herzog eventually reached the majors in 1956 after he was traded to the Washington Senators, playing what would be a career-high 117 games as an outfielder and first baseman. He played eight seasons in the majors – hitting .257 with 25 home runs and 172 RBI for the Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers before retiring as a player in 1963.
Herzog got his first managerial job 10 years later, succeeding Ted Williams as skipper of the Texas Rangers. He lasted less than one season before he was fired and replaced by Billy Martin.
He was the interim manager for the California Angels for four games in 1974 before taking over the Kansas City Royals in the middle of the 1975 season. He went on to have a successful stint in Kansas City, guiding the Royals to three division titles and a second-place finish in four full seasons from 1976-79.
However, Herzog saved his greatest success for St. Louis. He managed the Cardinals for 73 games in 1980 before being promoted to general manager. But he returned to the dugout for the 1981 season while still retaining his duties as GM.
Under Herzog, the Cardinals returned to the playoffs in 1982, winning the National League pennant and defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games in the World Series.
He also piloted the Cardinals to World Series appearances in 1985 – when he was named NL Manager of the Year – and in 1987, but the Cardinals lost in seven games both times.
Herzog returned to the front office one last time, serving as the Angels general manager in 1992 and 1993. When he stepped down, it ended his 45-year association with baseball as a player, coach, manager and executive.
“Whitey Herzog was one of the most accomplished managers of his generation and a consistent winner with both ‘I-70’ franchises. He made a significant impact on the St. Louis Cardinals as both a manager and a general manager, with the Kansas City Royals as a manager, and with the New York Mets in player development," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Herzog was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a manager, entering Cooperstown as part of the Class of 2010 with outfielder Andre Dawson and umpire Doug Harvey.
Herzog’s last public appearance had been at the Cardinals’ home opener 12 days ago.
Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith: “He made me a better player and he made me a better person.” Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter: “He was a manager, a general manager, a farm director, a player personnel director, a scout, a coach. That tells you about his smarts right there.” Former MLB general manager Hank Peters: “Whitey Herzog is the best judge of talent I ever saw.”
