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The Bill James Guide to Baseball Managers: From 1870 to Today
Consider the fact that although more than fourteen thousand men have appeared in a lineup of at least one major league baseball game, fewer than six hundred have managed one. Small though that number is, it is inflated by dozens of skippers with only a few weeks or months at the helm of a club. If we were to define "real" managers as those who have managed a thousand games - not, after all, a terribly high bar to hurdle, fewer than seven full seasons - we would find that fewer than one hundred men qualify. Now Bill James, "the guru of baseball" (Newsweek), takes on the challenge of chronicling that history, including a decade-by-decade snapshot of baseball strategy from the 1870s through the 1990s.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
45 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Bill James
155 books198 followersGeorge William “Bill” James (born October 5, 1949, in Holton, Kansas) is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics. His approach, which he termed sabermetrics in reference to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), scientifically analyzes and studies baseball, often through the use of statistical data, in an attempt to determine why teams win and lose. His Baseball Abstract books in the 1980s are the modern predecessor to websites using sabermetrics such as Baseball Prospectus and Baseball Primer (now Baseball Think Factory).
In 2006, Time named him in the Time 100 as one of the most influential people in the world. He is currently a Senior Advisor on Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox. In 2010, Bill James was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_James
In 2006, Time named him in the Time 100 as one of the most influential people in the world. He is currently a Senior Advisor on Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox. In 2010, Bill James was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_James
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 1, 2020
Bill James is not for the wishy-washy baseball fan. You do not read Bill James unless you are "all-in" on America's pastime. He has priceless anecdotes on the best baseball managers and the trends on how they managed, this should please old-school fans who like to learn more about Connie Mack, Walter Alston, Miller Huggins and everyone who mattered in-between. For new school money ballers, he backs it up with cold hard data and back up that data with why it does or doesn't matter. James has his own style, he takes left turns you don't expect and goes off on tangents you don't expect either, but hell, he is Bill James, and he basically invented sabermetrics, which is how baseball and other sports are being run nowadays. Also, it was published in 1995, so you will need to look elsewhere to read up on current managers.
May 19, 2021
There's a major flaw with this book: it's 20 years out of date.
Not that anything in here is particularly dated or flawed (though I'm sure Bill James would have at least a few tweaks based on developments in the last couple of decades) it's just that we've got 20 more years of baseball history and baseball managers that I want to read about.
The decade by decade format is reminiscent of the Historical Abstract, and it works just as well here as is it did in the other volume; it's an arbitrary sort of format, and it doesn't necessarily represent any real change in baseball (for example, the 40's are really three periods: pre-war, war, and post-war and the game is different in all of them) but everybody instinctively gets it, so why not?
There's tons of great stuff on the evolving nature of the manager, what they were responsible for, and who actually became managers over the years. It's really great stuff. The anecdotal stuff is outstanding as well in terms of lending real color to who these people were (I love the "if he wasn't a baseball manager he'd be..." bits concluding the analysis of the major figures) without stooping into too much gossip.
I hope Bill James decides to write some more: he's a rare case of being able to master detailed analysis while being eminently readable and engaging. It's a skill that few have mastered and three of the best in baseball are all no longer writing (Bill James, Rob Neyer, and John Sickels). But books like this are a legacy that lives on, even if someone else might have to do a volume II to catch up on the last 20-odd years.
Not that anything in here is particularly dated or flawed (though I'm sure Bill James would have at least a few tweaks based on developments in the last couple of decades) it's just that we've got 20 more years of baseball history and baseball managers that I want to read about.
The decade by decade format is reminiscent of the Historical Abstract, and it works just as well here as is it did in the other volume; it's an arbitrary sort of format, and it doesn't necessarily represent any real change in baseball (for example, the 40's are really three periods: pre-war, war, and post-war and the game is different in all of them) but everybody instinctively gets it, so why not?
There's tons of great stuff on the evolving nature of the manager, what they were responsible for, and who actually became managers over the years. It's really great stuff. The anecdotal stuff is outstanding as well in terms of lending real color to who these people were (I love the "if he wasn't a baseball manager he'd be..." bits concluding the analysis of the major figures) without stooping into too much gossip.
I hope Bill James decides to write some more: he's a rare case of being able to master detailed analysis while being eminently readable and engaging. It's a skill that few have mastered and three of the best in baseball are all no longer writing (Bill James, Rob Neyer, and John Sickels). But books like this are a legacy that lives on, even if someone else might have to do a volume II to catch up on the last 20-odd years.
May 18, 2018
Managing doesn't offer as many hard numbers, but the essays are every bit as good as Bill James can dish them. He breaks down the subject by decades much like his historical baseball abstract. Some of the things discussed:
1) All baseball managers come from managing trees leading back to one of 3 former managers.
2) You can rank managers by total wins, winning percentage, or number of successful seasons, but none of the methods can be called definitive.
3) Casey Stengel brought back the platoon system, something that had died out from the time he played in the 1920s.
4) Earl Weaver was a genius at using his entire 25 man roster balancing bats with defense.
5) In fact, most of the great managers valued defense more so than offense.
6) Al Lopez was a great manager with the misfortune of being overshadowed by Casey Stengel.
7) Written in 1996 James sees Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa as the great managers of the day, but just misses Joe Torre's ascension into that class.
8) The increase in usage of relief pitchers has happened since the beginning of baseball, but will have to level off.
1) All baseball managers come from managing trees leading back to one of 3 former managers.
2) You can rank managers by total wins, winning percentage, or number of successful seasons, but none of the methods can be called definitive.
3) Casey Stengel brought back the platoon system, something that had died out from the time he played in the 1920s.
4) Earl Weaver was a genius at using his entire 25 man roster balancing bats with defense.
5) In fact, most of the great managers valued defense more so than offense.
6) Al Lopez was a great manager with the misfortune of being overshadowed by Casey Stengel.
7) Written in 1996 James sees Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa as the great managers of the day, but just misses Joe Torre's ascension into that class.
8) The increase in usage of relief pitchers has happened since the beginning of baseball, but will have to level off.
September 6, 2021
I read several of Bill James' books between 1980 and 2000. This is one of my favorites. It covers managers who are generally not discussed as much as they should be and, because managers are responsible for some it is, strategy. It also serve as a good history of baseball.
Because of the nature of the book, it relies more on anecdotes than data. I really appreciate James use of statistics to generate insight into baseball but sometimes he goes overboard but in this context it is quite restrained.
Because of the nature of the book, it relies more on anecdotes than data. I really appreciate James use of statistics to generate insight into baseball but sometimes he goes overboard but in this context it is quite restrained.
September 8, 2022
Mostly good
This came out around 1996 so the modern era is left out. The decade-by-decade analysis works well. I was disappointed that he did not discuss the 67-68 Cardinals, especially after rating Schoendienst as the third most-successful manager of the decade. Good treatment of Herzog. He also expounds on many of his pet issues: the intentional walk, the sacrifice and usage of relief pitchers. A worthwhile analysis.
This came out around 1996 so the modern era is left out. The decade-by-decade analysis works well. I was disappointed that he did not discuss the 67-68 Cardinals, especially after rating Schoendienst as the third most-successful manager of the decade. Good treatment of Herzog. He also expounds on many of his pet issues: the intentional walk, the sacrifice and usage of relief pitchers. A worthwhile analysis.
January 23, 2017
A delightful collection of anecdotes about some of the game's larger-than-life figures. And some interesting analysis of how different aspects of managing (sac bunts, hit and runs, lineup order) have changed over time. An essential read for anyone with even a passing interest in baseball's history.
February 4, 2019
Excellent book on the managers of baseball over the years. This is broken down by each decade with an emphasis of the top 2-4 managers each decade, the changes in strategy and the changes in the game. Lots of stats, vignettes and more.
June 25, 2019
It was my least fave Bill James, but still pretty good
November 15, 2024
Good book. It is more the history of baseball managers, their different styles, the evolution of strategies, and the job in general.
October 21, 2009
How exciting can a book about managers really be? I am a huge fan of the Bill James Historical Abstract and I like a lot of James' other work (What Happened to the Hall of Fame, etc). So I was willing to give this book a try. 4 stars is probably generous - 3.5 would be better - but James does as good a job as can be expected given the material he has to work with.
The format is similar to the Historical Abstract - it has the "Decade in a box" feature which provides some common data about each decade. Interspersed with the decade boxes are articles about managers and other happenings from the decade.
James profiles about 20-25 managers in much greater detail - examining their tendencies, their styles and the players who played for them. The manager profiles are definitely the best part of the book.
James does attempt to come up with a rating system for managers, which is pretty good. He also attempts to come up with what he thinks would be a useful statistical record for managers. This book was written in the mid-90s, and the proposed stats are almost a mirror image of what Baseball Prospectus manager profiles each year. Give James a point there if they really are working from his template.
If you want to learn more about baseball history from a different perspective, this is a great book to check out.
The format is similar to the Historical Abstract - it has the "Decade in a box" feature which provides some common data about each decade. Interspersed with the decade boxes are articles about managers and other happenings from the decade.
James profiles about 20-25 managers in much greater detail - examining their tendencies, their styles and the players who played for them. The manager profiles are definitely the best part of the book.
James does attempt to come up with a rating system for managers, which is pretty good. He also attempts to come up with what he thinks would be a useful statistical record for managers. This book was written in the mid-90s, and the proposed stats are almost a mirror image of what Baseball Prospectus manager profiles each year. Give James a point there if they really are working from his template.
If you want to learn more about baseball history from a different perspective, this is a great book to check out.
November 29, 2014
The most enjoyable of the Bill James works I've read. It doesn't become bogged in reams of stats and focuses far more on the personalities and approaches to management employed by the games most important managers. James does use some statistical tests to see how the historical records shed life on how each manager handled his team. Those statistical bits are fascinating. But mostly you'll find here some telling quotes about the managers and James' own attempt to paint a word profile of each. His opening question is a good one: if some guy is sitting across the table from you, applying for the job of managing a major league baseball team, how do you know what to look for? How do you decide? It's a great question and, in true James form, some of the answers are unexpected and loads of fun....and a few just others seem to be points that may be important to James alone.
And here's one thing I learned from this book -- there is no one prototype of a successful managers. Guys with entirely different approaches to the game, different styles of dealing with players and different senses of priorities have all been successful. They just have to assemble a cast around them that will thrive within what they want to do. THAT may be why success in baseball is so elusive. It certainly explains why just amassing the most high-paid, talented players does not guarantee a pennant!
And here's one thing I learned from this book -- there is no one prototype of a successful managers. Guys with entirely different approaches to the game, different styles of dealing with players and different senses of priorities have all been successful. They just have to assemble a cast around them that will thrive within what they want to do. THAT may be why success in baseball is so elusive. It certainly explains why just amassing the most high-paid, talented players does not guarantee a pennant!
July 29, 2014
Bill James made his name with the ground-breaking baseball abstracts during the '80s. They were must reading for any baseball fan, and opened up new areas of fanaticism involving sabermetrics, fantasy baseball etc. Sadly, he stopped writing the abstracts a long time ago.
But he's done four other books which are great. This is one of them. I've never been a huge fan of his numbers stuff, I really like his overall take and insight on baseball. Especially the way he's able to make a lifelong fan like me see things in a way we never thought of before.
Usually he does that with players. In this book, he looks at baseball managers over the years. They're all here. He chronicles their strengths, weaknesses, strategies etc. There's even a fun category speculating on what a manager might have done for an occupation if he hadn't chosen baseball. (Casey Stengel would have gone into show business, Walter Alston would have been a school teacher, etc. )
By the way, the other must-read Bill James books are his historical baseball abstract, his book about the Hall of Fame and a collection of articles called This Time Let's Not Eat the Bones.
But he's done four other books which are great. This is one of them. I've never been a huge fan of his numbers stuff, I really like his overall take and insight on baseball. Especially the way he's able to make a lifelong fan like me see things in a way we never thought of before.
Usually he does that with players. In this book, he looks at baseball managers over the years. They're all here. He chronicles their strengths, weaknesses, strategies etc. There's even a fun category speculating on what a manager might have done for an occupation if he hadn't chosen baseball. (Casey Stengel would have gone into show business, Walter Alston would have been a school teacher, etc. )
By the way, the other must-read Bill James books are his historical baseball abstract, his book about the Hall of Fame and a collection of articles called This Time Let's Not Eat the Bones.
May 20, 2015
It bugs me that Bill James' contribution is reduced to statistics. Yes, he uses them, but not exclusively. To me, his brilliance lies in his quest to find the best way to think about a problem. This is one of his best books. Whether a given manager is any good or not is endlessly debated on radio call-in shows and in bars, generally on the basis of whether one's favorite team is doing well at the moment. James tries to approach the question by breaking the tasks of a manager down, then asking how we can usefully compare one manager to another. Some of these questions can be approached statistically -- how often does manager X call for a squeeze play or an intentional walk? -- while other aspects have to be analyzed with different tools. While his assessments are the "great" managers are great for ammunition in barroom arguments, I find the book useful nearly two decades later for thinking on my own about the newer crop of managers. It's hard for me to imagine anyone who cares about the games not finding this book fascinating and informative.
February 22, 2013
Unfortunately James never seems to be able to pull off the "goal" of this book, which is to determine manager quality -- or at least managers' qualities -- with any degree of precision.
Some of the stories are good. Some of the side-essays are even better. But most of it is attempting to separate roster construction and brute luck from manager ability -- or to categorize managers -- and it does not really leave a strong sense that we know that much about managers.
Some of the stories are good. Some of the side-essays are even better. But most of it is attempting to separate roster construction and brute luck from manager ability -- or to categorize managers -- and it does not really leave a strong sense that we know that much about managers.
February 8, 2017
Going through Bill James books is a damned relaxing way to spend off-season months.
May 12, 2020
This is my first book I have read by Bill James after hearing his name come up in many other baseball books and discussions. What an amazing book for the true baseball historian! He has to be on the top of any list of baseball writers. His knowledge is unparalleled.
March 19, 2009
Re-reading again. Sometimes you need comfort food.
September 27, 2009
Bill James is a fine teller of baseball history with a long list of axes to grind and some pretty interesting evidence to deploy in his own support. Highly recommended to serious baseball fans.
November 11, 2014
Good stuff. Wish there were an update.
August 22, 2015
Great book on managers by the great Bill James.
January 28, 2016
Some articles are five stars, others are one. Dense but worthy read to learn more about baseball, strategy and its managers.
May 11, 2016
finished sometime around 2000
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews