His biography is an interesting read on how a manager can influence teams to have a winning spirit for consecutive seasons.

Playing history

Jim Leyland’s baseball career began as a “catcher” with the Detroit Tigers, in 1963. His first six seasons were spent as a minor league player with the Detroit Tigers. In 1970, he served a coach for the Montgomery Rebels and thus his career in baseball got transformed from being a player to being a coach and manager. The Tigers organization appointed him as the minor league manager in 1972 and he continued to hold that position until 1979. For two years, between 1979-1981, he became the manager of Evansville Triplets.

His elevation to being a major league baseball manager happened in November 1985, when he was appointed the manager for Pittsburg Pirates, and continued with that position for a decade. During this period he led the Pittsburg Pirates to several wins. Under his leadership, Pittsburg Pirates went on to play the National League Championship Series, three times in a row (1990, 1991 and 1992).

Success as a Manager

In 1997, Florida Marlins hired him as their manager and Jim steered the franchise to win their first World Series championship. With the win, the Florida Marlins, became the fastest expansion series to win a world championship. The franchise was just five years into its existence. However, the franchise went into a fire sale in 1997 and Jim Leyland had to quit two years ahead of his contract. He was subsequently hired by Colorado Rockies in 1999, but it was only for a year after which he quit being a manager.

Life came a full circle and in 2003 he was appointed the manager for the Detroit Tigers. This is where he had spent the early part of his baseball career, 18 years in total. In 2006, he led the Detroit Tigers to a 95-67 record, the team’s best since 1987. He also led the team to win pennnats in both major leagues and was awarded the 2006 Manager of the Year. Five years later, he led the Detroit Tigers to win the American League Central Division for three consecutive years (2011, 2012 and 2013).

In 2013, he retired from managing the Detroit Tigers but continued to be their special assistant.

Personal life

Jim Leyland was married to Joanna Grow in 1976. However, the marriage ended in a divorce after 13 months and the couple separated in 1977. He married his current wife Katie Leyland in 1987 when he was the Pittsburg Pirates’ manager and she had just joined the team right after college. When they married Jim was 42 and Katie was 28. They now have two children. Kelly Leyland and Patrick Leyland. Adding up his salary and contracts his net worth is estimated to be $15Million dollars.

In the baseball circuits, Jim Leyland is known to be a “no non-sense” and “no crap” manager. His contribution to the many teams he led and managed are going to be very respectful for years.