Just Can’t Quit
By Blake VandeBunte • Mar 16th, 2009 • Category: 2009 SeasonI recently had some free time due to Michigan State University being on spring break. I used a chunk of that time to check on what former Tigers were still working in baseball as coaches or managers. The list is much longer than you would probably expect. I won’t add any commentary, I’ll just stick to the facts.
- Barbaro Garbey: Hitting Coach - Peoria Chiefs - Atlanta Braves (Lo-A)
- Alan Trammell: Bench Coach - Chicago Cubs
- Dave Hajek: Hitting Coach - Tulsa Drillers - Colorado Rockies (AA)
- Luis Pujols: Manager - Corpus Christi Hooks - Houston Astros (AA)
- John Moses: Pitching Coach - Albuquerque Isotopes - Los Angeles Dodgers (AAA)
- Franklin Stubbs: Hitting Coach - Inland Empire 66ers - Los Angeles Dodgers (Hi-A)
- Luis Salazar: Hitting Coach - Chattanooga Lookouts - Los Angeles Dodgers (AA)
- Glenn Dishman: Pitching Coach - Chattanooga Lookouts - Los Angeles Dodgers (AA)
- Mike DiFelice: Manager - Kingport Mets - New York Mets (R)
- Howard Johnson: Hitting Coach - New York Mets
- Chris Truby: Manager - Williamsport Crosscutters - Philadelphia Phillies (A)
- Matt Walbeck: Manager - Altoona Curve - Pittsburgh Pirates (AA)
- Glenn Abbott: Pitching Coach - Portland Beavers - San Diego Padres (AAA)
- Darnell Coles: Hitting Coach - Syracuse Chiefs - Washington Nationals (AAA)
- John Shelby: First Base Coach - Baltimore Orioles
- Juan Samuel: Third Base Coach - Baltimore Orioles
- Billy McMillon: Hitting Coach - Greenville Drive - Boston Red Sox (A)
- Ernie Young: Manager - Kannapolis Intimidators - Chicago White Sox (A)
- Gary Ward: Hitting Coach - Charlotte Knights - Chicago White Sox (AAA)
- Torey Luvullo: Manager - Columbus Clippers - Cleveland Indians (AAA)
- Phil Clark: Hitting Coach - Mahoning Valley Scrapers - Cleveland Indians (A)
- Carl Willis: Pitching Coach - Cleveland Indians
- Rusty Kuntz: First Base Coach - Kansas City Royals
- Riccardo Ingram: Hitting Coach - Rochester Red Wings - Minnesota Twins (AAA)
- Milt Cuyler: Hitting Coach - GCL Twins - Minnesota Twins (R)
- Scott Aldred: Pitching Coach - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees - New York Yankees (AAA)
- Todd Steverson: Manager - Sacramento River Cats - Oakland Athletics (AAA)
- Phil Plantier: Manager - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx - Seattle Mariners (AA)
- Ben Ogilvie: Hitting Coach - GCL Rays - Tampa Bay Rays (R)
- Gary Pettis: First Base Coach - Texas Rangers
I excluded managers and coaches within the Tigers organization because there are a lot of them and most of us are familiar with who they are anyway.
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I think it is funny that Milt Cuyler is a hitting coach because that is why he didnt stick in the majors. He couldnt hit.
Interesting post, Blake. You do excellent work. I wanted to add a player to your list: Cecil Fielder. He is the manager of the Atlantic City Surf of the Canadian-American League, an independent minor league with no affiliation to the MLB or MiLB. Apparently, it is like a Class A league. Were you only including former players who are involved with MLB-affiliated teams? If so, then my bad.
Thanks, Travis. My list is only guys affiliated with MLB. However, I’m sure I missed some there as well. Thanks for the heads up on Fielder.
Can anyone else name a former player that I forgot? It doesn’t just have to be MLB guys.
If you were to add all MLB relationships, you would have Kaline in there. Perhaps that is throwing too wide a net.
What is his job, besides ambassador of goodwill?
I believe Kaline’s official title is, Special Assistant to the President. Willie Horton also holds that job.
Andy VanHekken who was up briefly with the Tigers is in the Astros organization, played for Pujols (former manager) in Corpus Christi.