Meet the Manager... Fred Hutchinson Known throughout baseball as Hutch, he began his baseball career in 1938 with the unaffiliated Seattle Rainiers of the AA Pacific Coast League and caused an immediate sensation at age 19, winning a league-best 25 games and that seasons Minor League Player of the Year award as bestowed by The Sporting News. Unfortunately, after his contract was purchased by the Detroit Tigers of the American League, Hutchinson struggled in his early Major League career with a 6–13 record and an earned-run average of 5.43 during the 1939–1941 seasons. His ineffectiveness caused his return to the minor leagues in each season. Overall, Hutchinson compiled a 95–71 career record and a 3.73 earned run average over 11 seasons, all with Detroit. On July 5, 1952, with Detroit in the surprising position of last place in the eight-team American League, the club fired manager Red Rolfe and handed the job to Freddy, still an active player and five weeks shy of his 33rd birthday. Hutchinson was chosen based on his leadership skills since he had been the ALs Player Representative since 1947. He managed the Tigers for the next 2 1/2 years, serving into 1953 as a playing manager. In 55, he went home to Seattle and the Rainiers of the PCL, becoming their manager. Even though the club did not enjoy a Major League affiliation, he led Seattle to a 95–77 record and a first place finish. His success led to his second Major League managerial job when he replaced Harry Walker as skipper of the St. Louis Cardinals for the 1956 season. The team improved by eight games that season, and catapulted to second place in 1957, behind only the eventual world champion Milwaukee Braves. Hutchinson was named National League Manager of the Year. His biggest fan was GM Frank Lane, however, upon Lanes departure from the club in 1958 and a poor season, the Cardinals let Hutch go. He returned home to Seattle again to manage the home team. In 1959, The Rainiers had finally gotten a major league affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds and by July, Hutchinson was called to Cincinnati to take over the club, replacing Mayo Smith. The team struggled through 59 and 60, as a result, 1961 was a crucial season for Freddy. The Reds were projected as a second division team. However, with his guidance the season was marked by numerous dramatic late-inning comeback victories, overcoming large margins, sometimes in a single inning. The Reds seemed never to be out of any game, until the last out. The 1961 Reds won 93 games and their first NL pennant since 1940. But, a World Championship was not to be. Cincinnati lost the 1961 Series to the Yankees in five games. Winning the 1961 pennant secured Hutchinsons place in Cincinnati. In 1962, his Reds won 98 games but finished third, 3½ games behind the Giants. While the team fell to fifth in 1963, with an 86–76 mark, it continued to blend in young talent, such as young shortstop Leo Cárdenas and freshman second baseman Pete Rose, who was named the National Leagues Rookie of the Year. Hutch was rehired for the 64 season, but tragically, an off-season medical examination had revealed malignant tumors in Hutchinsons lungs, chest and neck. Given the cancer treatments available at the time, the prognosis was grim. Sadly, he passed away on November 12th of 1964 at the young age of 45. SPORT magazine posthumously named him Man of the Year for 1964 in tribute to his courage in battling his illness and the Reds permanently retired his uniform number 1. The Hutch Award is given annually by Major League Baseball in his memory as well.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 23:58:31 +0000