Every MLB Team's Worst Manager Of All Time

By Jacob Kornhauser

Everything starts at the top in MLB and that means it often all comes down to the manager. Each team has had their fair share of good and bad ones, but these are the worst skippers to ever lead each franchise.

Every MLB Team\'s Worst Manager Of All Time
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30. Houston Astros - Brad Mills

Houston Astros - Brad Mills Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2010-12, record: 171-274 Mills wasn't given a ton of talent in Houston, but he still failed to get the most out of his Astros teams. As the team rebuilt, he couldn't get the major league product to improve. Had he had a little more success early on, he might still be there with the current, more promising team.

30. Houston Astros - Brad Mills

Tenure: 2010-12, record: 171-274 Mills wasn't given a ton of talent in Houston, but he still failed to get the most out of his Astros teams. As the team rebuilt, he couldn't get the major league product to improve. Had he had a little more success early on, he might still be there with the current, more promising team.

29. Los Angeles Angels - Dick Williams

Los Angeles Angels - Dick Williams Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1974-76, record: 147-204 This is a bizarre one because Williams is a Hall of Famer. However, he isn't enshrined for his efforts with the California Angels in the 1970s. He came to town with a great reputation, but it became clear before he managed three full seasons with the Angels that he wasn't the man for the job.

29. Los Angeles Angels - Dick Williams

Tenure: 1974-76, record: 147-204 This is a bizarre one because Williams is a Hall of Famer. However, he isn't enshrined for his efforts with the California Angels in the 1970s. He came to town with a great reputation, but it became clear before he managed three full seasons with the Angels that he wasn't the man for the job.

28. Oakland Athletics - Jackie Moore

Oakland Athletics - Jackie Moore Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1984-86, record: 163-190 In their illustrious history, the Athletics haven't had many prolonged periods of non-competitiveness, but the mid-1980s did mark one such era. They were under Moore's direction then, and never really threatened to compete and seemed uninspired. If Moore had gotten the team to win a bit earlier, he could've been around for the Bash Brothers days.

28. Oakland Athletics - Jackie Moore

Tenure: 1984-86, record: 163-190 In their illustrious history, the Athletics haven't had many prolonged periods of non-competitiveness, but the mid-1980s did mark one such era. They were under Moore's direction then, and never really threatened to compete and seemed uninspired. If Moore had gotten the team to win a bit earlier, he could've been around for the Bash Brothers days.

27. Seattle Mariners - Maury Wills

Seattle Mariners - Maury Wills Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1980-81, record: 26-56 Maury Wills was a great player and one of the best base thieves of all time, but he was a terrible manager. At one point, he had the grounds crew move the batter's box up one foot to help his team on the breaking ball and was caught and suspended. After just over half a season worth of games, the Mariners were convinced he would never figure it out.

27. Seattle Mariners - Maury Wills

Tenure: 1980-81, record: 26-56 Maury Wills was a great player and one of the best base thieves of all time, but he was a terrible manager. At one point, he had the grounds crew move the batter's box up one foot to help his team on the breaking ball and was caught and suspended. After just over half a season worth of games, the Mariners were convinced he would never figure it out.

26. Texas Rangers - Ted Williams

Texas Rangers - Ted Williams Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1969-72, record: 273-364 Teddy Ballgame may have been one of the greatest hitters in the sport's history, but he did not have the tools to manage a team. His first Rangers team was actually surprisingly good, convincing people he could be a great manager. But over the next three seasons, his team failed to win more than 70 games in a year.

26. Texas Rangers - Ted Williams

Tenure: 1969-72, record: 273-364 Teddy Ballgame may have been one of the greatest hitters in the sport's history, but he did not have the tools to manage a team. His first Rangers team was actually surprisingly good, convincing people he could be a great manager. But over the next three seasons, his team failed to win more than 70 games in a year.

25. Chicago White Sox - Don Gutteridge

Chicago White Sox - Don Gutteridge Credit: Jon Durr, USA Today Sports
Tenure: 1969-70, record: 109-172 The White Sox have had quite a few bad stretches over the last century or so, but they were never more pitiful than they were under Don Gutteridge. He simply wasn't qualified for the job, but Chicago stubbornly stuck with him longer than they should have. The result was a record almost 70 games under .500 over a two-year stretch.

25. Chicago White Sox - Don Gutteridge

Tenure: 1969-70, record: 109-172 The White Sox have had quite a few bad stretches over the last century or so, but they were never more pitiful than they were under Don Gutteridge. He simply wasn't qualified for the job, but Chicago stubbornly stuck with him longer than they should have. The result was a record almost 70 games under .500 over a two-year stretch.

24. Cleveland Indians - Alvin Dark

Cleveland Indians - Alvin Dark Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1968-71, record: 266-321 Alvin Dark had a very good playing career with several different teams. Like many great players, though, he didn't succeed when it came to managing. His Indians teams in the late 60s and early 70s were pretty hapless. It's actually a wonder how he lasted so long, given the fact it seemed apparent pretty early on that he wasn't cut out to coach.

24. Cleveland Indians - Alvin Dark

Tenure: 1968-71, record: 266-321 Alvin Dark had a very good playing career with several different teams. Like many great players, though, he didn't succeed when it came to managing. His Indians teams in the late 60s and early 70s were pretty hapless. It's actually a wonder how he lasted so long, given the fact it seemed apparent pretty early on that he wasn't cut out to coach.

23. Detroit Tigers - Luis Pujols

Detroit Tigers - Luis Pujols Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2002, record: 55-100 Pujols was so bad that he didn't even last a full season. He took over just a few games into the 2002 season and, needless to say, he didn't get the job done. Of course, after posting a win percentage barely above .333, the front office wasn't convinced he deserved another season as the skipper.

23. Detroit Tigers - Luis Pujols

Tenure: 2002, record: 55-100 Pujols was so bad that he didn't even last a full season. He took over just a few games into the 2002 season and, needless to say, he didn't get the job done. Of course, after posting a win percentage barely above .333, the front office wasn't convinced he deserved another season as the skipper.

22. Kansas City Royals - Buddy Bell

Kansas City Royals - Buddy Bell Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2005-07, record: 174-262 It's hard to choose the Royals' worst manager ever, since they've had so many bad ones. I have to say that Buddy Bell takes the cake. He was the skipper when the team was at their absolute worst, which is saying something. Not only did he have a talentless team, but he didn't know what he was doing. That was a deadly combination that helped the Royals become the laughingstock of the league year in and year out.

22. Kansas City Royals - Buddy Bell

Tenure: 2005-07, record: 174-262 It's hard to choose the Royals' worst manager ever, since they've had so many bad ones. I have to say that Buddy Bell takes the cake. He was the skipper when the team was at their absolute worst, which is saying something. Not only did he have a talentless team, but he didn't know what he was doing. That was a deadly combination that helped the Royals become the laughingstock of the league year in and year out.

21. Minnesota Twins - Billy Gardner

Minnesota Twins - Billy Gardner Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1981-85, record: 206-289 Not many of the coaches on this list lasted as long as Gardner did, but he was just as bad as most of the other managers listed. The Twins were in a phase where they were ready to compete in a few years, but he just kept pushing their timetable back. After five seasons, the Twins finally decided enough was enough.

21. Minnesota Twins - Billy Gardner

Tenure: 1981-85, record: 206-289 Not many of the coaches on this list lasted as long as Gardner did, but he was just as bad as most of the other managers listed. The Twins were in a phase where they were ready to compete in a few years, but he just kept pushing their timetable back. After five seasons, the Twins finally decided enough was enough.

20. Baltimore Orioles - Rogers Hornsby

Baltimore Orioles - Rogers Hornsby Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1933-37, record: 233-352 Rogers Hornsby was one of the best hitters of all time, but he really didn't grasp how to manage. As the head man for who were the St. Louis Browns at the time, Hornsby never got into a groove and had expectations that were too high from his team. It often happens to great players; they expect too much of their team because they're used to their own success. This approach didn't work out for Hornsby.

20. Baltimore Orioles - Rogers Hornsby

Tenure: 1933-37, record: 233-352 Rogers Hornsby was one of the best hitters of all time, but he really didn't grasp how to manage. As the head man for who were the St. Louis Browns at the time, Hornsby never got into a groove and had expectations that were too high from his team. It often happens to great players; they expect too much of their team because they're used to their own success. This approach didn't work out for Hornsby.

19. Boston Red Sox - Bobby Valentine

Boston Red Sox - Bobby Valentine Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2012, record: 69-93 Valentine had one of the worst single seasons the Red Sox have ever experienced from a win/loss and expectations perspective. This team was ready to compete, but Valentine made mistakes left and right and embarrassed the proud franchise. They won the World Series the year following his departure, proving his incompetence.

19. Boston Red Sox - Bobby Valentine

Tenure: 2012, record: 69-93 Valentine had one of the worst single seasons the Red Sox have ever experienced from a win/loss and expectations perspective. This team was ready to compete, but Valentine made mistakes left and right and embarrassed the proud franchise. They won the World Series the year following his departure, proving his incompetence.

18. New York Yankees - Stump Merrill

New York Yankees - Stump Merrill Credit: Derick Hingle, USA Today Sports
Tenure: 1990-91, record: 120-155 The Yankees aren't used to losing much, but in the early 90s under Stump Merrill, they were not a competitive team. As many of their future stars developed, the team struggled on the field. A lot of that had to do with Merrill not being able to get the most out of his squad.

18. New York Yankees - Stump Merrill

Tenure: 1990-91, record: 120-155 The Yankees aren't used to losing much, but in the early 90s under Stump Merrill, they were not a competitive team. As many of their future stars developed, the team struggled on the field. A lot of that had to do with Merrill not being able to get the most out of his squad.

17. Tampa Bay Rays - Hal McRae

Tampa Bay Rays - Hal McRae Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2001-02, record: 113-196 Hal McRae was another good player who didn't succeed as a manager. Although he had the task of managing a terrible Devil Rays team, he never even inspired them. One could possibly blame McRae for how long it took the franchise to become competitive.

17. Tampa Bay Rays - Hal McRae

Tenure: 2001-02, record: 113-196 Hal McRae was another good player who didn't succeed as a manager. Although he had the task of managing a terrible Devil Rays team, he never even inspired them. One could possibly blame McRae for how long it took the franchise to become competitive.

16. Toronto Blue Jays - Bobby Mattick

Toronto Blue Jays - Bobby Mattick Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1980-81, record: 104-164 Believe it or not, the Blue Jays haven't had many long stretches of bad baseball in their franchise's relatively short history. One of their few worst stretches came in the early 80s, with Bobby Mattick leading the squad. In just over a decade, the team would be winning back-to-back World Series titles, though, so it wasn't all bad.

16. Toronto Blue Jays - Bobby Mattick

Tenure: 1980-81, record: 104-164 Believe it or not, the Blue Jays haven't had many long stretches of bad baseball in their franchise's relatively short history. One of their few worst stretches came in the early 80s, with Bobby Mattick leading the squad. In just over a decade, the team would be winning back-to-back World Series titles, though, so it wasn't all bad.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks - Kirk Gibson

Arizona Diamondbacks - Kirk Gibson Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2010-14, record: 353-375 Kirk Gibson's overall results weren't that bad, but his tough-guy act started wearing on his players after a few years. The worst thing he did was lead on the franchise and convince the front office he could be the one to take the team to the next level when he never quite got there.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks - Kirk Gibson

Tenure: 2010-14, record: 353-375 Kirk Gibson's overall results weren't that bad, but his tough-guy act started wearing on his players after a few years. The worst thing he did was lead on the franchise and convince the front office he could be the one to take the team to the next level when he never quite got there.

14. Colorado Rockies - Walt Weiss

Colorado Rockies - Walt Weiss Credit: Matt Kartozian, USA Today Sports
Tenure: 2013-present, record: 208-278. Walt Weiss has a pretty good gig in Colorado. All he has to do there is manage a team that annually loses 90 games and he keeps his job. He has now been at the helm for three years and the team hasn't even come close to competing. This franchise needs to start rebuilding. Someone needs to ask: why does Weiss still have a job?

14. Colorado Rockies - Walt Weiss

Tenure: 2013-present, record: 208-278. Walt Weiss has a pretty good gig in Colorado. All he has to do there is manage a team that annually loses 90 games and he keeps his job. He has now been at the helm for three years and the team hasn't even come close to competing. This franchise needs to start rebuilding. Someone needs to ask: why does Weiss still have a job?

13. Los Angeles Dodgers - Bill Dahlen

Los Angeles Dodgers - Bill Dahlen Credit: Charles LeClaire, USA Today Sports
Tenure: 1910-13, record: 251-355 Dahlen was one of the great players of early baseball, but he was not one of the game's great managers. The Dodgers franchise got off to a rough start under his direction, but they actually let him remain there for four years. His four-year record, which was more than 100 games under .500, was enough to convince other teams he never deserved another chance to manage.

13. Los Angeles Dodgers - Bill Dahlen

Tenure: 1910-13, record: 251-355 Dahlen was one of the great players of early baseball, but he was not one of the game's great managers. The Dodgers franchise got off to a rough start under his direction, but they actually let him remain there for four years. His four-year record, which was more than 100 games under .500, was enough to convince other teams he never deserved another chance to manage.

12. San Diego Padres - Jim Riggleman

San Diego Padres - Jim Riggleman Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1992-94, record: 112-179 Jim Riggleman has had some success at other stops with the Cubs and Nationals, but he was terrible with the Padres. He got to manage Tony Gwynn, which had to be one of the highlights of his managerial career. Unfortunately for Gwynn, that didn't win the team anything. Shortly after he left, the team got competitive and actually reached the World Series by 1998.

12. San Diego Padres - Jim Riggleman

Tenure: 1992-94, record: 112-179 Jim Riggleman has had some success at other stops with the Cubs and Nationals, but he was terrible with the Padres. He got to manage Tony Gwynn, which had to be one of the highlights of his managerial career. Unfortunately for Gwynn, that didn't win the team anything. Shortly after he left, the team got competitive and actually reached the World Series by 1998.

11. San Francisco Giants - Frank Robinson

San Francisco Giants - Frank Robinson Credit: Joy R. Absalon, USA Today Sports
Tenure: 1981-84, record: 264-277. Frank Robinson is best known as the Hall of Fame player with the Reds and Orioles, but he also went on to manage. In fact, he became the first African-American manager in baseball history when he was hired as player/manager with the Indians. However when he was the head man with the Giants, the team couldn't ever get over the hump.

11. San Francisco Giants - Frank Robinson

Tenure: 1981-84, record: 264-277. Frank Robinson is best known as the Hall of Fame player with the Reds and Orioles, but he also went on to manage. In fact, he became the first African-American manager in baseball history when he was hired as player/manager with the Indians. However when he was the head man with the Giants, the team couldn't ever get over the hump.

10. Chicago Cubs - Don Baylor

Chicago Cubs - Don Baylor Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2000-02, record: 187-220 In their long, torturous history, the Cubs have a had a few bad managers, but none worse than Don Baylor. He never seemed like he knew what he was doing with this team, even though they did finish with a winning record in 2001. It always seemed like when his Cubs succeeded, it was in spite of him, not because of him. After three seasons, Chicago hired manager Dusty Baker. He came within five outs of the World Series the following year.

10. Chicago Cubs - Don Baylor

Tenure: 2000-02, record: 187-220 In their long, torturous history, the Cubs have a had a few bad managers, but none worse than Don Baylor. He never seemed like he knew what he was doing with this team, even though they did finish with a winning record in 2001. It always seemed like when his Cubs succeeded, it was in spite of him, not because of him. After three seasons, Chicago hired manager Dusty Baker. He came within five outs of the World Series the following year.

9. Cincinnati Reds - Bob Boone

Cincinnati Reds - Bob Boone Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2001-03, record: 190-238 The Boones are a great baseball family, but Bob showed they might not have coaching in their blood. He was at the helm for some terrible Reds teams, while the rest of the division dominated baseball. His time in Cincinnati is not a time fans of the team look back on fondly.

9. Cincinnati Reds - Bob Boone

Tenure: 2001-03, record: 190-238 The Boones are a great baseball family, but Bob showed they might not have coaching in their blood. He was at the helm for some terrible Reds teams, while the rest of the division dominated baseball. His time in Cincinnati is not a time fans of the team look back on fondly.

8. Milwaukee Brewers - Phil Garner

Milwaukee Brewers - Phil Garner Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1992-99, record: 563-617 Phil Garner is a very solid manager overall, but his time with the Brewers wasn't his best work. Even though he managed eight seasons with the team, he could never get them ready to win a World Series. He kept stringing the front office along, but they were finally convinced he wasn't the guy just before the turn of the millennium.

8. Milwaukee Brewers - Phil Garner

Tenure: 1992-99, record: 563-617 Phil Garner is a very solid manager overall, but his time with the Brewers wasn't his best work. Even though he managed eight seasons with the team, he could never get them ready to win a World Series. He kept stringing the front office along, but they were finally convinced he wasn't the guy just before the turn of the millennium.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates - John Russell

Pittsburgh Pirates - John Russell Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2008-10, record: 186-299 Leading up to their current stretch, the Pirates were downright pitiful. Surely, John Russell didn't do anything to change that in his three seasons as manager. Pittsburgh was just starting to call up some of their future great players by the time Russell left, so perhaps he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates - John Russell

Tenure: 2008-10, record: 186-299 Leading up to their current stretch, the Pirates were downright pitiful. Surely, John Russell didn't do anything to change that in his three seasons as manager. Pittsburgh was just starting to call up some of their future great players by the time Russell left, so perhaps he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

6. St. Louis Cardinals - Mike Jorgensen

St. Louis Cardinals - Mike Jorgensen Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1995, record: 42-54 The Cardinals' history of managers is pretty incredible when you take a look at it. From 1980 until now, their managerial list includes Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre, Tony La Russa and Mike Matheny. Unfortunately for them, Jorgensen was also in that mix. Can you tell which of those names doesn't belong? He had a chance to win the managing job after Torre was fired. Once Jorgensen got the job, he couldn't get it done. The next season, St. Louis hired La Russa, so it all worked out alright for them.

6. St. Louis Cardinals - Mike Jorgensen

Tenure: 1995, record: 42-54 The Cardinals' history of managers is pretty incredible when you take a look at it. From 1980 until now, their managerial list includes Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre, Tony La Russa and Mike Matheny. Unfortunately for them, Jorgensen was also in that mix. Can you tell which of those names doesn't belong? He had a chance to win the managing job after Torre was fired. Once Jorgensen got the job, he couldn't get it done. The next season, St. Louis hired La Russa, so it all worked out alright for them.

5. Atlanta Braves - Russ Nixon

Atlanta Braves - Russ Nixon Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 1988-90, record: 130-216 Braves fans aren't used to bad managers, as they had the legendary Bobby Cox in the dugout for so many years. Right before he took over, though, the team had their least competent manager ever. Nixon's reign over the team was a disaster from the start and the team never put everything together. As soon as he left, the team would rattle off division titles for a decade and a half, further showing how unqualified he was for the job.

5. Atlanta Braves - Russ Nixon

Tenure: 1988-90, record: 130-216 Braves fans aren't used to bad managers, as they had the legendary Bobby Cox in the dugout for so many years. Right before he took over, though, the team had their least competent manager ever. Nixon's reign over the team was a disaster from the start and the team never put everything together. As soon as he left, the team would rattle off division titles for a decade and a half, further showing how unqualified he was for the job.

4. Miami Marlins - Dan Jennings

Miami Marlins - Dan Jennings Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2015, record: 55-69 Jennings, the Marlins GM, making himself the manager this season was an unprecedented move. We soon saw why executives don't do that very often. Jennings was absolutely awful in the dugout. He made head scratching moves left and right and didn't command the respect of the locker room. He won't be managing next year, and he may not be the general manager in 2016 either.

4. Miami Marlins - Dan Jennings

Tenure: 2015, record: 55-69 Jennings, the Marlins GM, making himself the manager this season was an unprecedented move. We soon saw why executives don't do that very often. Jennings was absolutely awful in the dugout. He made head scratching moves left and right and didn't command the respect of the locker room. He won't be managing next year, and he may not be the general manager in 2016 either.

3. New York Mets - Jerry Manuel

New York Mets - Jerry Manuel Credit: Getty Images
Tenure: 2008-10, record: 204-213 Even though his overall record wasn't terrible, Jerry Manuel just never looked like he knew what he was doing as the manager of the Mets. The team frustratingly wasted talent under his leadership, which led to his ousting in 2010. Now, the team is three wins away from a World Series berth.

3. New York Mets - Jerry Manuel

Tenure: 2008-10, record: 204-213 Even though his overall record wasn't terrible, Jerry Manuel just never looked like he knew what he was doing as the manager of the Mets. The team frustratingly wasted talent under his leadership, which led to his ousting in 2010. Now, the team is three wins away from a World Series berth.

2. Philadelphia Phillies - Ryne Sandberg

Philadelphia Phillies - Ryne Sandberg Credit: Richard Mackson, USA Today Sports
Tenure: 2013-15, record: 119-159 Ryno was never given much of a chance with the Phillies, but he knew what he was getting into when he took the job. He never seemed interested in managing a team that was rebuilding. That's a slight problem for someone managing a team in the middle of a rebuild. That eventually led to him leaving this season.

2. Philadelphia Phillies - Ryne Sandberg

Tenure: 2013-15, record: 119-159 Ryno was never given much of a chance with the Phillies, but he knew what he was getting into when he took the job. He never seemed interested in managing a team that was rebuilding. That's a slight problem for someone managing a team in the middle of a rebuild. That eventually led to him leaving this season.

1. Washington Nationals - Matt Williams

Washington Nationals - Matt Williams Credit: Evan Habeeb, USA Today Sports
Tenure: 2014-15, record: 179-145 Williams is the only manager on this list with a winning record overall. But make no mistake about it, he was a failure of a manager with the Nationals. They made the playoffs in his first season, but failed to advance out of the NLDS. This year the team had most experts' pick to win the World Series, but they totally flopped. They even failed to make the playoffs.

1. Washington Nationals - Matt Williams

Tenure: 2014-15, record: 179-145 Williams is the only manager on this list with a winning record overall. But make no mistake about it, he was a failure of a manager with the Nationals. They made the playoffs in his first season, but failed to advance out of the NLDS. This year the team had most experts' pick to win the World Series, but they totally flopped. They even failed to make the playoffs.

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