List of Major League Baseball player-managers
is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Founded in 1869, it is composed of 30 teams. Each team in the league has a manager, who is responsible for team strategy and leadership on and off the field. Assisted by various coaches, the manager sets the line-up and starting pitcher before each game, and makes substitutions throughout the game. In early baseball history, it was not uncommon for players to serve as player-managers; that is, they managed the team while still being signed to play for the club. In the history of MLB, there have been 221 player–managers, 59 of whom are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The dual role of player–manager was formerly a common practice, dating back to John Clapp, who performed the task for the Middletown Mansfields in 1872. One reason for this is that by hiring a player as a manager, the team could save money by paying only one salary. Also, popular players were named player–managers in an effort to boost game attendance. Babe Ruth left the New York Yankees when they refused to allow him to become player–manager. Five of the eight National League managers in 1934 were also players. Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Joe Torre, among the all-time leaders in managerial wins, made their managerial debuts as player–managers. At least one man served as a player-manager in every major league season from Clapp's debut through 1955.
Today, player–managers have become rare in baseball. Pete Rose is the most recent player–manager, serving from 1984 through 1986 with the Cincinnati Reds. Whereas some player–managers, such as Lou Boudreau, were full-time players as player–managers, by the time Rose became player–manager, he was a part-time player. Rose was trying to prolong his career to break the all-time hit record set by Ty Cobb, and Reds owner Marge Schott used this as a marketing ploy. Rose removed himself from the 40-man roster after the 1986 season to make room for Pat Pacillo, unofficially retiring as a player, but remained as the Reds manager until he was banned from baseball following the release of the Dowd Report in 1989.
One criticism of the practice holds that the manager has enough to be preoccupied with during a game without playing. With specialized bullpens, extensive scouting reports, and increased media scrutiny, the job of a manager has become more complex. A player–manager needs to decide how much playing time to give himself. Don Kessinger, player–manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1979, believes he did not play himself enough. Additionally, Bill Terry felt he became isolated from his team when he became a player–manager.
However, teams continue to consider hiring player–managers. The Toronto Blue Jays considered hiring Paul Molitor as a player–manager in 1997. When approached with the idea in 2000, Barry Larkin reported that he found it "interesting", though general manager Jim Bowden rejected the idea. In the 2011–12 offseason, the White Sox considered hiring incumbent first baseman Paul Konerko to serve as manager. White Sox GM Kenny Williams said that he believes MLB will again have a player–manager.
List
| Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Year | Season as a player–manager |
| Position | Primary position while a player–manager |
| Player–manager | Team | Year | Position |
| Philadelphia White Stockings Cincinnati Reds | 1875 1877 | Outfielder | |
| Philadelphia Phillies Cincinnati Reds | 1890 1900 | Shortstop | |
| Philadelphia Athletics Chicago Cubs | 1875 1876–1897 | First baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1913, 1918, 1923 | Third baseman | |
| Boston Braves | 1924–1927 | Shortstop | |
| Kansas City Cowboys | 1888 | Second baseman | |
| Baltimore Orioles | 1883, 1886 | Catcher | |
| Boston Red Sox | 1917 | Second baseman | |
| Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies Pittsburgh Alleghenies | 1883–1884 1884 | Third baseman | |
| Kansas City Athletics | 1961 | Outfielder | |
| Cleveland Naps | 1912–1914 | Outfielder | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1929 | Pitcher | |
| Buffalo Blues | 1915 | Catcher | |
| Worcester Ruby Legs | 1882 | Outfielder | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1937 | First baseman | |
| Cleveland Indians Boston Red Sox | 1942–1950 1952 | Shortstop | |
| Boston Doves | 1909 | Catcher | |
| Cleveland Naps Brooklyn Tip-Tops | 1905 1914 | Third baseman | |
| St. Louis Cardinals Chicago Cubs | 1909–1912 1915 | Catcher | |
| St. Louis Terriers | 1914 | Pitcher | |
| Washington Senators | 1897–1898 | Outfielder | |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1890 | Pitcher | |
| Boston Beaneaters | 1883 | Second baseman | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1905 | Third baseman | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1892 | Third baseman | |
| Washington Senators | 1923 | Shortstop | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1903–1904, 1912–1913 | Pitcher | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1890 | Outfielder | |
| Boston Red Sox | 1913–1916 | Catcher | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1892 | Outfielder | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1951–1953 | First baseman | |
| Chicago Cubs New York Yankees | 1905–1912 1913–1914 | First baseman | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1945–1946 | Outfielder | |
| Louisville Grays | 1876 | Outfielder | |
| New York Highlanders | 1910–1911 | First baseman | |
| Middletown Mansfields Indianapolis Blues Buffalo Bisons Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Blues New York Gothams | 1872 1878 1879 1880 1881 1883 | Catcher | |
| Louisville Colonels Pittsburgh Pirates | 1897–1899 1900–1911, 1913–1915 | Outfielder | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1890 | Catcher | |
| Detroit Tigers | 1921–1926 | Outfielder | |
| Detroit Tigers | 1934–1937 | Catcher | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1924–1926 | Second baseman | |
| Boston Americans | 1901–1906 | Third baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns Chicago Pirates Cincinnati Reds | 1883–1889, 1891 1890 1892–1894 | First baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1896 | First baseman | |
| Buffalo Bisons Cincinnati Outlaw Reds | 1880 1884 | Second baseman | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1919–1920 | Outfielder | |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1884 | Second baseman | |
| Washington Senators Boston Red Sox | 1933–1934 1935–1947 | Shortstop | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1892 | Second baseman | |
| Cleveland Spiders | 1899 | Third baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1882 | Outfielder | |
| Brooklyn Superbas | 1910–1911 | Shortstop | |
| New York Giants | 1895, 1900–1901 | Shortstop | |
| Cleveland Naps | 1912 | First baseman | |
| New York Yankees | 1946 | Catcher | |
| New York Yankees | 1915–1916 | Pitcher | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals Washington Senators Brooklyn Superbas | 1897, 1899 1901–1903 1904 1906–1907 | Outfielder | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1910–1914 | Catcher | |
| Syracuse Stars Providence Grays Worcester Ruby Legs | 1879 1880 1881 | Outfielder | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1896–1897 | Outfielder | |
| New York Giants Washington Senators | 1895 1898 | First baseman | |
| Milwaukee Brewers Philadelphia Phillies | 1901 1904–1906 | Outfielder | |
| Cleveland Blues St. Louis Maroons Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1882 1884–1885 1889 | Second baseman | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 1939–1941, 1943, 1945 | Shortstop | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1934–1939 | Third baseman | |
| New York Highlanders | 1908 | Shortstop | |
| Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies | 1884 | Shortstop | |
| Louisville Colonels | 1889 | Third baseman | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1913 | Second baseman | |
| New York Giants Cincinnati Reds | 1890 1895–1897 | Catcher | |
| Providence Grays | 1881 | Second baseman | |
| Hartford Dark Blues Chicago White Stockings Troy Trojans Philadelphia Quakers Pittsburgh Alleghenys New York Metropolitans | 1876–1877 1878 1879–1882 1883 1884 1886–1887 | Second baseman | |
| Chicago White Stockings | 1879 | Catcher | |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1890 | Outfielder | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1932–1933 | First baseman | |
| Brooklyn Grooms | 1893–1896 | Outfielder | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1933–1937 | Second baseman | |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1885 | Pitcher | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1908 | First baseman | |
| Louisville Eclipse St. Louis Browns | 1883 1890 | Second baseman | |
| Indianapolis Hoosiers St. Louis Browns | 1889 1892 | Shortstop | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1892 | Outfielder | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1876 | First baseman | |
| Brooklyn Bridegrooms | 1898 | Outfielder | |
| Washington Statesmen | 1891 | Outfielder | |
| Chicago White Stockings New York Highlanders Cincinnati Reds Washington Senators | 1901–1902 1903–1907 1909 1912–1914 | Pitcher | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1932–1936 | First baseman | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1918 | Third baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1897 | Second baseman | |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys Pittsburgh Burghers Pittsburgh Pirates Baltimore Orioles | 1889 1890 1891 1892 | Outfielder | |
| Washington Senators Detroit Tigers | 1924–1928 1929, 1931 | Second baseman | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1938–1940 | Catcher | |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1890 | First baseman | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1959 | Second baseman | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1947 | Second baseman | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1914–1916 | Shortstop | |
| Syracuse Stars | 1879 | Catcher | |
| Boston Braves | 1951 | Outfielder | |
| St. Louis Cardinals New York Giants Boston Braves Chicago Cubs St. Louis Browns | 1925–1926 1927 1928 1930–1932 1933–1937 | Second baseman | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1913–1916 | Second baseman | |
| Detroit Tigers | 1952–1953 | Pitcher | |
| Washington Nationals Boston Reds Philadelphia Phillies | 1889 1891 1894 | Shortstop | |
| Detroit Tigers | 1907, 1909, 1912, 1918 | First baseman | |
| Chicago White Sox St. Louis Terriers | 1904–1908 1914–1915 | Outfielder | |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1954 | Shortstop | |
| New York Giants | 1896–1898 | Third baseman | |
| Cincinnati Reds Boston Doves | 1902–1905 1908 | Outfielder | |
| Boston Beaneaters Boston Reds Cincinnati Kelly's Killers | 1887 1890 1891 | Outfielder | |
| Louisville Colonels St. Louis Browns | 1888 1890 | First baseman | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1979 | Shortstop | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1921 | Catcher | |
| Washington Senators | 1904 | Catcher | |
| Boston Braves | 1912 | Catcher | |
| Baltimore Terrapins | 1914–1915 | Second baseman | |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1883–1884 | Outfielder | |
| Cleveland Naps | 1905–1909 | Second baseman | |
| Boston Doves | 1910 | Catcher | |
| Cleveland Infants | 1890 | First baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1896 | Third baseman | |
| New Haven Elm Citys Philadelphia Athletics | 1875 1882 | First baseman | |
| Buffalo Blues | 1915 | Third baseman | |
| Detroit Tigers | 1904 | Second baseman | |
| Brooklyn Superbas | 1909 | Outfielder | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1946 | Pitcher | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1894–1896 | Catcher | |
| Louisville Eclipse | 1882 | Shortstop | |
| Syracuse Stars | 1879 | Shortstop | |
| Brooklyn Tip-Tops | 1915 | Second Baseman | |
| Philadelphia White Stockings Chicago White Stockings Philadelphia Keystones | 1873 1874 1884 | Outfielder | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1877 | Shortstop | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1925 | Shortstop | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1952–1953 | Shortstop | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1916 | Pitcher | |
| Cleveland Blues St. Louis Browns | 1901 1901–1902 | Outfielder | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1890 | Outfielder | |
| Cleveland Blues | 1879–1880, 1882 | Pitcher | |
| Philadelphia White Stockings Providence Grays Cleveland Blues | 1875 1880 1881 | Second baseman | |
| Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles New York Giants | 1899 1901–1902 1902–1906 | Third baseman | |
| Washington Senators Boston Americans/Red Sox Cleveland Naps | 1898 1907–1908 1910 | Catcher | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1927 | First baseman | |
| Newark Peppers | 1915 | Third baseman | |
| St. Louis Maroons | 1885 | First baseman | |
| Boston Red Sox | 1932–1933 | Third baseman | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1878–1879 | Third baseman | |
| Washington Senators | 1922 | Outfielder | |
| Boston Red Caps/Beaneaters Washington Nationals | 1882, 1883–1886, 1887–1888 1889 | First baseman | |
| Toledo Blue Stockings Detroit Wolverines | 1884 1885 | Outfielder | |
| Boston Reds | 1884 | First baseman | |
| Baltimore Orioles | 1882 | Shortstop | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1896 | Third baseman | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1904–1905 | Pitcher | |
| St. Louis Cardinals Cincinnati Reds | 1927 1934 | Catcher | |
| Cincinnati Outlaw Reds | 1884 | Outfielder | |
| Buffalo Bisons Washington Senators | 1881–1884 1893 | Outfielder | |
| Pittsburgh Rebels | 1914–1915 | Outfielder | |
| New York Metropolitans | 1887 | First baseman | |
| New York Giants | 1942–1947 | Outfielder | |
| New York Yankees | 1914 | Shortstop | |
| Louisville Colonels | 1892 | Second baseman | |
| Hartford Dark Blues Cincinnati Reds | 1874 1877 | Outfielder | |
| Kansas City Cowboys | 1884 | Outfielder | |
| Philadelphia Quakers | 1883 | Outfielder | |
| Cleveland Spiders St. Louis Browns | 1895 1899 | Second baseman | |
| Washington Senators | 1892 | Shortstop | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1914 | Catcher | |
| Cleveland Indians | 1975–1976 | Outfielder | |
| Baltimore Orioles | 1902 | Catcher | |
| Louisville Colonels | 1897 | First baseman | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1984–1986 | First baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1890 | Outfielder | |
| Kansas City Cowboys Kansas City Cowboys | 1885 1888 | Outfielder | |
| Buffalo Bisons | 1890 | Shortstop | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1927–1928 | Catcher | |
| Buffalo Buffeds | 1914 | Second baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1942 | Catcher | |
| Louisville Colonels Washington Statesmen | 1889 1891 | Second baseman | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1924–1926 | First baseman | |
| Boston Doves | 1909 | Catcher | |
| New York Giants | 1902 | Second baseman | |
| Cincinnati Reds Washington Statesmen | 1882–1884 1891 | Catcher | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1929 | Outfielder | |
| Chicago White Stockings | 1876–1877 | Pitcher | |
| Cleveland Indians | 1919–1926 | Outfielder | |
| Boston Americans | 1906 | Outfielder | |
| Washington Senators Boston Red Sox | 1905–1906 1912–1913 | First baseman | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1897–1898 | Catcher | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1952–1953 | Second baseman | |
| Cleveland Naps St. Louis Browns Kansas City Packers | 1911 1912–1913 1914–1915 | First baseman | |
| Worcester Ruby Legs Philadelphia Athletics | 1881 1885 | Outfielder | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1931 | Catcher | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1892 | Second baseman | |
| Chicago White Sox | 1909 | Catcher | |
| Kansas City Cowboys | 1884 | Outfielder | |
| Chicago Cubs | 1962 | Catcher | |
| Cleveland Infants Cleveland Spiders St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals | 1890 1891–1898 1900 | First baseman | |
| Boston Doves/Rustlers Boston Rustlers | 1905–1907 1911 | First baseman | |
| New York Giants | 1932–1936 | First baseman | |
| Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds | 1913 1916 | Shortstop | |
| New York Mets | 1977 | First baseman | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1934–1937 | Third baseman | |
| Boston Red Sox | 1907 | First baseman | |
| Baltimore Orioles | 1892 | Pitcher | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1917 | Shortstop | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1955 | Outfielder | |
| St. Louis Browns | 1911–1912 | Shortstop | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1948 | Pitcher | |
| Providence Grays New York Gothams/Giants Brooklyn Ward's Wonders Brooklyn Grooms | 1880 1884, 1893–1894 1890 1891–1892 | Pitcher | |
| Indianapolis Hoosiers | 1884 | Third baseman | |
| Kansas City Cowboys | 1884 | Outfielder | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1879 | Catcher | |
| Cincinnati Red Stockings | 1884 | Pitcher | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1921 | Pitcher | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1934–1938 | Catcher | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1916 | Catcher | |
| Louisville Colonels | 1889 | Outfielder | |
| New York Highlanders | 1912 | Third baseman | |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1891 | Outfielder | |
| Providence Grays | 1879 | Shortstop | |
| Boston Red Stockings / Red Caps | 1876–1877 | Outfielder | |
| Providence Grays | 1878 1881 | Outfielder | |
| Boston Red Sox | 1907 | Pitcher | |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1903 | Catcher |