Chuck Tanner
What Chuck Tanner did as a manager in the 1970s was unconventional. Soon, it became the norm, as attitudes changed in baseball. Tanner dared to treat each of his players in a unique way. His method was "25 approaches for 25 guys." At times it worked well, such as with Dick Allen in Chicago, but at other times it failed, such as the drug-scandal years in the Pirates' clubhouse in the early 1980s. Overall, Tanner's style was welcomed by his players, who rewarded him with 10 winning seasons, five second-place finishes, and a World Series title in 1979 in Pittsburgh.
Quotes From Tanner
"Maybe time will prove me wrong, but I don't feel a baseball team should be run today as it was in 1919. You keep trying something new and you never know what will happen." — White Sox manager Chuck Tanner, 1973
"When they go out their to play, that little round hill will decide." — manager Chuck Tanner, on the importance of pitching
"Never in my life have I been associated with a better person. I want this fellow to play for me the rest of his career." — Chuck Tanner on Dick Allen
Played For
Milwaukee Braves (1955-1957)
Chicago Cubs (1957-1958)
Cleveland Indians (1959-1960)
Los Angeles Angels (1961-1962)
Managed
Chicago White Sox (1970-1975)
Oakland Athletics (1976)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1977-1985)
Atlanta Braves (1986-1988)
Born
Charles William Tanner was born on July 4, 1929, in New Castle, PA.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: ML1
Major League Debut
April 12, 1955
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1955
Brooks Robinson
Roberto Clemente
Ken Boyer
Rocky Colavito
Clete Boyer
Elston Howard
Sandy Koufax
Jim Bunning
Bill Virdon
Related Players
Tanner gained a reputation for forming strong bonds with several of his players. Two of them in Chicago were Dick Allen, who had been considered unmanageable, and pitcher Wilbur Wood, whom Tanner made a starting pitcher and often used on one or two days rest.
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