Drake Bell » World Series crown as a player-manager

The World Series is almost upon us. Its ironic that two of the oldest and most iconic teams have been taken to the Fall Classic by two men who are there for the first time in their careers and both of whom are relatively light in Major League managerial experience. St. Louis Cardinals skipper Mike Matheny is in his second year with St. Louis after succeeding Tony LaRussa after the Cardinals won the 2011 World Series. This was Mathenys first managerial job, period. John Farrell managed the Toronto Blue Jays for two years before getting "traded" to the Boston Red Sox this past off-season and this is only his third year managing in the Bigs. Only four rookie managers have ever won a World Series, while six more won in their first full-season at the helm of a team. The last rookie to turn the trick was former Blue Jays catcher Bob Brenly in 2001 when the Arizona Diamondbacks won their first and only World Series in that classic match-up with the New York Yankees. The other are "the Major," Ralph Houk, who led the 1961 Yankees to a Series win over the Cincinatti Reds, Eddie Dyer, who was at the helm of the 1946 Cardinals when they beat the Red Sox in seven games and Bucky Harris, who lead the 1924 Washington Senators to their one and only World Series title. Harris was only 27-years-old when he took over as player manager that season and won two more pennants over his 29 years as an MLB skipper and led the Yankees to a title in 1947. Of those four, Harris was the only one to make it into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. The group of six who won in their first full season as a skipper includes four Hall of Famers and one that in my mind should be. In 1920, Tris Speaker led the Cleveland Indians to their first World Series crown as a player-manager. Rogers Hornsby did the same for St. Louis in 1926, also as a player-manager. Legendary slugger Bill Terry, the last National Leaguer to hit .400, won as a player-manager with the New York Giants. Frankie Frisch also won as a player-manager with St. Louis in 1934. These four men refute the old argument that great players have a tough time becoming coaches or managers. The other two on that list are Dallas Green of the 1980 Phillies, who was really more regarded over the years as a general manager. The final name is that of Tom Kelly, who won two World Series with the Twins in 1987 and 1991. Why he isnt in the Hall of Fame is beyond me. This is the fourth meeting between the Cardinals and Red Sox in the World Series. In 1946 and again in 1967 (the Red Sox Impossible Dream Season,) St. Louis won in 7. But all of that was erased from memory by Red Sox fans when the BoSox ended their 86 year-long World Series drought by sweeping the Cardinals in 2004. This is the Cardinals fourth World Series appearance in 10 seasons (they own a 2-1 record in the previous three) and the Red Soxs third in the same decade (they won their previous two.) So essentially, this is for the bragging rights for best team since the start of the new millennium. Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun has word that the Blue Jays are on the lookout for a catching upgrade are aiming for either Chris Iannetta or Hank Conger of the Los Angeles Angels in a trade. Clearly, since theyre not going to get into a bidding war for the likes of free agent-to-be Brian McCann, it shouldnt be any surprise that the Blue Jays would go back to the Mike Scioscia school of Catcher-nomics. Over the past six or seven years, the Blue Jays have employed, or at least briefly owned, four other Angels catchers who learned at the knee of Scoscia. Benji and Jose Molina were with the Angels when they beat the Giants in the 2002 World Series. Mike Napoli was acquired in the Vernon Wells trade and then was swapped four days later to the Texas Rangers for reliever Frank Francisco and cash and Jeff Mathis, who the Jays traded to Miami as part of that massive trade with the Marlins. Iannetta and Conger wouldnt hit for any more power than J.P Arencibia, but both are considered superior defensively. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Jersey . City has reached new heights under manager Manuel Pellegrini as they transition from big spending/immediate impact to perennial contender. Yaya Toures seeming discontent Tuesday may complicate that, as does the little issue of Financial Fair Play. Jimmy Graham Packers Jersey . The England international raised his middle finger toward Manchester City supporters during Saturdays game at Etihad Stadium, which Arsenal lost 6-3. The incident was not seen by match officials at the time but the FA charged Wilshere retrospectively after a study of video footage. http://www.officialpackersteamgears.com/...illiams-jersey/. “Momentum is only as good as the next days starter,” the long-time Baltimore Orioles manager famously quipped. Oren Burks Packers Jersey .Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday it is inevitable that the league will one day take after European sports and have sponsor names on team jerseys. Custom Packers Jerseys . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency.The Detroit Red Wings Mike Babcock, Tampa Bay Lightnings Jon Cooper and Colorado Avalanches Patrick Roy have been named finalists for the 2013-14 Jack Adams Award. The trophy is awarded annually to the head coach who has "contributed the most to his teams success." Babcock led the Red Wings to their 23rd consecutive playoff berth, the longest active streak in North American professional sports. The Red Wings used 38 players during the regular season, including nine who made their NHL debuts. Babcock is a Jack Adams finalist for the second time, his first coming in 2007-08. Cooper guided Tampa Bay to aa second-place finish in the Atlantic Division in his rookie coaching season.ddddddddddddThe club placed 28th in the overall League standings in 2012-13. He had previously served as coach of the Lightnings AHL affiliate in Norfolk, helping them capture the 2012 Calder Cup. Another coaching rookie, Roy lifted the Avalanche to third in the overall standings after placing 29th in 2012-13. Colorado became the first club since the NHL expanded to 21 teams in 1979 to go from the bottom three to top three in a single season. The Avalanche matched a franchise record for wins, recorded the NHLs best road mark. 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