Tom Runnells
| Tom Runnells | |||
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| Shortstop / Second baseman / Manager |
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Born: April 17, 1955 Greeley, Colorado |
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| MLB debut | |||
| August 10, 1985, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| June 6, 1986, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .174 | ||
| Hits | 8 | ||
| Managerial record | 68–81 | ||
| Winning % | .456 | ||
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As player As manager As coach |
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As player
As manager
As coach
Thomas William Runnells (born April 17, 1955) is an American former infielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball.
Runnells attended the University of Northern Colorado and originally signed with the San Francisco Giants. He played parts of two seasons (1985–86) with the Cincinnati Reds, appearing in 40 games and batting .174 in 46 at bats without a home run or run batted in. He was a switch hitter who threw right-handed. Runnells began his managerial career with Cincinnati's AA Eastern League affiliate, the Vermont Reds, in 1987. In 1989, his Indianapolis Indians won the American Association championship and the "AAA Classic", earning him a promotion to a coaching position with the parent Montreal Expos.
On June 2, 1991, he was promoted again to manager of the Expos, who were lodged in last place in the National League East Division after 49 games. His time as Expos manager was short but tumultuous. Succeeding the very popular Buck Rodgers, he had trouble establishing his credibility with the media and the team. He was General Manager Dave Dombrowski's hand-picked man but failed to replicate his minor league success as the Expos finished the 1991 season in last place for the first time since 1976. In what became his defining moment, he made an entrance at spring training in 1992 dressed in marine fatigues, apparently trying to channel the spirit of General Norman Schwarzkopf. Everyone who witnessed the performance found it eerily distressing.
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Wikipedia