Pittsburgh Review

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – In the middle of Jim Leyland’s first season as Tigers manager in 2006, he once asked the media to leave his office during a postgame press conference at Wrigley Field. His team had just completed a sweep of the Cubs behind Kenny Rogers, who tossed eight quality innings for his 200th career win. As Leyland watched his team celebrate Rogers’ milestone, he grew emotional and did not want reporters to see it.

As Leyland spoke at Sunday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, chronicling his journey from an 18-year Minor Leaguer to a 22-year MLB manager, three-time Manager of the Year, three-time pennant winner, World Series champion and now a Hall of Famer, there was no hiding his emotion. He couldn’t ask the thousands of fans, family, friends and media off the lawn at the Clark Sports Center to leave. So while he knew the emotions were coming, he had to hold it together.

“I was very nervous, to be honest with you,” Leyland said afterward. “But to be honest with you, once I started to speak, it all went away except for a couple moments.”

Leyland held it together for much of his 13-minute speech which began with a joke he’d been weighing whether to include since Spring Training.

“I was having coffee with [wife] Katie a couple of weeks after I was elected to the Hall of Fame,” Leyland said. “And I casually said, ‘Katie, can you believe in your wildest dreams that I’ve been elected to the Hall of Fame?’

“And Katie replied, ‘Jim, you’re not in my wildest dreams.’”

That got the crowd laughing and helped Leyland loosen up. Another line that helped came from his son Patrick and daughter Kellie.

“My contributions to our beautiful pastime pale in comparison to the joy it has brought to my life,” Leyland said.

Leyland’s voice briefly cracked when talking about Pittsburgh fans—his first Major League job—and again when discussing managing Team USA to a World Baseball Classic title in 2017.

The most emotional part came near the end when he thanked former Tigers Minor League teammate and longtime coach Gene Lamont.

“It was unbelievable to have your closest friend standing next to you in the dugout through good times and tough times,” said Leyland before asking an equally emotional Lamont—who coached with him in Pittsburgh and Detroit—to stand up.

“I knew he wouldn’t miss this for anything,” Leyland added later. “We were roommates back in Lakeland, Florida... We became best friends... It’s just a bond.”

The audience included some former players such as Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield and Moises Alou. Andy Van Slyke narrated a video presenting Leyland before his speech which included clips like Leyland’s famous shouting match with Bonds during Spring Training in 1991.

Other attendees fittingly included Bob Walk and Todd Jones among others who felt invested by Leyland—a reason why he became a Hall of Famer whom they proudly thanked all around.

Leyland managed several teams including Pirates (1986-96), Marlins (1997-98)—winning World Series ’97—Rockies (1999) and Tigers (2006-13).

It was an emotional afternoon for Leyland who looks forward returning annually without nerves but doubts future speeches will match this one.