Greatest MLB managers who never won a World Series 

Between his time guiding the Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants, Alou totaled 1,033 wins in elements of 14 managerial seasons. He posted a .503 profitable share throughout his profession as a supervisor, which is sort of spectacular. Three of Alou’s groups gained at the very least 91 video games, highlighted by the 100-61 Giants from 2003. Nevertheless, that group was upset within the NL Division Collection by the Marlins, and proved to be the one time an Alou-managed squad reached the postseason. Nonetheless, on the subject of the Corridor of Famer’s managerial credentials, he deserves a spot on this checklist. 

Cronin gained greater than 1,200 video games and posted a .540 profitable share throughout a managerial profession that spanned from 1933-47. Now, Cronin made simply two postseason appearances throughout his time as a supervisor, however at a time when that meant these groups have been within the World Collection. Throughout his first season, as a player-manager for the Washington Senators in ’33, his membership misplaced in 5 video games to the New York Giants. It might not be till 1946 when the Corridor of Famer received again to the World Collection, however his Boston Purple Sox misplaced to St. Louis in seven video games. 

A flexible sports activities star, Dressen performed in each the NFL and Main League Baseball. As a big-league ball participant, Dressen gained a World Collection with the 1933 New York Giants. He additionally earned a World Collection ring whereas on the teaching staffs of the New York Yankees (1947) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1959). Nevertheless, that very same luck eluded Dressen as a supervisor. He gained greater than 1,000 video games managing the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators, Milwaukee Braves, Detroit Tigers, and, most notably, the Brooklyn Dodgers, who he guided to back-to-back World Collection appearances in 1952 and ’53 — the place they misplaced to the Yankees each occasions.

Like others on this checklist, Dykes, had an general shedding report (1,406-1,541) whereas managing 20-plus years of major-league ball. That stated, Dykes’ spectacular win complete continues to be adequate to rank among the many prime 30 all time. As a participant, Dykes twice gained a World Collection with the Philadelphia Athletics, but it surely was a completely totally different story when he was within the dugout as a supervisor. Dykes managed six totally different groups, most notably answerable for the Chicago White Sox, however none of these golf equipment ever made a postseason look.

Fregosi misplaced almost 1,100 major-league video games as a supervisor. Nevertheless, he additionally gained extra 1,000 contests whereas skippering elements of 17 seasons within the massive leagues. He additionally managed in elements of 4 many years (Seventies, ’80s, ’90s and 2000), which is sort of the accomplishment in itself. Fregosi took two of his groups, the 1979 California Angels and ’93 Philadelphia Phillies, to the postseason. After all, these Phillies made it to the World Collection and misplaced in dramatic vogue to Toronto on Joe Carter’s unforgettable walk-off homer in Recreation 6. 

Gardenhire was a member of Tom Kelly’s workers on the 1991 World Collection-champion Minnesota Twins, then finally changed his boss as supervisor of the franchise in 2002. His groups in Minnesota promptly recorded at the very least 90 wins in his first three seasons in cost, and 4 of the primary 5. From 2002-14, six of Gardenhire’s 13 Twins groups reached the postseason, however solely a kind of gained a sequence. Then once more, Gardenhire, who gained 1,200 video games as a skipper and was the 2010 AL Supervisor of the 12 months, additionally suffered by means of a 114-loss season with Detroit in 2019.

One of many first nice modern-day managers of the sport in the course of the first 20 years of the twentieth century, Griffith was player-manager for each the Chicago White Stockings and the New York Highlanders. He then finally guided the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Senators from the dugout. Griffith gained 1,491 video games as a supervisor, adequate to rank among the many prime 30 all time, and posted a .522 profitable share. That stated, Griffith’s groups made just one postseason look, even with 4 of these golf equipment (New York and Washington twice apiece) profitable at the very least 90 video games.

By way of managerial success, Grimm loved loads throughout that portion of his profession from 1932-60 — for 2 totally different franchises. His .547 profitable share (1,287-1,067) is among the many greatest all time, and three of his Chicago Cubs groups gained at the very least 93 video games. He was additionally a part of three Cubs’ groups that performed within the World Collection (1932, ’35, ’45). Nevertheless, none of these golf equipment gained any of these appearances within the Fall Basic. Nonetheless, on the subject of placing groups in place to win, Grimm actually received the job finished within the dugout. 

Over the past half of the Nineties, Hargrove’s Cleveland groups dominated the AL Central. These golf equipment gained 5 consecutive division titles from 1995-99, and twice reached the World Collection (1995, ’97). After all, Cleveland fell simply wanting profitable all of it — and ending the franchise’s prolonged drought in that division — in 1997. Hargrove recorded 721 of his 1,188 profession managerial victories throughout 9 seasons in cost in Cleveland. Now, whereas issues have been harder for Hargrove in stops at Baltimore and Seattle that adopted, he nonetheless posted a .503 profitable share throughout 16 seasons as a supervisor.

Whereas each the “Moneyball”  ebook and film hardly painted Howe in a optimistic gentle for his tenure managing the Oakland Athletics, he was really a part of some particular years whereas guiding these groups. From 2000-02, Howe’s closing three seasons with the A’s, his groups gained 91, 102 and 103 video games, respectively, to succeed in the postseason. After all, Oakland did not win a single playoff sequence throughout that run, however Howe posted a 600-533 (.530) mark in seven seasons with the membership. Howe, who managed in Houston earlier than Oakland, and the New York Mets after, went 1,129-1,137 throughout his 14-year managerial profession.

Hurdle went 1,269-1,346 as a major-league supervisor in elements of 17 seasons with Colorado and Pittsburgh, however took each golf equipment to the postseason. In truth, he guided the Rockies to the franchise’s first — and up to now, solely — World Collection in 2007. The Pirates, in the meantime, reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons (2013-15). One of many extra revered managers, there have been occasions when Hurdle appeared to wear down his welcome, however managed to persevere even throughout a few of these lean years early and late in his managerial profession.

In his official capability as a major-league supervisor, Jennings manned the Detroit Tigers’ dugout from 1907-20. In his first three seasons, he guided the Tigers to World Collection. Sadly for Jennings and his membership, they misplaced every journey. Nonetheless, the 1,131 victories Jennings recorded have been a Tigers report till Sparky Anderson topped that mark within the early Nineties. Starting in 1920, Jennings served on the teaching workers of the legendary John McGraw with the New York Giants, and gained a pair of World Collection titles. He additionally stuffed in at occasions when McGraw was sick, going 53-23 in an performing capability. Sadly, Jennings suffered a nervous breakdown following the 1925 season, and died in 1928 at age 58.

Lopez gained 850 video games and posted an distinctive .564 profitable share throughout his 17 seasons as skipper with the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox. Identified for his laid again, hands-off method together with his gamers, Lopez took each franchises to the World Collection, first with a 111-win Cleveland membership in 1954, after which with Chicago in 1959. Sadly for Lopez, his golf equipment prevailed in neither. Really, these have been the one occasions any staff managed by Lopez, who was additionally a two-time All-Star participant, ever certified for the postseason.

No supervisor has gained extra video games and not using a World Collection title than Mauch. Taking issues even additional, none of Mauch’s groups even gained a pennant, although he nonetheless managed to report a wholesome 1,902 victories (fifteenth most in Main League Baseball historical past), whereas guiding Philadelphia, Montreal, Minnesota and the California Angels from 1960-87. Now, two of Mauch’s Angels’ golf equipment, from 1982 and ’86, went the space within the ALCS earlier than falling brief on each events. In truth, Mauch managed three Angels’ groups that posted 90 or extra victories. 

There’s the 1,160 profession victories whereas managing six groups throughout elements of 19 major-league seasons, spanning 1969-91, an enormous purpose for acclaim. Nevertheless, McNamara continues to be possible identified for being the supervisor of that 1986 Boston Purple Sox membership that blew its World Collection benefit to the New York Mets. Positive, the Purple Sox finally exorcised the demons of ’86 and different prior World Collection setbacks in 2004, however McNamara managed simply 4 extra seasons within the majors. That stated, McNamara is effectively worthy of reward, contemplating he additionally took the Cincinnati Reds to the postseason in 1979.

As of June 2023, Melvin was one other of these managers inside the prime 30 for all-time managerial victories, however by no means to succeed in the World Collection in that capability. Now, Melvin was on the workers of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks’ staff that gained all of it. As a supervisor, he is taken the Diamondbacks, Oakland and San Diego to the postseason a mixed eight occasions. A few of Melvin’s greatest work got here with these A’s, who he helmed from 2011-2021. He led Oakland to back-to-back 97-win seasons in 2018-19, and a third-straight journey to the postseason in ’20 — marking the second such playoff run whereas answerable for the membership.

Basically a baseball lifer, Rigney spent 26 years enjoying within the majors after which almost 20 as a big-league supervisor. Although he posted a .484 profitable share whereas managing the Giants — each in New York and San Francisco — plus the Angels and Minnesota Twins from 1956-72 and for one season in 1976, he gained 1.239 video games from the dugout. Nevertheless, solely Rigney’s 1970 Twins squad reached the postseason, however didn’t win a recreation throughout that sequence. Although Rigney won’t be a family identify, his contribution to the sport, particularly as a supervisor, needs to be lauded.

In response to STATSPerform, Robinson posted a profession managerial report of 1,399-1,398 (1902, 1914-31), solely with the Brooklyn Robins aside from his debut season with the Orioles. The Corridor of Famer guided two of these Robins squads (1916, ’20) to the World Collection. Nevertheless, Cleveland took Brooklyn down in he first journey, whereas Boston did the honors to open the Twenties. A detailed buddy and confidant of the legendary John McGraw, Robinson stays one of many nice managers of the early trendy period, although tends to be overshadowed by different extra well-known contemporaries like Hughie Jennings and Clark Griffith.

As of 2023, Showalter’s quest to win the World Collection was nonetheless going sturdy. Nevertheless, in reasonably gorgeous vogue, not one of the groups that Showalter (in his late 60s) managed, previous or current, have reached the World Collection. He is among the many prime 20 managers with greater than 1,680 victories in additional than 20 years of service. He is the one skipper to win Supervisor of the 12 months in 4 totally different many years, and the third to assert that honor with 4 totally different golf equipment (New York Yankees, Texas, Baltimore, New York Mets). Showalter has additionally gained division titles whereas managing 4 totally different groups. 

Sure, Valentine, one of many extra entertaining skippers and personalities within the recreation, gained a league title whereas managing in Japan (Japan Collection) in 2005, however his strong major-league profession within the dugout went with only one journey to the Fall Basic, and resulted in no championship. Making issues worse, Valentine’s 2000 Mets misplaced in 5 video games to the Yankees in that famed Subway Collection. Nonetheless, Valentine, who additionally took the Mets to the 1999 NLCS, went 1,186-1,165 throughout his 16 seasons as a big-league supervisor, which additionally included stops in Texas and Boston.