Billy Southworth: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:30, 5 November 2005

Revision as of 17:32, 5 November 2005

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As a manager, he was very successful, almost accumulating a .600 winning percentage (.597). He was 1770-1044 all-time with four first-place finishes, and two [[World Series]] titles ([[1942 World Series|1942]], [[1944 World Series|1944]]). Southworth also won one World Series as a player ([[1926 World Series|1926]]).

Southworth began his managing career in 1928 with the [[Rochester Red Wings]] of the AA [[International League]], the top farm in the Cardinals' leading-edge [[farm system]]. After winning the IL pennant, he was promoted to St. Louis as manager for 1929. But the Redbirds, defending league champions, did not respond to Southworth's attempts at discipline and he was replaced at mid-season by [[Bill McKechnie]]. Although Southworth resumed his successful minor league managerial career that season, the firing began a downward spiral. Beset by struggles with [[alcoholism]], he even left baseball for two seasons. Finally, after a recovery, he rejoined the Cardinals' minor league system in 1935 and by 1939 he was again enjoying success as Rochester's manager.

In June [[1940 in sports|1940]], he received a second chance with the struggling Cardinals when owner [[Sam Breadon]] fired manager [[Ray Blades]] and promoted Southworth. This time, the Cards respondedflourished tounder SouthwopthSouthworth. They won 69 of 109 games and jumped from seventh to third place in 1940. The following season they won 97 games and finished second. Then, from 1942-44, the Cardinals won 106, 105 and 105 games, three pennants and two World Series titles. Southworth had presided over one of the most dominant three-year stretches in [[National League]] history. But in [[1945 in sports|1945]], his son, [[Major William Brooks Southworth]], died in a plane crash during military flight training. The Cards' manager rushed to the scene of the crash and was overcome with sadness, but began managing at the beginning of the season despite the tragedy. The Cardinals finished second that season, three games behind the [[Chicago Cubs]].

Southworth then moved to the [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Braves]] in 1946, signing a then-lucrative managing contract for a reported $50,000 per season, and immediately led the Braves into the first division. In [[1948 in sports|1948]], spearheaded by the National League's best one-two pitching combination, lefthander [[Warren Spahn]] and righty [[Johnny Sain]], the Braves won their second NL pennant of the 20th century but were defeated in six games by the [[Cleveland Indians]] in the [[1948 World Series]].