Jerry Royster
Encyclopedia
Jeron Kennis Royster was a third baseman
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
, Atlanta Braves
, San Diego Padres
, Chicago White Sox
, and the New York Yankees
, as well as a former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers
and of the Lotte Giants
in the Korea Baseball Organization
.
as part of a six-player trade that included Jimmy Wynn
, Tom Paciorek
, and Dusty Baker
. He became a regular third baseman with the Braves, and in 1976, he was named to the 1976 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster
. Royster, a graduate of Sacramento High School, was joined in the Braves line-up by Rowland Office
, a C. K. McClatchy High School
alumn. The two, who played against each other in high school, batted one and two in the Braves batting order. After nine years with the Braves, he joined the Padres
as a free agent
, but he was no longer an everyday infielder. In 1987, he split the season with the Chicago White Sox
and the New York Yankees
. He returned to the Braves in 1988 at age 35, and retired at the end of the season.
Jerry coached the Vero Beach Dodgers and was the third base coach for the Colorado Rockies. He re-emerged in the major leagues as a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
under manager Davey Lopes
, but after only 15 games in 2002, Lopes was fired and Royster was named interim manager. Two weeks later, the interim tag was removed, but at the end of a disappointing 53–94 stint, he was fired.
Royster managed the Las Vegas 51s
from 2005–2006. In late September 2006, he was fired as manager of the Dodgers' triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, which was 67–77 that season. Royster had a record of 124–163 in two seasons at Las Vegas and has a career minor league record of 598–659. He was the Dodgers' minor league infield coordinator in 2003 and 2004 and a minor league manager in the San Diego Padres organization for several seasons.
Late in 2007, Royster signed on to become the manager of the Lotte Giants
in Busan
, South Korea, making him the first ever non-Korean to take the helm of one of South Korea's professional baseball clubs.
On October 13, 2010, the Lotte Giants decided not to renew Royster's contract following the Giant's defeat by the Doosan Bears in the first round of the KBO playoffs.
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, as well as a former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and of the Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....
in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
.
Career
He was signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1970 at age 17, and three years later, he made the big leagues with Los Angeles. He never had more than 13 games with the Dodgers, and they quickly shipped him off to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as part of a six-player trade that included Jimmy Wynn
Jimmy Wynn
James Sherman Wynn , nicknamed the "Toy Cannon," is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. During a 15-year baseball career, he played from 1963-1977 for five different teams: the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Milwaukee Brewers...
, Tom Paciorek
Tom Paciorek
Thomas Marian Paciorek is a former Major League outfielder and first baseman for 18 seasons between 1970 and 1987...
, and Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He became a regular third baseman with the Braves, and in 1976, he was named to the 1976 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster
Topps All-Star Rookie Rosters
This is a year-by-year list of the Topps All-Star Rookie teams. Note that players selected for a particular team appear in the following year's set release...
. Royster, a graduate of Sacramento High School, was joined in the Braves line-up by Rowland Office
Rowland Office
Rowland Johnie Office is a former outfielder for the Atlanta Braves , Montreal Expos and New York Yankees ....
, a C. K. McClatchy High School
C. K. McClatchy High School
C.K. McClatchy High School is a Sacramento City Unified School District High School. It is located in the Land Park area of Sacramento, California, USA . McClatchy High School is also the second-oldest high school in Sacramento, having been established in 1937. It is currently the oldest high...
alumn. The two, who played against each other in high school, batted one and two in the Braves batting order. After nine years with the Braves, he joined the Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, but he was no longer an everyday infielder. In 1987, he split the season with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He returned to the Braves in 1988 at age 35, and retired at the end of the season.
Jerry coached the Vero Beach Dodgers and was the third base coach for the Colorado Rockies. He re-emerged in the major leagues as a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
under manager Davey Lopes
Davey Lopes
David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...
, but after only 15 games in 2002, Lopes was fired and Royster was named interim manager. Two weeks later, the interim tag was removed, but at the end of a disappointing 53–94 stint, he was fired.
Royster managed the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
from 2005–2006. In late September 2006, he was fired as manager of the Dodgers' triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, which was 67–77 that season. Royster had a record of 124–163 in two seasons at Las Vegas and has a career minor league record of 598–659. He was the Dodgers' minor league infield coordinator in 2003 and 2004 and a minor league manager in the San Diego Padres organization for several seasons.
Late in 2007, Royster signed on to become the manager of the Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....
in Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, South Korea, making him the first ever non-Korean to take the helm of one of South Korea's professional baseball clubs.
On October 13, 2010, the Lotte Giants decided not to renew Royster's contract following the Giant's defeat by the Doosan Bears in the first round of the KBO playoffs.
Managerial records
| Team | Year | |Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| Milwaukee Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
2002 | 53 | 94 | .361 | 6th in NL Central | – | – | – | – |
| Lotte Lotte Giants The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate.... |
2008 | 69 | 57 | .548 | 3rd in KBO | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost in 1st Rd Playoff |
| 2009 | 66 | 67 | .496 | 4th in KBO | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost in 1st Rd Playoff | |
| 2010 | 69 | 61 | .519 | 4th in KBO | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost in 1st Rd Playoff | |
| Total | 257 | 279 | .479 | 3 | 9 | .250 | |||