Jim Riggleman
Encyclopedia
James David Riggleman is a former Major League Baseball
manager
and coach
. Riggleman was an infielder and outfielder in the Los Angeles Dodgers
and St. Louis Cardinals
minor league
systems from 1974–1981. After his playing career ended, he managed in the Cardinals and San Diego Padres
minor league systems until 1992, when he became the Padres' manager. From 1992–2011 Riggleman managed the Padres, Chicago Cubs
, Seattle Mariners
, and Washington Nationals
, and also served as a major league coach with the Dodgers, Mariners, and Nationals between his managerial stints. His most recent major league coaching job was as manager of the Nationals, a post he resigned from on June 23, 2011. He is currently employed as a scout with the San Francisco Giants
.
in the 1974 amateur draft out of Frostburg State University
. He was assigned to the double-A level Waterbury Dodgers
, where he played third base
and second base. During the 1976 season, Riggleman transferred to the St. Louis Cardinals
, where he was assigned to the double-A Arkansas Travelers
and played in both infield and outfield. His career peaked at the triple-A level, which he reached in the Cardinals organization in 1977 and 1979. His career ended after the 1981 season at the age of 28.
of the St. Petersburg Cardinals
, a class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals
. He managed at the double-A level in the Cardinals organization—including with the Arkansas Travelers, the team which he spent most of his playing career with—and at the triple-A level in the San Diego Padres
organization.
Riggleman made his major league managerial debut with the Padres late in the season—after already managing a full season with the triple-A Las Vegas Stars
—due to the late season departure of Greg Riddoch
, and was retained through the season.
In he became manager of the Chicago Cubs
. In , Riggleman's Cubs earned a wild card
postseason appearance that ultimately resulted in a loss to the Atlanta Braves
in the National League Division Series
. Riggleman would manage the Cubs through the season. He then spent – as bench coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
under manager Jim Tracy.
Riggleman began the 2008 season as the bench coach for the Seattle Mariners
under new manager John McLaren
. He was promoted to interim manager upon McLaren's dismissal on June 19, 2008, but was not retained by the Mariners after the season ended.
Riggleman was named bench coach for the Washington Nationals
for the season, and was promoted to interim manager on July 12, 2009 following Manny Acta
's midseason dismissal. Riggleman picked McLaren as his bench coach. He was retained as manager for the and seasons, but on June 23, 2011, he resigned as manager of the Nationals after a win against the Seattle Mariners and after the team won 11 of its previous 12 games. Riggleman was unhappy that the team had yet to pick up his contract option for the 2012 season. He said he told team management before the game that he "wanted to have a conversation" about his contract before the team left for a series against the Chicago White Sox
, but "they didn't want to do that," so he offered his resignation. "I'm 58, I'm too old to be disrespected," he said.
" for the San Francisco Giants
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. Riggleman was an infielder and outfielder in 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...
and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
systems from 1974–1981. After his playing career ended, he managed in the Cardinals and 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...
minor league systems until 1992, when he became the Padres' manager. From 1992–2011 Riggleman managed the Padres, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, and Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, and also served as a major league coach with the Dodgers, Mariners, and Nationals between his managerial stints. His most recent major league coaching job was as manager of the Nationals, a post he resigned from on June 23, 2011. He is currently employed as a scout with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Playing career
Riggleman was drafted by the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
in the 1974 amateur draft out of Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University is a four-year university located on a campus in Frostburg, Maryland, in Western Maryland, and is part of the University System of Maryland. FSU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.-History:...
. He was assigned to the double-A level Waterbury Dodgers
Waterbury Dodgers
The Waterbury Dodgers were a minor league baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were based in Waterbury, Connecticut and played in the Eastern League from 1973-1976.-Year-by-year record:...
, where he played third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
and second base. During the 1976 season, Riggleman transferred to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, where he was assigned to the double-A Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
and played in both infield and outfield. His career peaked at the triple-A level, which he reached in the Cardinals organization in 1977 and 1979. His career ended after the 1981 season at the age of 28.
Coaching and managing career
In 1983, Riggleman became managerManager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the St. Petersburg Cardinals
St. Petersburg Saints
The St. Petersburg Saints were a minor league baseball team that operated out of St.Petersburg, Florida. The team began as a semi-pro team and as early as October 1908, the semi-pro Saints played the Cincinnati Reds in a post-season exhibition game. By 1914, the Saints were receiving regular...
, a class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He managed at the double-A level in the Cardinals organization—including with the Arkansas Travelers, the team which he spent most of his playing career with—and at the triple-A level in the 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...
organization.
Riggleman made his major league managerial debut with the Padres late in the season—after already managing a full season with the triple-A Las Vegas Stars
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...
—due to the late season departure of Greg Riddoch
Greg Riddoch
Greg Riddoch is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He was the manager of the San Diego Padres from 1990 to 1992. His career record was 200-194. During his career, he also served as a bench coach for the Padres, as well as third base coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and director of...
, and was retained through the season.
In he became manager of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. In , Riggleman's Cubs earned a wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
postseason appearance that ultimately resulted in a loss to the 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....
in the National League Division Series
1998 National League Division Series
-Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres:-Game 1, September 30:Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Braves faced the Chicago Cubs, who made it into the playoffs by beating the San Francisco Giants in a tiebreaker for the Wild Card spot. The Braves had sixteen more regular season wins and it showed in...
. Riggleman would manage the Cubs through the season. He then spent – as bench coach 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...
under manager Jim Tracy.
Riggleman began the 2008 season as the bench coach for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
under new manager John McLaren
John McLaren (baseball)
John Lowell McLaren is a former Major League Baseball coach and manager, best known for his brief tenure as manager of the Seattle Mariners, from July 1, to June 19,...
. He was promoted to interim manager upon McLaren's dismissal on June 19, 2008, but was not retained by the Mariners after the season ended.
Riggleman was named bench coach for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
for the season, and was promoted to interim manager on July 12, 2009 following Manny Acta
Manny Acta
Manuel Elias Acta is a Major League Baseball manager for the Cleveland Indians. He is the former manager of the Washington Nationals . In the Dominican Winter League, he managed the Tigres del Licey from 2002–2004, including leading them to victory at the 2003 Caribbean Series...
's midseason dismissal. Riggleman picked McLaren as his bench coach. He was retained as manager for the and seasons, but on June 23, 2011, he resigned as manager of the Nationals after a win against the Seattle Mariners and after the team won 11 of its previous 12 games. Riggleman was unhappy that the team had yet to pick up his contract option for the 2012 season. He said he told team management before the game that he "wanted to have a conversation" about his contract before the team left for a series against 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...
, but "they didn't want to do that," so he offered his resignation. "I'm 58, I'm too old to be disrespected," he said.
Later career
Riggleman is presently employed as a "special assignment scoutScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
" for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - career managing record