John Gibbons
Encyclopedia
John Michael Gibbons (born June 8, 1962, in Great Falls, Montana
) was the manager
of the Toronto Blue Jays
in Major League Baseball
from 2004 to 2008. He is often referred to as "Gibby" by his players and other baseball cohorts.
with the 24th pick of the 1980 amateur draft
, Gibbons had a very brief 18-game major league playing career as a catcher
with the Mets in 1984 and 1986. He was projected to be the Mets' catcher of the future but he batted only .220, with one home run and 2 RBIs (but 16 strikeouts) in 50 at-bats. Injuries also took a toll on him so he retired as a player in 1990. Gibbons served as the Mets' bullpen catcher during the 1986 postseason, in which the Mets won the World Series
.
J. P. Ricciardi in 2002 as a bullpen
catcher, Gibbons worked his way up to first base coach in June 2002. Ricciardi was his former roommate in the minor leagues.
fired manager Carlos Tosca
in 2004, John Gibbons was hired. The Blue Jays went 20–30 with Gibbons as manager. During the remainder of the season, it was not unusual to see as many as six rookies per game on the Blue Jays' field.
At the end of the 2004 regular season, Gibbons was given a 1-year contract as the manager for the 2005 season. This contract was extended for three seasons just a week into the 2005 season. Gibbons went on to lead the Jays to an 80–82 record in his first full season as a big league manager.
Expectations were higher in 2006, after the Blue Jays acquired A.J. Burnett, Troy Glaus
, Lyle Overbay
, B. J. Ryan, and Bengie Molina
. Toronto ended the season in second place in the American League East division with an 87–75 record, one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox
. It marked the first time the Jays had finished higher than third since 1993, when they won their second of two consecutive World Series
titles.
Gibbons was fired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays
on June 20, 2008. He was replaced by former Jays Manager Cito Gaston
.
after the right-hander showed his displeasure on the mound about being removed from a game. The next day Bush was sent to the minor leagues. After the season, Bush was traded to the Brewers
, where the former 2nd round draft pick doubled the number of wins he had achieved in either season as a Blue Jay.
Gibbons was again involved in controversy in July 2006, after his feud with Shea Hillenbrand
came to a head. After the former Blue Jays infielder and designated hitter wrote negative comments about the team on a display board in the Blue Jays clubhouse, Gibbons confronted him in a closed team meeting and allegedly challenged him to a fight. Hillenbrand, who has a history of clashing with officials from several teams, was upset about his lack of playing time and that no one in the Blue Jays front office had made an attempt to congratulate him on recently adopting a child. Three days later the Blue Jays traded Hillenbrand, who was hitting .301 at the time, to the Giants.
Gibbons was involved in more controversy on August 21, 2006, when he got into a confrontation with another of his players—Blue Jays pitcher Ted Lilly
– after Gibbons walked to the mound to remove Lilly in the third inning of Toronto's game against Oakland
. Visibly frustrated at his own performance (having given up 7 runs in that inning to erase an 8–0 lead), Lilly initially refused to surrender the ball to Gibbons. He ultimately left the mound and headed for the clubhouse. When Gibbons returned to the dugout, he followed Lilly into the clubhouse tunnel where, according to eyewitnesses, Gibbons confronted the pitcher about his insubordination. The two exchanged shoves, and a number of players and Blue Jays staff rushed in from the dugout to break it up. Following the confrontation, both men considered the matter resolved, and there were no apparent tensions thereafter.
The most recent controversy occurred with Frank Thomas
. At the beginning of the 2008 season, Gibbons benched Thomas, who had a batting average of .167 after the first 20 games of the season. Thomas, typically a slow starter, was livid over his lack of playing time. He claimed that the Blue Jays were giving him less playing time to prevent him from getting 364 at-bats in the season, which was the required amount for his $10 million 2009 option to become guaranteed. The Blue Jays responded the next day on April 20, 2008 by releasing Thomas. Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi
met with Thomas and they agreed that the best thing for the team and for Thomas would be to let him go.
, replacing Dave Owen
who became the third base
coach.
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
) was the 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...
of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in Major League Baseball
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...
from 2004 to 2008. He is often referred to as "Gibby" by his players and other baseball cohorts.
Playing career
After being selected by the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
with the 24th pick of the 1980 amateur draft
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.- Compensation Picks :*William Erickson, was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants, 31st pick overall. *Jeff Horne was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
, Gibbons had a very brief 18-game major league playing career as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
with the Mets in 1984 and 1986. He was projected to be the Mets' catcher of the future but he batted only .220, with one home run and 2 RBIs (but 16 strikeouts) in 50 at-bats. Injuries also took a toll on him so he retired as a player in 1990. Gibbons served as the Mets' bullpen catcher during the 1986 postseason, in which the Mets won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
Bullpen catcher and coach
Hired by the Blue Jays General ManagerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
J. P. Ricciardi in 2002 as a bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
catcher, Gibbons worked his way up to first base coach in June 2002. Ricciardi was his former roommate in the minor leagues.
Managerial career
After Blue Jays GM J.P. RicciardiJ.P. Ricciardi
John Paul Ricciardi is a Major League Baseball executive who currently is a special assistant to New York Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson...
fired manager Carlos Tosca
Carlos Tosca
Carlos Tosca is the bench coach for the Atlanta Braves. He was the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2002 to 2004.-Biography:Tosca managed the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League until 1996....
in 2004, John Gibbons was hired. The Blue Jays went 20–30 with Gibbons as manager. During the remainder of the season, it was not unusual to see as many as six rookies per game on the Blue Jays' field.
At the end of the 2004 regular season, Gibbons was given a 1-year contract as the manager for the 2005 season. This contract was extended for three seasons just a week into the 2005 season. Gibbons went on to lead the Jays to an 80–82 record in his first full season as a big league manager.
Expectations were higher in 2006, after the Blue Jays acquired A.J. Burnett, Troy Glaus
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus is a Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman who is currently a free agent. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels , Arizona Diamondbacks , Toronto Blue Jays , St. Louis Cardinals , and the Atlanta Braves . Glaus lettered in baseball while attending UCLA...
, Lyle Overbay
Lyle Overbay
Lyle Stefan Overbay is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent.-Amateur career:...
, B. J. Ryan, and Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina
Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....
. Toronto ended the season in second place in the American League East division with an 87–75 record, one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. It marked the first time the Jays had finished higher than third since 1993, when they won their second of two consecutive World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
titles.
Gibbons was fired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on June 20, 2008. He was replaced by former Jays Manager Cito Gaston
Cito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
.
Controversy with his players
On May 28, 2005, Gibbons chastised former Toronto starter Dave Bush in the dugoutDugout (baseball)
In baseball, the dugout is a team's bench area and is located in foul territory between home plate and either first or third base. There are two dugouts, one for the home team and one for the visiting team. In general, the dugout is occupied by all players not prescribed to be on the field at that...
after the right-hander showed his displeasure on the mound about being removed from a game. The next day Bush was sent to the minor leagues. After the season, Bush was traded to the 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...
, where the former 2nd round draft pick doubled the number of wins he had achieved in either season as a Blue Jay.
Gibbons was again involved in controversy in July 2006, after his feud with Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
came to a head. After the former Blue Jays infielder and designated hitter wrote negative comments about the team on a display board in the Blue Jays clubhouse, Gibbons confronted him in a closed team meeting and allegedly challenged him to a fight. Hillenbrand, who has a history of clashing with officials from several teams, was upset about his lack of playing time and that no one in the Blue Jays front office had made an attempt to congratulate him on recently adopting a child. Three days later the Blue Jays traded Hillenbrand, who was hitting .301 at the time, to the Giants.
Gibbons was involved in more controversy on August 21, 2006, when he got into a confrontation with another of his players—Blue Jays pitcher Ted Lilly
Ted Lilly
Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed...
– after Gibbons walked to the mound to remove Lilly in the third inning of Toronto's game against Oakland
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. Visibly frustrated at his own performance (having given up 7 runs in that inning to erase an 8–0 lead), Lilly initially refused to surrender the ball to Gibbons. He ultimately left the mound and headed for the clubhouse. When Gibbons returned to the dugout, he followed Lilly into the clubhouse tunnel where, according to eyewitnesses, Gibbons confronted the pitcher about his insubordination. The two exchanged shoves, and a number of players and Blue Jays staff rushed in from the dugout to break it up. Following the confrontation, both men considered the matter resolved, and there were no apparent tensions thereafter.
The most recent controversy occurred with Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas (AL baseball player)
Frank Edward Thomas, Jr. , nicknamed "The Big Hurt", is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman....
. At the beginning of the 2008 season, Gibbons benched Thomas, who had a batting average of .167 after the first 20 games of the season. Thomas, typically a slow starter, was livid over his lack of playing time. He claimed that the Blue Jays were giving him less playing time to prevent him from getting 364 at-bats in the season, which was the required amount for his $10 million 2009 option to become guaranteed. The Blue Jays responded the next day on April 20, 2008 by releasing Thomas. Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi
J.P. Ricciardi
John Paul Ricciardi is a Major League Baseball executive who currently is a special assistant to New York Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson...
met with Thomas and they agreed that the best thing for the team and for Thomas would be to let him go.
Post-Toronto coaching/managerial career
On October 10, 2008, Gibbons was hired as the bench coach by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, replacing Dave Owen
Dave Owen
Dave Owen , is a former professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. He got the game-winning RBI game during the The Sandberg Game. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington and played for the...
who became the third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
coach.
Managerial records
| Team | |Regular Season | Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... |
2004 2004 Toronto Blue Jays season The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing fifth in the American League East with a record of 67 wins and 94 losses... |
50 | 20 | 30 | .400 | 5th in American League East | – | – | – | – |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 Toronto Blue Jays season The 2005 Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 3rd in the American League East with a record of 80 wins and 82 losses... |
162 | 80 | 82 | .494 | 3rd in American League East | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2006 2006 Toronto Blue Jays season The 2006 Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses. For the second straight season, Blue Jays hitters combined for less than 1,000 strikeouts... |
162 | 87 | 75 | .537 | 2nd in American League East | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2007 2007 Toronto Blue Jays season The 2007 Toronto Blue Jays season started off with the Blue Jays trying to improve on their 87 win 2006 season, hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993.... |
162 | 83 | 79 | .512 | 3rd in American League East | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2008 2008 Toronto Blue Jays season The Toronto Blue Jays season, the team's 32nd year of existence, saw the Blue Jays finish in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses for a .531 winning percentage, thus making this season the third consecutive winning season for the Jays, as well as being... |
74 | 35 | 39 | .470 | – | – | – | (fired) | ||||
| Total | 610 | 305 | 305 | .500 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
See also
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2006
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2008