Marv Foley
Encyclopedia
Marvis Edwin Foley is a former Major League Baseball
catcher and coach, former minor league baseball
coach and manager, and current minor league baseball instructor. In the majors, he played all or part of five seasons, between 1978 and 1984, for the Chicago White Sox
and Texas Rangers
. He is the only manager ever to win league championships in all three major Triple-A leagues (International League
, American Association
and Pacific Coast League
).
. In 1975, the Chicago White Sox
drafted Foley in the 17th round of the amateur draft
. He was originally assigned to the Class-A Appleton Foxes, but was promoted to the Double-A Knoxville Sox after just six games. He batted
.293 at Knoxville in 51 games, and in 1976 he opened the season there again.
Foley's statistics declined somewhat in 1976, with his batting average dropping to .251 in his first full professional season. In 1977, Foley split the season between Appleton (48 games), Knoxville (66 games), and the Triple-A Iowa Oaks (10 games). Across all three levels, he batted .282 with 10 home run
s. In 1978, he played the whole season at Iowa, batting .275.
After the Triple-A season ended, Foley was given his first taste of major league action. He made his debut on September 11, 1978 against the Minnesota Twins
. He pinch-hit for starting catcher Mike Colbern
in the 9th inning, grounding out against pitcher Mike Marshall. He played in a total of 11 games that season, batting .353 in 34 at bat
s.
Foley started the 1979 season with the White Sox, splitting time as their primary catcher with Bill Nahorodny
. On May 27, the White Sox purchased Milt May
from the Detroit Tigers
, and Foley, who was batting .235, was sent down to Iowa. He returned to the White Sox in September, finishing the season with a .247 average, 2 home runs, and 10 RBI.
Foley again started the season with the White Sox in 1980, but he once again struggled at the plate, batting just .181 through July 3. He was once again demoted to the minors, splitting the next two months between Iowa and the Double-A Glens Falls White Sox
. For the third season in a row, he returned to the majors in September, and by the end of the season he had brought his average up to .212, and had set new career highs with 4 home runs and 15 RBI.
In 1981, Foley opened the season in the minor leagues for the first time in three seasons. He spent the full season with the White Sox' new Triple-A affiliate, the Edmonton Trappers
, where he batted .296 and a professional best of 11 home runs.
In 1982, Foley was back in the majors, but as the White Sox' third-string catcher behind Carlton Fisk
and Marc Hill
. He made it into just 27 games, and had just 36 at bats, in which he batted an anemic .111 with just one RBI.
In 1983, it was back to Triple-A, again with a new White Sox affiliate, the Denver Bears. This time, he had what would be his best batting average in a full Triple-A season at .319, and he hit double digits in home runs with 10. However, after the season ended, he was allowed to become a minor league free agent.
. In 1984, Foley played a full season in the majors for the second time, splitting time at catcher with Donnie Scott
and Ned Yost
. On the last day of the season, in the first game of a doubleheader against the California Angels
, he made the final out of Mike Witt
's perfect game
. Pinch-hitting for Curtis Wilkerson
, he grounded out to second to end the game. It turned out to be his last at bat that season, and in the major leagues.
While he batted just .217 in 1984, he established personal major league bests with 6 home runs and 19 RBI. After the season, he was released by the Rangers.
shortly after his release, but never played for them at any level. Instead, he wound up back with the White Sox. He split the next two seasons between Double-A and Triple-A in their organization before his playing career ended following the 1986 season at age 32.
Manager of the Year after leading Tampa into the playoffs, where they lost in the first round.
In 1989, Foley was again promoted, this time all the way to Triple-A, with yet another new White Sox' affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians
of the Pacific Coast League
. This time, he led the team all the way to the league championship, defeating the Albuquerque Dukes
in the playoff finals. Foley managed the next season at Vancouver as well, but after starting the 1991 season with a 24-39 record, he was replaced by Moe Drabowsky
on May 15.
to manage their Double-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights
. He managed the team into the playoffs, but lost in the first round. In 1993, he was moved up to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
of the American Association
. After finishing the season in first place with an 85-59 record, the I-Cubs won the league championship over the Nashville Sounds
-- yet another new Triple-A affiliate of the White Sox. In 1994, Foley was finally back in the majors, serving as the Cubs' bullpen coach.
organization, and once again was managing in the minor leagues. He started out the 1995 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
of the International League
, and the team made the playoffs in each of Foley's first three seasons as manager.
In 1997, Foley would achieve what no other minor league manager has achieved before or since when the Red Wings won the International League
championship, winning in the finals over the Columbus Clippers
. That gave Foley championships in all three major Triple-A leagues, the first and (to date) only manager to do so. This feat will be difficult to replicate, as the American Association ceased to exist after the 1997 season.
Foley managed the Red Wings again in 1998, but the team struggled and finished in 4th place, out of the playoffs. In 1999, Foley had his second stint as a coach in the majors, coaching at first base for the Orioles. He returned to manage Rochester in 2000, this time finishing 5th, before spending a season as the Orioles' roving minor league catching instructor.
of the Atlantic League
in 2002, guiding the team to the league championship. He was hired by the Colorado Rockies
to manage their Double-A team, the Tulsa Drillers
, prior to the 2003 season. After one season in Tulsa, he managed the next two seasons for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox
. Since 2006, Foley has served as the Rockies' minor league catching coordinator.
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...
catcher and coach, former minor league baseball
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...
coach and manager, and current minor league baseball instructor. In the majors, he played all or part of five seasons, between 1978 and 1984, for 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 Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He is the only manager ever to win league championships in all three major Triple-A leagues (International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
and Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
).
Early career
Foley played college baseball at the University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. In 1975, 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...
drafted Foley in the 17th round of the amateur draft
1975 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft..Many baseball draft experts consider the 1975 draft to be the weakest in MLB history.- External links :*- References :...
. He was originally assigned to the Class-A Appleton Foxes, but was promoted to the Double-A Knoxville Sox after just six games. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.293 at Knoxville in 51 games, and in 1976 he opened the season there again.
Foley's statistics declined somewhat in 1976, with his batting average dropping to .251 in his first full professional season. In 1977, Foley split the season between Appleton (48 games), Knoxville (66 games), and the Triple-A Iowa Oaks (10 games). Across all three levels, he batted .282 with 10 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. In 1978, he played the whole season at Iowa, batting .275.
1978
After the Triple-A season ended, Foley was given his first taste of major league action. He made his debut on September 11, 1978 against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He pinch-hit for starting catcher Mike Colbern
Mike Colbern
Michael Malloy "Miike" Colbern was a professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Chicago White Sox during 1978 and 1979....
in the 9th inning, grounding out against pitcher Mike Marshall. He played in a total of 11 games that season, batting .353 in 34 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s.
1979
Foley started the 1979 season with the White Sox, splitting time as their primary catcher with Bill Nahorodny
Bill Nahorodny
William Gerard Nahorodny , was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from -...
. On May 27, the White Sox purchased Milt May
Milt May
Milton Scott May is a former professional baseball player and coach who played in the Major Leagues from to for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants. May was a catcher who hit for a fairly high batting average during the era in which...
from the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, and Foley, who was batting .235, was sent down to Iowa. He returned to the White Sox in September, finishing the season with a .247 average, 2 home runs, and 10 RBI.
1980
Foley again started the season with the White Sox in 1980, but he once again struggled at the plate, batting just .181 through July 3. He was once again demoted to the minors, splitting the next two months between Iowa and the Double-A Glens Falls White Sox
Glens Falls White Sox
The Glens Falls White Sox were an American minor league baseball team from Glens Falls, New York that played in the Eastern League from 1980 until 1985. The team was founded in 1980 as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. In 1986, the team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers and...
. For the third season in a row, he returned to the majors in September, and by the end of the season he had brought his average up to .212, and had set new career highs with 4 home runs and 15 RBI.
1981 through 1983
In 1981, Foley opened the season in the minor leagues for the first time in three seasons. He spent the full season with the White Sox' new Triple-A affiliate, the Edmonton Trappers
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
, where he batted .296 and a professional best of 11 home runs.
In 1982, Foley was back in the majors, but as the White Sox' third-string catcher behind Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
and Marc Hill
Marc Hill
Marc Kevin Hill is a former Major League Baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , Seattle Mariners , and Chicago White Sox ....
. He made it into just 27 games, and had just 36 at bats, in which he batted an anemic .111 with just one RBI.
In 1983, it was back to Triple-A, again with a new White Sox affiliate, the Denver Bears. This time, he had what would be his best batting average in a full Triple-A season at .319, and he hit double digits in home runs with 10. However, after the season ended, he was allowed to become a minor league free agent.
Rangers
A month later, Foley signed a contract with the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. In 1984, Foley played a full season in the majors for the second time, splitting time at catcher with Donnie Scott
Donnie Scott
Donald Malcolm Scott was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From through , Scott played a role as backup and part-time catcher for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. While bouncing around in the minor leagues, Scott was also a member of the farm system for the Baltimore...
and Ned Yost
Ned Yost
Edgar Frederick "Ned" Yost III is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the Kansas City Royals. He is the former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.-Playing career:...
. On the last day of the season, in the first game of a doubleheader against the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, he made the final out of Mike Witt
Mike Witt
Michael Atwater "Mike" Witt is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.At just twenty years of age, Witt made his major league debut with the California Angels in 1981. Standing 6 feet, 7 inches tall and possessing a great curveball as well as a good fastball, Witt's breakout season came in...
's perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
. Pinch-hitting for Curtis Wilkerson
Curtis Wilkerson
Curtis Vernon Wilkerson , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a utility man from -....
, he grounded out to second to end the game. It turned out to be his last at bat that season, and in the major leagues.
While he batted just .217 in 1984, he established personal major league bests with 6 home runs and 19 RBI. After the season, he was released by the Rangers.
Back in the minors
Foley signed on with the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
shortly after his release, but never played for them at any level. Instead, he wound up back with the White Sox. He split the next two seasons between Double-A and Triple-A in their organization before his playing career ended following the 1986 season at age 32.
White Sox organization
During his final two seasons in the minors, Foley served as a player-coach. In 1987, he was named manager of the Peninsula White Sox, and in 1988 he was promoted to the High-A Tampa White Sox. That season, he was named Florida State LeagueFlorida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
Manager of the Year after leading Tampa into the playoffs, where they lost in the first round.
In 1989, Foley was again promoted, this time all the way to Triple-A, with yet another new White Sox' affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver Canadians
The Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. This time, he led the team all the way to the league championship, defeating the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
in the playoff finals. Foley managed the next season at Vancouver as well, but after starting the 1991 season with a 24-39 record, he was replaced by Moe Drabowsky
Moe Drabowsky
Myron Walter Drabowsky was a Polish-American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Milwaukee Braves , Cincinnati Reds , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals , St...
on May 15.
Cubs organization
Prior to the 1992 season, Foley was hired by the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
to manage their Double-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
. He managed the team into the playoffs, but lost in the first round. In 1993, he was moved up to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. After finishing the season in first place with an 85-59 record, the I-Cubs won the league championship over the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
-- yet another new Triple-A affiliate of the White Sox. In 1994, Foley was finally back in the majors, serving as the Cubs' bullpen coach.
Orioles organization
Following the 1994 season, Foley moved on to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization, and once again was managing in the minor leagues. He started out the 1995 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, and the team made the playoffs in each of Foley's first three seasons as manager.
In 1997, Foley would achieve what no other minor league manager has achieved before or since when the Red Wings won the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
championship, winning in the finals over the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
. That gave Foley championships in all three major Triple-A leagues, the first and (to date) only manager to do so. This feat will be difficult to replicate, as the American Association ceased to exist after the 1997 season.
Foley managed the Red Wings again in 1998, but the team struggled and finished in 4th place, out of the playoffs. In 1999, Foley had his second stint as a coach in the majors, coaching at first base for the Orioles. He returned to manage Rochester in 2000, this time finishing 5th, before spending a season as the Orioles' roving minor league catching instructor.
Rockies organization
After being let go by the Orioles, Foley spent a season in the independent leagues, managing the Newark BearsNewark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
in 2002, guiding the team to the league championship. He was hired by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
to manage their Double-A team, the Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
, prior to the 2003 season. After one season in Tulsa, he managed the next two seasons for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
. Since 2006, Foley has served as the Rockies' minor league catching coordinator.