Jack McKeon
| Birthdate | 11/23/1930 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1973 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Athletics, Marlins, Reds, Royals |
| Position | Manager |
Two-time Manager of the Year Jack McKeon is the oldest manager to win a World Series at 72 years old. His teams won over 1,000 games.
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Jack McKeon starting playing professionally in 1949 at age 18 then managed until 2011 at age 80
Jack McKeon starting playing professionally in 1949 at age 18 then managed until 2011 at age 80
Jack McKeon began his pro baseball career as an 18-year old minor league catcher in 1949. From there he managed, scouted, and served in baseball front offices for the rest of his life.
In the collection is a pair of questionnaires filled out by McKeon detailing his career highlights. The one shown above is dated January 1, 2002. Here McKeon identifies three moments that stand above the rest.
The first came in 1973. After toiling in the minors from ’49 through ’72, McKeon finally put on a big league uniform as George Brett’s first big league manager in Kansas City.
McKeon rates his 1999 campaign as Cincinnati skipper as another thrill. That year he was named Manager of the Year for guiding the Reds to a 96-win season.
The final standout accomplishment that McKeon lists concerns his work as Padres General Manager. The GM from 1981-1988, McKeon built the 1984 team, San Diego’s first pennant-winning ball club. Under his watch, the Padres acquired ’84 post-season star Kurt Bevacqua, drafted 8-time batting champ Tony Gwynn, signed Hall of Fame closer Goose Gossage, and traded for third baseman Graig Nettles. It was McKeon who built the Padres’ first October team.
McKeon added his signature at the bottom of the page. The next image provides an update to McKeon’s best moments in baseball.
In 2003 Jack McKeon became the oldest manager in MLB history to win a World Series
In 2003 Jack McKeon became the oldest manager in MLB history to win a World Series
Jack McKeon earned a paycheck from professional baseball from the 1940s through the 2020s. The lifelong baseball man filled out the questionnaire above detailing his greatest thrills in the sport.
McKeon writes, “My greatest thrill was the 6th game of the 2003 World Series. That game enabled us (Fla. Marlins) to become World Champions. After 50 years my dream came true. My family and myself had a chance to celebrate.”
Only can only imagine the thrill for a man who spent 1949 through 1972 in the minor leagues. McKeon would earn another World Series ring in 2019 as special advisor for the Washington Nationals.
