Saturday, 21 December 2024

Miller Huggins

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Baseball
Statistics: 3 World Series Championships (1923, 1927 & 1928)
1,413-1,134 Record
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Miller Huggins was an excellent fielder and patient hitter in his playing days, but his real talent came as a manager.

Huggins got his first start to run a Major League club with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1913 while he was still a player. He ran the Cardinals for five seasons, and while he only had two winning seasons, he was a large part of the development of Rogers Hornsby's growth as a hitter.

Huggins then moved on to New York to take over the Yankees, who a year later acquired Babe Ruth, who would become the biggest superstar in sports. That gave Huggins a considerable asset, but it was also virgin territory as there had never been a baseball player whose celebrity transcended the game. Huggins and Ruth often clashed, but they were successful together, from Ruth's skill and Huggins' tinkering.

Huggins stayed as New York's manager until failing health caused him to quit during the 1929 season. He passed away shortly after, at the age of 50, with pyemia being ruled as the official cause of death.

We are proud to nominate Miller Huggins for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.