Bucky Harris was an underrated MLB manager because of the fact that he finished his career with a losing record and was the manager of several of the Washington Senators teams that were not very good. His career spanned 29 years out of 33 from 1929 to 1956. He was a player manager for 7 of his first 8 seasons, winning a World Series title and then an AL Pennant in his second season behind the bench. Despite his lack of success afterwards, for the most part, he finished his career 7th All Time when it comes to wins as a manager. Only Connie Mack, John McGraw, Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox have managed more games in the big leagues. None of the before mentioned managed five different teams, something contemporaries such as Billy Martin and Lou Piniella have done.
Harris managed the Senators to 4 straight winning seasons from 1924-1927. Unfortunately, he would have only two winning seasons out of the next 16 years, spanning 20 years. After the 1928 season, he was sent to the Detroit Tigers, where he took over as player manager for 2 of his first 3 seasons. After two more seasons at the helm, he resigned at the end of the 1933 season. The 1933 season, ironically, was the last time his former team, the Senators, won the AL Pennant. He took over the Boston Red Sox for the 1934 season. He left the Red Sox after one season, though, to return to the Senators for the second time. Adding to the irony is the fact that current Senators player-manager Joe Cronin, was traded to Boston, where Harris managed last. His second time in Washington started with a winning season in his second season, but he left after following it with six straight losing seasons. He would manage the Phillies in 1944, only to be fired after 94 games. That would end his 20 consecutive year run as a MLB manager, covering five different teams.
Despite the 14 losing seasons in his last 16 seasons, he was only 25 games under .500 for his career. So he was given the job to manage the New York Yankees before the 1947 season. "Yes" and Bucky Harris is the answer to the question: Did any other Yankees manager win a World Series between Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel? Despite winning 94 games in 1948, the Yankees finished 3rd in the AL and Harris was let go and replaced by Stengel, who would precede to win the next five World Series.
After sitting out the 1949 season, he returned to the Senators, and despite finishing .500 one season and two games over another, he was 72 games under .500 in his five seasons in Washington. Taking over the Tigers one more time for the 1955 and 1956 seasons, he led the team to two winning seasons. His 2219 losses ranks second in the history of the game only to Mack. Harris would be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1975, two years before he would pass away on his 81st birthday in 1977.
Harris managed the Senators to 4 straight winning seasons from 1924-1927. Unfortunately, he would have only two winning seasons out of the next 16 years, spanning 20 years. After the 1928 season, he was sent to the Detroit Tigers, where he took over as player manager for 2 of his first 3 seasons. After two more seasons at the helm, he resigned at the end of the 1933 season. The 1933 season, ironically, was the last time his former team, the Senators, won the AL Pennant. He took over the Boston Red Sox for the 1934 season. He left the Red Sox after one season, though, to return to the Senators for the second time. Adding to the irony is the fact that current Senators player-manager Joe Cronin, was traded to Boston, where Harris managed last. His second time in Washington started with a winning season in his second season, but he left after following it with six straight losing seasons. He would manage the Phillies in 1944, only to be fired after 94 games. That would end his 20 consecutive year run as a MLB manager, covering five different teams.
Despite the 14 losing seasons in his last 16 seasons, he was only 25 games under .500 for his career. So he was given the job to manage the New York Yankees before the 1947 season. "Yes" and Bucky Harris is the answer to the question: Did any other Yankees manager win a World Series between Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel? Despite winning 94 games in 1948, the Yankees finished 3rd in the AL and Harris was let go and replaced by Stengel, who would precede to win the next five World Series.
After sitting out the 1949 season, he returned to the Senators, and despite finishing .500 one season and two games over another, he was 72 games under .500 in his five seasons in Washington. Taking over the Tigers one more time for the 1955 and 1956 seasons, he led the team to two winning seasons. His 2219 losses ranks second in the history of the game only to Mack. Harris would be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1975, two years before he would pass away on his 81st birthday in 1977.
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