North Shore Nine

On the eve of the Winter Meetings, it was announced that the Contemporary Era Committee had elected Jim Leyland to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Leyland received 15 of 16 possible votes. It requires a minimum of twelve votes from the committee to be awarded the nomination. Jim Leyland was the only candidate in front of the committee to receive the necessary votes.

The Hall of Fame voting total: Jim Leyland (15 votes, 93.8%); Lou Piniella (11 votes, 68.8%); Bill White (10 votes, 62.5%); Cito Gaston, Davey Johnson, Ed Montague, Hank Peters, and Joe West each received less than five votes.

Leyland was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Contemporary Era Committee, which is composed of seven Hall of Fame members, six baseball executives and three media members, per a media release from the Pirates. 

Leyland will be the 44th former player, manager or executive in the Hall of Fame who spent some of their professional careers with the Pirates, according to the press release.

Leyland managed the Pirates from 1986 to 1996 and led the team to three straight appearances in the National League Championship Series from 1990-1992, earning an 851-863 win-loss record while being named the BBWAA Manager of the Year in 1990 and 1992.

His 851 wins as manager of the Pirates ranks third all-time in team history, trailing only Fred Clarke (1,422) and Danny Murtaugh (1,115). 

Leyland won the World Series with the Marlins in 1997 and managed the United States national baseball team to the 2017 World Baseball Classic championship. He is the only manager in history to win both titles. 

Pittsburgh Pirates owner, Bob Nutting, put out the following statement on Leyland’s induction into the Hall of Fame.

Leyland spent eleven years as the Pirates’ skipper and amassed an 851-863 record while making the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 1990 to 1992. He won Manager of the Year twice with the Bucs (1990, 1992) and once with the Detroit Tigers (2006). He also managed three All-Star teams (1998 National League, 2007 & 2013 American League). 2013 was his last season managing in MLB, but he has spent his time since as a special assistant with the Detroit Tigers.

The induction ceremony for Jim Leyland will be on July 21st in Cooperstown, New York. Congratulations, Mr. Leyland. With Christmas just around the corner, you can find great gift ideas for your favorite Jim Leyland fans in your life here.