My 5 Favorite Jim Leyland Managerial Moments

Turner Givens
Jun 8, 2020
2 min read

During his 22 years as a manager, Jim Leyland showed us many different emotions. If you break it down to its core, all those emotions stemmed from one thing, his passion for the game of baseball. It didn’t matter if he was chirping umpires, dancing in the clubhouse, or ripping heaters in the dugout. He was a man of the game. There’s so many legendary moments from the ole skipper that this list was nearly impossible to narrow down to the top 5. However, these 5 stood out to me the most in a specific way. They are hilarious.

Here’s my top 5 favorite Jim Leyland managerial moments:

5. The Post Game Rant

Jim wasn’t one to shy away from speaking his mind. After a blown third strike call vs. the Tigers that led to a game deciding rally, Jimmy sat back in his chair during post game interviews and let it fly. He’s “not going to just sit [there] and rip umpires”. He’d rather the media do it for him. That’s a smart man.

4. God Bless America

One thing about Jim Leyland, he knows when to show respect to his country. He will stop in the middle of anything to prove he bleeds red, white, and blue. Even ripping into an umpire. Just imagine how awkward it must’ve been for the umpire knowing right as God Bless America ended, he would get a reaming by Leyland.

3. Party Jim

As intense as Leyland could be on the field, when it was time to party, it was time to f@#%ing party. What a power move to drop in on a champagne shower in the clubhouse and hit a nasty dance move on the way out. I don’t know what you call that little shimmy at the end, but it was damn slick.

2. Cigs Inside

The guy loved his cigarettes. You can’t blame the guy for ripping heaters while having the most stressful job in Major League Baseball. A manager is on the hot seat year in and year out. If Jim wants to calm the nerves with a couple cigs, let him do his thing. And just watch him get emotional about his team after a huge ALCS clinching W. Gotta love the passion..

1. He’s The Goddamn Manager

I don’t think Jim Leyland is scared of anybody. Not even the current home run king. In 1991, he heard Barry Bonds was getting a little aggressive with the media at Spring Training. Jim seemed to have had enough of Barry’s shit and let him have it. HE’S THE MANAGER DAMMIT.