# List of Major League Baseball player-managers

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Founded in 1869, it is composed of 30 teams. Each team in the league has a manager, who is responsible for team strategy and leadership on and off the field. Assisted by various coaches, the manager sets the line-up and starting pitcher before each game, and makes substitutions throughout the game. In early baseball history, it was not uncommon for players to serve as player-managers; that is, they managed the team while still being signed to play for the club. In the history of MLB, there have been 221 player-managers, 59 of whom are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The dual role of player-manager was formerly a common practice, dating back to John Clapp, who performed the task for the Middletown Mansfields in 1872. One reason for this is that by hiring a player as a manager, the team could save money by paying only one salary. Also, popular players were named player-managers in an effort to boost game attendance. Babe Ruth left the New York Yankees when they refused to allow him to become player-manager. Five of the eight National League (NL) managers in 1934 were also players. Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Joe Torre, among the all-time leaders in managerial wins, made their managerial debuts as player-managers. At least one man served as a player-manager in every major league season from Clapp's debut through 1955.
Today, player-managers have become rare in baseball. Pete Rose is the most recent player-manager, serving from 1984 through 1986 with the Cincinnati Reds. Whereas some player-managers, such as Lou Boudreau, were full-time players as player-managers, by the time Rose became player-manager, he was a part-time player. Rose was trying to prolong his career to break the all-time hit record set by Ty Cobb, and Reds owner Marge Schott used this as a marketing ploy. Rose removed himself from the 40-man roster after the 1986 season to make room for Pat Pacillo, unofficially retiring as a player, but remained as the Reds manager until he was banned from baseball following the release of the Dowd Report in 1989.
One criticism of the practice holds that the manager has enough to be preoccupied with during a game without playing. With specialized bullpens, extensive scouting reports, and increased media scrutiny, the job of a manager has become more complex. A player-manager needs to decide how much playing time to give himself. Don Kessinger, player-manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1979, believes he did not play himself enough. Additionally, Bill Terry felt he became isolated from his team when he became a player-manager.
However, teams continue to consider hiring player-managers. The Toronto Blue Jays considered hiring Paul Molitor as a player-manager in 1997. When approached with the idea in 2000, Barry Larkin reported that he found it "interesting", though general manager (GM) Jim Bowden rejected the idea. In the 2011–12 offseason, the White Sox considered hiring incumbent first baseman Paul Konerko to serve as manager. White Sox GM Kenny Williams said that he believes MLB will again have a player-manager.

## List

Key :
| † | Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| Year(s) | Season(s) as a player-manager |
| Position | Primary position while a player-manager |
MLB player-managers :
| Player-manager | Team(s) | Year(s) | Position |
| Bob Addy | Philadelphia White Stockings Cincinnati Reds | 1875 1877 | Outfielder |
| Bob Allen | Philadelphia Phillies Cincinnati Reds | 1890 1900 | Shortstop |
| Cap Anson$^†$ | Philadelphia Athletics Chicago Cubs | 1875 1876–1897 | First baseman |
| Jimmy Austin | St. Louis Browns | 1913, 1918, 1923 | Third baseman |
| Dave Bancroft$^†$ | Boston Braves | 1924–1927 | Shortstop |
| Sam Barkley | Kansas City Cowboys | 1888 | Second baseman |
| Billy Barnie | Baltimore Orioles | 1883, 1886 | Catcher |
| Jack Barry | Boston Red Sox | 1917 | Second baseman |
| Joe Battin | Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies Pittsburgh Alleghenies | 1883–1884 1884 | Third baseman |
| Hank Bauer | Kansas City Athletics | 1961 | Outfielder |
| Joe Birmingham | Cleveland Naps | 1912–1914 | Outfielder |
| Lena Blackburne | Chicago White Sox | 1929 | Pitcher |
| Walter Blair | Buffalo Blues | 1915 | Catcher |
| Tommy Bond | Worcester Ruby Legs | 1882 | Outfielder |
| Jim Bottomley$^†$ | St. Louis Browns | 1937 | First baseman |
| Lou Boudreau$^†$ | Cleveland Indians Boston Red Sox | 1942–1950 1952 | Shortstop |
| Frank Bowerman | Boston Doves | 1909 | Catcher |
| Bill Bradley | Cleveland Naps Brooklyn Tip-Tops | 1905 1914 | Third baseman |
| Roger Bresnahan$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals Chicago Cubs | 1909–1912 1915 | Catcher |
| Mordecai Brown$^†$ | St. Louis Terriers | 1914 | Pitcher |
| Tom Brown | Washington Senators | 1897–1898 | Outfielder |
| Charlie Buffinton | Philadelphia Athletics | 1890 | Pitcher |
| Jack Burdock | Boston Beaneaters | 1883 | Second baseman |
| Jimmy Burke | St. Louis Cardinals | 1905 | Third baseman |
| Tom Burns | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1892 | Third baseman |
| Donie Bush | Washington Senators | 1923 | Shortstop |
| Nixey Callahan | Chicago White Sox | 1903–1904, 1912–1913 | Pitcher |
| Count Campau | St. Louis Browns | 1890 | Outfielder |
| Bill Carrigan | Boston Red Sox | 1913–1916 | Catcher |
| Bob Caruthers | St. Louis Browns | 1892 | Outfielder |
| Phil Cavarretta | Chicago Cubs | 1951–1953 | First baseman |
| Frank Chance$^†$ | Chicago Cubs New York Yankees | 1905–1912 1913–1914 | First baseman |
| Ben Chapman | Philadelphia Phillies | 1945–1946 | Outfielder |
| Jack Chapman | Louisville Grays | 1876 | Outfielder |
| Hal Chase | New York Highlanders | 1910–1911 | First baseman |
| John Clapp | Middletown Mansfields Indianapolis Blues Buffalo Bisons Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Blues New York Gothams | 1872 1878 1879 1880 1881 1883 | Catcher |
| Fred Clarke$^†$ | Louisville Colonels Pittsburgh Pirates | 1897–1899 1900–1911, 1913–1915 | Outfielder |
| Jack Clements | Philadelphia Phillies | 1890 | Catcher |
| Ty Cobb$^†$ | Detroit Tigers | 1921–1926 | Outfielder |
| Mickey Cochrane$^†$ | Detroit Tigers | 1934–1937 | Catcher |
| Eddie Collins$^†$ | Chicago White Sox | 1924–1926 | Second baseman |
| Jimmy Collins$^†$ | Boston Americans | 1901–1906 | Third baseman |
| Charles Comiskey$^†$ | St. Louis Browns Chicago Pirates Cincinnati Reds | 1883–1889, 1891 1890 1892–1894 | First baseman |
| Roger Connor$^†$ | St. Louis Browns | 1896 | First baseman |
| Sam Crane | Buffalo Bisons Cincinnati Outlaw Reds | 1880 1884 | Second baseman |
| Gavvy Cravath | Philadelphia Phillies | 1919–1920 | Outfielder |
| George Creamer | Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1884 | Second baseman |
| Joe Cronin$^†$ | Washington Senators Boston Red Sox | 1933–1934 1935–1947 | Shortstop |
| Jack Crooks | St. Louis Browns | 1892 | Second baseman |
| Lave Cross | Cleveland Spiders | 1899 | Third baseman |
| Ned Cuthbert | St. Louis Browns | 1882 | Outfielder |
| Bill Dahlen | Brooklyn Superbas | 1910–1911 | Shortstop |
| George Davis$^†$ | New York Giants | 1895, 1900–1901 | Shortstop |
| Harry Davis | Cleveland Naps | 1912 | First baseman |
| Bill Dickey$^†$ | New York Yankees | 1946 | Catcher |
| Bill Donovan | New York Yankees | 1915–1916 | Pitcher |
| Patsy Donovan | Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals Washington Senators Brooklyn Superbas | 1897, 1899 1901–1903 1904 1906–1907 | Outfielder |
| Red Dooin | Philadelphia Phillies | 1910–1914 | Catcher |
| Mike Dorgan | Syracuse Stars Providence Grays Worcester Ruby Legs | 1879 1880 1881 | Outfielder |
| Tommy Dowd | St. Louis Browns | 1896–1897 | Outfielder |
| Jack Doyle | New York Giants Washington Senators | 1895 1898 | First baseman |
| Hugh Duffy$^†$ | Milwaukee Brewers Philadelphia Phillies | 1901 1904–1906 | Outfielder |
| Fred Dunlap | Cleveland Blues St. Louis Maroons Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1882 1884–1885 1889 | Second baseman |
| Leo Durocher$^†$ | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1939–1941, 1943, 1945 | Shortstop |
| Jimmy Dykes | Chicago White Sox | 1934–1939 | Third baseman |
| Kid Elberfeld | New York Highlanders | 1908 | Shortstop |
| Joe Ellick | Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies | 1884 | Shortstop |
| Dude Esterbrook | Louisville Colonels | 1889 | Third baseman |
| Johnny Evers$^†$ | Chicago Cubs | 1913 | Second baseman |
| Buck Ewing$^†$ | New York Giants Cincinnati Reds | 1890 1895–1897 | Catcher |
| Jack Farrell | Providence Grays | 1881 | Second baseman |
| Bob Ferguson | Hartford Dark Blues Chicago White Stockings Troy Trojans Philadelphia Quakers Pittsburgh Alleghenys New York Metropolitans | 1876–1877 1878 1879–1882 1883 1884 1886–1887 | Second baseman |
| Silver Flint | Chicago White Stockings | 1879 | Catcher |
| Jim Fogarty | Philadelphia Athletics | 1890 | Outfielder |
| Lew Fonseca | Chicago White Sox | 1932–1933 | First baseman |
| Dave Foutz | Brooklyn Grooms | 1893–1896 | Outfielder |
| Frankie Frisch$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals | 1933–1937 | Second baseman |
| Pud Galvin$^†$ | Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1885 | Pitcher |
| John Ganzel | Cincinnati Reds | 1908 | First baseman |
| Joe Gerhardt | Louisville Eclipse St. Louis Browns | 1883 1890 | Second baseman |
| Jack Glasscock | Indianapolis Hoosiers St. Louis Browns | 1889 1892 | Shortstop |
| George Gore | St. Louis Cardinals | 1892 | Outfielder |
| Charlie Gould | Cincinnati Reds | 1876 | First baseman |
| Mike Griffin | Brooklyn Bridegrooms | 1898 | Outfielder |
| Sandy Griffin | Washington Statesmen | 1891 | Outfielder |
| Clark Griffith$^†$ | Chicago White Stockings New York Highlanders Cincinnati Reds Washington Senators | 1901–1902 1903–1907 1909 1912–1914 | Pitcher |
| Charlie Grimm | Chicago Cubs | 1932–1936 | First baseman |
| Heinie Groh | Cincinnati Reds | 1918 | Third baseman |
| Bill Hallman | St. Louis Browns | 1897 | Second baseman |
| Ned Hanlon$^†$ | Pittsburgh Alleghenys Pittsburgh Burghers Pittsburgh Pirates Baltimore Orioles | 1889 1890 1891 1892 | Outfielder |
| Bucky Harris$^†$ | Washington Senators Detroit Tigers | 1924–1928 1929, 1931 | Second baseman |
| Gabby Hartnett$^†$ | Chicago Cubs | 1938–1940 | Catcher |
| Guy Hecker | Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 1890 | First baseman |
| Solly Hemus | St. Louis Cardinals | 1959 | Second baseman |
| Billy Herman$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1947 | Second baseman |
| Buck Herzog | Cincinnati Reds | 1914–1916 | Shortstop |
| Bill Holbert | Syracuse Stars | 1879 | Catcher |
| Tommy Holmes | Boston Braves | 1951 | Outfielder |
| Rogers Hornsby$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals New York Giants Boston Braves Chicago Cubs St. Louis Browns | 1925–1926 1927 1928 1930–1932 1933–1937 | Second baseman |
| Miller Huggins$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals | 1913–1916 | Second baseman |
| Fred Hutchinson | Detroit Tigers | 1952–1953 | Pitcher |
| Arthur Irwin | Washington Nationals Boston Reds Philadelphia Phillies | 1889 1891 1894 | Shortstop |
| Hughie Jennings$^†$ | Detroit Tigers | 1907, 1909, 1912, 1918 | First baseman |
| Fielder Jones | Chicago White Sox St. Louis Terriers | 1904–1908 1914–1915 | Outfielder |
| Eddie Joost | Philadelphia Athletics | 1954 | Shortstop |
| Bill Joyce | New York Giants | 1896–1898 | Third baseman |
| Joe Kelley$^†$ | Cincinnati Reds Boston Doves | 1902–1905 1908 | Outfielder |
| King Kelly$^†$ | Boston Beaneaters Boston Reds Cincinnati Kelly's Killers | 1887 1890 1891 | Outfielder |
| John Kerins | Louisville Colonels St. Louis Browns | 1888 1890 | First baseman |
| Don Kessinger | Chicago White Sox | 1979 | Shortstop |
| Bill Killefer | Chicago Cubs | 1921 | Catcher |
| Malachi Kittridge | Washington Senators | 1904 | Catcher |
| Johnny Kling | Boston Braves | 1912 | Catcher |
| Otto Knabe | Baltimore Terrapins | 1914–1915 | Second baseman |
| Lon Knight | Philadelphia Athletics | 1883–1884 | Outfielder |
| Nap Lajoie$^†$ | Cleveland Naps | 1905–1909 | Second baseman |
| Fred Lake | Boston Doves | 1910 | Catcher |
| Henry Larkin | Cleveland Infants | 1890 | First baseman |
| Arlie Latham | St. Louis Browns | 1896 | Third baseman |
| Juice Latham | New Haven Elm Citys Philadelphia Athletics | 1875 1882 | First baseman |
| Harry Lord | Buffalo Blues | 1915 | Third baseman |
| Bobby Lowe | Detroit Tigers | 1904 | Second baseman |
| Harry Lumley | Brooklyn Superbas | 1909 | Outfielder |
| Ted Lyons$^†$ | Chicago White Sox | 1946 | Pitcher |
| Connie Mack$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1894–1896 | Catcher |
| Denny Mack | Louisville Eclipse | 1882 | Shortstop |
| Jimmy Macullar | Syracuse Stars | 1879 | Shortstop |
| Lee Magee | Brooklyn Tip-Tops | 1915 | Second Baseman |
| Fergy Malone | Philadelphia White Stockings Chicago White Stockings Philadelphia Keystones | 1873 1874 1884 | Outfielder |
| Jack Manning | Cincinnati Reds | 1877 | Shortstop |
| Rabbit Maranville$^†$ | Chicago Cubs | 1925 | Shortstop |
| Marty Marion | St. Louis Browns | 1952–1953 | Shortstop |
| Christy Mathewson$^†$ | Cincinnati Reds | 1916 | Pitcher |
| Jimmy McAleer | Cleveland Blues St. Louis Browns | 1901 1901–1902 | Outfielder |
| Tommy McCarthy$^†$ | St. Louis Browns | 1890 | Outfielder |
| Jim McCormick | Cleveland Blues | 1879–1880, 1882 | Pitcher |
| Mike McGeary | Philadelphia White Stockings Providence Grays Cleveland Blues | 1875 1880 1881 | Second baseman |
| John McGraw$^†$ | Baltimore Orioles (NL) Baltimore Orioles (AL) New York Giants | 1899 1901–1902 1902–1906 | Third baseman |
| Deacon McGuire | Washington Senators Boston Americans/Red Sox Cleveland Naps | 1898 1907–1908 1910 | Catcher |
| Stuffy McInnis | Philadelphia Phillies | 1927 | First baseman |
| Bill McKechnie$^†$ | Newark Peppers | 1915 | Third baseman |
| Alex McKinnon | St. Louis Maroons | 1885 | First baseman |
| Marty McManus | Boston Red Sox | 1932–1933 | Third baseman |
| Cal McVey | Cincinnati Reds | 1878–1879 | Third baseman |
| Clyde Milan | Washington Senators | 1922 | Outfielder |
| John Morrill | Boston Red Caps/Beaneaters Washington Nationals | 1882, 1883–1886, 1887–1888 1889 | First baseman |
| Charlie Morton | Toledo Blue Stockings Detroit Wolverines | 1884 1885 | Outfielder |
| Tim Murnane | Boston Reds | 1884 | First baseman |
| Henry Myers | Baltimore Orioles | 1882 | Shortstop |
| Billy Nash | Philadelphia Phillies | 1896 | Third baseman |
| Kid Nichols$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals | 1904–1905 | Pitcher |
| Bob O'Farrell | St. Louis Cardinals Cincinnati Reds | 1927 1934 | Catcher |
| Dan O'Leary | Cincinnati Outlaw Reds | 1884 | Outfielder |
| Jim O'Rourke$^†$ | Buffalo Bisons Washington Senators | 1881–1884 1893 | Outfielder |
| Rebel Oakes | Pittsburgh Rebels | 1914–1915 | Outfielder |
| Dave Orr | New York Metropolitans | 1887 | First baseman |
| Mel Ott$^†$ | New York Giants | 1942–1947 | Outfielder |
| Roger Peckinpaugh | New York Yankees | 1914 | Shortstop |
| Fred Pfeffer | Louisville Colonels | 1892 | Second baseman |
| Lip Pike | Hartford Dark Blues Cincinnati Reds | 1874 1877 | Outfielder |
| Matthew Porter | Kansas City Cowboys | 1884 | Outfielder |
| Blondie Purcell | Philadelphia Quakers | 1883 | Outfielder |
| Joe Quinn | Cleveland Spiders St. Louis Browns | 1895 1899 | Second baseman |
| Danny Richardson | Washington Senators | 1892 | Shortstop |
| Branch Rickey$^†$ | St. Louis Browns | 1914 | Catcher |
| Frank Robinson$^†$ | Cleveland Indians | 1975–1976 | Outfielder |
| Wilbert Robinson$^†$ | Baltimore Orioles | 1902 | Catcher |
| Jim Rogers | Louisville Colonels | 1897 | First baseman |
| Pete Rose | Cincinnati Reds | 1984–1986 | First baseman |
| Chief Roseman | St. Louis Browns | 1890 | Outfielder |
| Dave Rowe | Kansas City Cowboys (NL) Kansas City Cowboys (AA) | 1885 1888 | Outfielder |
| Jack Rowe | Buffalo Bisons | 1890 | Shortstop |
| Ray Schalk$^†$ | Chicago White Sox | 1927–1928 | Catcher |
| Larry Schlafly | Buffalo Buffeds | 1914 | Second baseman |
| Luke Sewell | St. Louis Browns | 1942 | Catcher |
| Dan Shannon | Louisville Colonels Washington Statesmen | 1889 1891 | Second baseman |
| George Sisler$^†$ | St. Louis Browns | 1924–1926 | First baseman |
| Harry Smith | Boston Doves | 1909 | Catcher |
| Heinie Smith | New York Giants | 1902 | Second baseman |
| Pop Snyder | Cincinnati Reds Washington Statesmen | 1882–1884 1891 | Catcher |
| Billy Southworth$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals | 1929 | Outfielder |
| Albert Spalding$^†$ | Chicago White Stockings | 1876–1877 | Pitcher |
| Tris Speaker$^†$ | Cleveland Indians | 1919–1926 | Outfielder |
| Chick Stahl | Boston Americans | 1906 | Outfielder |
| Jake Stahl | Washington Senators Boston Red Sox | 1905–1906 1912–1913 | First baseman |
| George Stallings | Philadelphia Phillies | 1897–1898 | Catcher |
| Eddie Stanky | St. Louis Cardinals | 1952–1953 | Second baseman |
| George Stovall | Cleveland Naps St. Louis Browns Kansas City Packers | 1911 1912–1913 1914–1915 | First baseman |
| Harry Stovey | Worcester Ruby Legs Philadelphia Athletics | 1881 1885 | Outfielder |
| Gabby Street | St. Louis Cardinals | 1931 | Catcher |
| Cub Stricker | St. Louis Browns | 1892 | Second baseman |
| Billy Sullivan | Chicago White Sox | 1909 | Catcher |
| Ted Sullivan | Kansas City Cowboys | 1884 | Outfielder |
| El Tappe | Chicago Cubs | 1962 | Catcher |
| Patsy Tebeau | Cleveland Infants Cleveland Spiders St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals | 1890 1891–1898 1900 | First baseman |
| Fred Tenney | Boston Doves/Rustlers Boston Rustlers | 1905–1907 1911 | First baseman |
| Bill Terry$^†$ | New York Giants | 1932–1936 | First baseman |
| Joe Tinker$^†$ | Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds | 1913 1916 | Shortstop |
| Joe Torre$^†$ | New York Mets | 1977 | First baseman |
| Pie Traynor$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1934–1937 | Third baseman |
| Bob Unglaub | Boston Red Sox | 1907 | First baseman |
| George Van Haltren | Baltimore Orioles | 1892 | Pitcher |
| Honus Wagner$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1917 | Shortstop |
| Harry Walker | St. Louis Cardinals | 1955 | Outfielder |
| Bobby Wallace$^†$ | St. Louis Browns | 1911–1912 | Shortstop |
| Bucky Walters | Cincinnati Reds | 1948 | Pitcher |
| John Montgomery Ward$^†$ | Providence Grays New York Gothams/Giants Brooklyn Ward's Wonders Brooklyn Grooms | 1880 1884, 1893–1894 1890 1891–1892 | Pitcher |
| Bill Watkins | Indianapolis Hoosiers | 1884 | Third baseman |
| Harry Wheeler | Kansas City Cowboys | 1884 | Outfielder |
| Deacon White$^†$ | Cincinnati Reds | 1879 | Catcher |
| Will White | Cincinnati Red Stockings | 1884 | Pitcher |
| Kaiser Wilhelm | Philadelphia Phillies | 1921 | Pitcher |
| Jimmie Wilson | Philadelphia Phillies | 1934–1938 | Catcher |
| Ivey Wingo | Cincinnati Reds | 1916 | Catcher |
| Jimmy Wolf | Louisville Colonels | 1889 | Outfielder |
| Harry Wolverton | New York Highlanders | 1912 | Third baseman |
| George Wood | Philadelphia Athletics | 1891 | Outfielder |
| George Wright$^†$ | Providence Grays | 1879 | Shortstop |
| Harry Wright$^†$ | Boston Red Stockings / Red Caps | 1876–1877 | Outfielder |
| Tom York | Providence Grays | 1878 1881 | Outfielder |
| Cy Young$^†$ | Boston Red Sox | 1907 | Pitcher |
| Chief Zimmer | Philadelphia Phillies | 1903 | Catcher |