World Series: Bruce Bochy cements his case for the Hall of Fame

San Francisco Giants Manager Bruce Bochy won his second World Series on Sunday when his Giants swept the Detroit Tigers. Bochy, perhaps the most underrated manager in the game, cemented his case for the Hall of Fame with the victory.

Twenty-two managers in baseball history have won at least two World Series. Of those, nine won three or more and seven of those (Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel, Connie Mack, Walt Alston, Sparky Anderson, Miller Huggins and John McGraw) are in the Hall of Fame. The other two (Joe Torre and Tony La Russa) soon will be.

So let’s take a look at the 13 managers who have won two World Series.

Not in the Hall of Fame

Bill Carrigan: Carrigan managed for only seven seasons and finished with a record below .500 (489-500). He won consecutive World Series as a player-manager with the Boston Red Sox in 1915 and 1916 and retired after the 1916 season. He came back to manage the Red Sox in 1927, and his teams finished in last for three consecutive seasons before he retired again.

Terry Francona: The jury is still out on Francona, who of course ended the Red Sox Curse by managing them to two World Series titles before leaving the team after the 2011 season. One horrible managerial job by Bobby Valentine, and suddenly Francona looks pretty good in Boston. Francona is only 53 and still has a long career ahead of him.

Cito Gaston: Managed Toronto to titles in 1992 and 1993, but his star quickly dimmed as he fell in love with using aging veterans ahead of up-and-coming players.

Ralph Houk: Managed for 20 seasons, won his titles with the Yankees in 1961 and 1962, his first two seasons as a manager. Won the AL pennant in 1963, then never won another one. His 1,619 victories is highest among those retired more than 10 years who aren’t in the Hall of Fame.

Tom Kelly: Managed the Twins to titles in 1987 and 1991 but finished with a record below .500 and had five seasons of at least 90 losses after his last World Series title.

Danny Murtaugh: Managed the Pirates to titles in 1960 and 1971, won four division titles and died after managing the Pirates to a second-place finish in 1976. He finished with a 1,115-950 record. Why isn’t this man in the Hall of Fame?

Bruce Bochy: Like Francona, still has a long career ahead of him. If he wins one more World Series, he’s a lock, but even if he doesn’t he still has a good case to get into the Hall of Fame. He has won 1,454 games and six division titles and has appeared in three World Series. He has consistently gotten the most out of teams, with his clubs finishing 27 games better than expected based on the number of runs they have scored and allowed.

In the Hall of Fame

Frank Chance: The “Peerless Leader� may be best known today for his part of the famed “Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance� infield, but he was also a solid manager, winning two titles with the Chicago Cubs and finishing with a .593 winning percentage.

Bucky Harris: Managed for 29 years and won more than 2,000 games (lost more than 2,000 too). Won his first title as a 27-year-old player-manager with the 1924 Washington Senators and his last as the 50-year-old manager of the 1947 New York Yankees. Won three pennants but never finished higher than third in any other season.

Tom Lasorda: Perhaps you’ve heard of him. Is remembered more as a larger-than-life character now, but he led the Dodgers to titles in 1981 and 1988 and outmanaged La Russa in the 1988 World Series when the Dodgers defeated the heavily favored Oakland A’s. Led the Dodgers to seven playoff appearances in his 21 seasons.

Bill McKechnie: Won 1,896 games and four pennants in 25 seasons, including World Series titles with the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1940 Cincinnati Reds.

Billy Southworth: Won four pennants in 13 seasons, including World Series title with the famed “Gashouse Gang� St. Louis Cardinals in 1942 and 1944.

Dick Williams: Won two World Series with the Oakland A’s with Charlie Finley as owner of the team, enough to get anyone into the Hall of Fame. Led the Red Sox to their improbable 1967 pennant, turned the Montreal Expos into contenders and managed the San Diego Padres to their first World Series in 1984.

So is Bochy good enough to make the Hall of Fame right now? Vote in our poll and let us know.

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