13 Oldest Active Managers in MLB

The MLB has been around for the past few decades, with more than 10 million fans attending games each year, making it one of the most popular sports leagues in America. The sport has grown and evolved over the years, with some teams now playing as many as double-headers every day

MLB managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a Major League Baseball team. They are often considered the most important position in professional sports, as they must successfully manage all aspects of their team’s performance and ensure their players’ health and well-being.

Let us know more about the people behind every MLB team’s success as this article gives you thirteen of the oldest active managers in MLB.

13. Craig Counsell (August 21, 1970 – present)

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Craig used to do excursions for his father as a kid. Craig found a way to get involved with his favorite baseball team, whether it was by managing the team magazine or bringing baseballs to the Brewers clubhouse for autographs. The Brewers recruited Craig when he was a teenager to handle concessions.

Craig excelled at baseball while playing for Whitefish Bay High School.

After building his professional playing career, he accepted a job offer to manage the Brewers in May 2015, replacing Ron Roenicke after the team had a rocky start.

Additionally, he takes great delight in encouraging the Milwaukee community to play baseball. Milwaukee’s baseball environment is growing on all levels, in large part because of Craig Counsell’s ongoing dedication to the sport.

Did You Know?

On September 17, 1995, the Rockies were the team for whom he made his MLB debut. That season, he played in just three games.

12. Derek Shelton (July 30, 1970 – present)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Before an elbow injury put an end to his career, Derek Shelton spent two seasons with the New York Yankees. He worked for the Yankees organization for numerous years as a minor league manager and coach after his playing career.

In 2003, he became a minor league hitting coordinator for the Cleveland Indians. Eddie Murray, a Hall of Famer, was temporarily replaced by him as hitting coach on June 4, 2005. Shelton held the position until 2009, when the interim label was lifted following the season. He was chosen as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ manager for 2020 on November 27, 2019.

Did You Know?

Shelton had a minor league career that spanned 46 games and included one home run, 19 runs batted in, and a batting average of 0.341.

11. Scott Servais (June 4, 1967 – present)

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However uninterested in baseball they were, Servais’ parents were incredibly encouraging. For instance, Scott’s father, Dan, encouraged his son’s physical growth by using his wrestling expertise to teach him about competition.

The ex-MLB player also represented the United States while playing baseball. At the Pan American Games, Baseball World Cup, and Intercontinental Cup, he guided the team to silver medals.

Servais joined the Seattle Mariners as general manager after departing Los Angeles after the 2015 campaign. Later, he took over as manager for the Mariners in lieu of Lloyd McClendon, who left after the 2016 campaign.

Did You Know?

Before the Amateur World Series was renamed the Baseball World Cup in 1986, Servais was a member of the American national baseball team as it participated in the final Amateur World Series.

10. Tony Beasley (December 5, 1966 – present)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tony Beasley was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round of the 1989 amateur draft after playing college baseball for Liberty University. He played for the Orioles until September 1991, when he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for infielder Tommy Shields.

He was an All-Star in the Carolina League in 1990 and 1991. In the course of eight minor league seasons, he hit.260 with 22 home runs. When his playing career was over, Beasley joined the Pirates organization as a minor league instructor and manager.

Did You Know?

Beasley was forced to miss the start of the 2016 season after receiving a rectal cancer diagnosis on February 19, 2016.

9. Torey Lovullo (July 25, 1965 – present)

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When Torey Lovullo decided to pursue a different career than his father, his parents did not disagree. Torey had a passion for baseball that went back a long way. He would therefore practice his talents on the field on a daily basis.

Lovullo was chosen by Mike Hazen to take over as the Diamondbacks’ manager for the 2017 campaign in lieu of Chip Hale. In the opening season, Torey led the team to the postseason and the NL Wild Card Game. He improved by 24 games over last season, finishing with 93 wins and 69 losses.

Did You Know?

For his accomplishments, Lovullo earned the title of 2017 National League Manager of the Year.

8. Dave Martinez (September 26, 1964 – present)

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Under manager Joe Maddon, Martinez joined the Rays in 2008 as the bench coach. After the 2014 season, Maddon took over as the Cubs’ manager, and Martinez joined him as a bench coach.

For the vacant managerial position with the Washington Nationals, Martinez was one of a very small number of names suggested.

The Nationals announced on October 30, 2017, that they had reached an agreement with Martinez on a three-year management deal beginning with the 2018 season, with a club option for the 2021 season.

Did You Know?

He ordered more intentional walks from his pitching staff in 2020 than any other manager in the major leagues.

7. Rob Thomson (August 16, 1963- present)

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After being appointed as the Yankees’ bench coach, Thomson managed three games that season when Joe Girardi was out, making him the first Canadian to do so since George Gibson managed the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 1934.

Thomson was a key member of the 2009 World Series-winning Bombers team and served as the Yankees’ third base coach. He now serves as the Philadelphia Phillies’ temporary manager at the moment.

Did You Know?

The first Canadian to oversee a big league game in Canada was Thomson, who took charge of a game on July 13, 2022, at Rogers Center against the Toronto Blue Jays.

6. Bob Melvin (October 28, 1961- present)

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The new manager of the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball is American Robert Paul Melvin, a former professional baseball player and coach. He has received three Manager of the Year awards.

In 2007 and 2012, Melvin won the titles of National League and American League Manager of the Year.

He was the manager of the Oakland team, which he had been in charge of the longest in MLB as of the start of the 2020 season. His 853 victories for Oakland through 2021 ranked second all-time in the organization.

Did You Know?

Melvin was hired as the San Diego Padres’ 22nd manager in 2021.

5. Terry Francona (April 22, 1959 – present)

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Terry played as an outfielder for Montreal. He also played against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series. Terry started teaching soon after he stopped playing, and he worked as a coach for the Chicago White Sox for a while.

Terry was appointed the Phillies’ manager following the 1996 campaign. The team never finished higher than third during his first four seasons as captain.

The only manager in major league history to win his first eight World Series games is Francona. In 2012, Terry was appointed manager of the Cleveland Indians. The Indians ended the 2013 regular season under his direction, and he was chosen the American League Manager.

Did You Know?

Due to a blood clotting condition, Francona missed the majority of the 2020 regular season and the whole postseason.

4. Bud Black (June 30, 1957 – present)

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Bud Black pitched in the major leagues for 15 years before launching a successful managerial career. In 2018, he was in his eleventh season leading a major league team. When Walt Weiss resigned as manager of the Colorado Rockies following the 2016 season, Black emerged as a top contender.

The employment of Black by the Rockies became official on November 7, 2016. In 2018, he was in his eleventh season leading a major league team. Bud Black is a Hollywood actor in addition to being an athlete. He has conducted several experiments throughout his life and has been successful in all of them.

Did You Know?

Black received a management bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University in 1979.

3. Brian Snitker (October 17, 1955 – present)

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For 40 years, Brian Snitker has been connected to the Atlanta Braves. He was a catcher who spent 1977 to 1980 in the team’s development system. He worked as a coach and manager with the Braves organization for many years after retiring as a player.

Snitker won the National League Manager of the Year award in appreciation of his outstanding job of getting several young players into the starting lineup and transforming the Braves into contenders well ahead of schedule. He earned the highest accolades for his accomplishments.

Did You Know?

The Braves renewed Snitker’s contract through the 2024 season on November 30, 2021.

2. Buck Showalter (May 23, 1956 – present)

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Buck Showalter had great success with the New York Yankees’ AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, in the early years of his tremendously successful baseball managerial career. Showalter brought in guys he had handled at Columbus and swiftly dealt with or removed most of the Yankees’ expensive veterans.

Showalter managed the Texas Rangers in 2003 after being sacked by Arizona. Prior to that, he worked as an ESPN baseball commentator. Buck Showalter took over as manager of the National League’s New York Mets, the second New York franchise, beginning with the 2022 campaign.

He now oversees his fifth Major League franchise, making him one of the very few people to have led both New York Major League Baseball teams.

Did You Know?

Showalter’s wife was mostly involved in the foster kid organization KidsPeace while he managed the Orioles.

1. Dusty Baker (June 15, 1949 – present)

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Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros, who is 73 years old, is the oldest active manager in Major League Baseball.

After a distinguished baseball playing career, he transitioned into management of the San Francisco Giants. The Astros knocked on Baker’s door after he had been out of management for three years.

His final position before moving to Houston was guiding the Nationals to consecutive NL East crowns in 2016 and 2017 and winning 95 and 97 games, respectively.

Only four African Americans have ever managed a World Series team, with Baker being one of them. In the San Francisco period of Giants history, Baker retired as the manager with the most victories overall.

Did You Know?

From 1969 through 1975, Baker served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.