How Jim Tracy became a rare mid-season success story in Major League Baseball
In short: Jim Tracy is one of only two managers in Major League Baseball history to win the Manager of the Year award after being hired mid-season. His career, spanning from collegiate stardom at Marietta College to managing the Dodgers, Pirates, and Rockies, offers a masterclass in the volatility of professional baseball leadership.
Born in 1955, James Edwin Tracy began his baseball journey as an All-American at Marietta College, where he hit .391 during his standout 1976 season. After playing for the Chicago Cubs in 1980 and 1981 and spending two seasons in Japan with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales, Tracy transitioned into coaching. He worked through the minor league ranks, notably managing the Ottawa Lynx in 1994, before serving as a bench coach for the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tracy’s managerial tenure with the Dodgers from 2001 to 2005 saw him compile a 427–383 record and a 2004 National League West division title. However, his time in Los Angeles ended due to philosophical differences after a 71–91 season. He subsequently managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for two disappointing seasons, finishing with a 135–189 record before being fired in October 2007.
His most notable achievement occurred with the Colorado Rockies. Hired as a bench coach in 2008, he replaced Clint Hurdle in May 2009. Tracy led the team to the postseason with a remarkable 74–42 record, earning him the National League Manager of the Year award. Despite this success, his later years in Colorado were marked by dramatic collapses and injury-plagued seasons, culminating in his resignation in 2012. His legacy continues through his sons, including Chad, who was named interim manager of the Boston Red Sox in April 2026.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jim Tracy (baseball)
- Also: Jim E. Tracy (1991) - Hall of Fame - Marietta College Athletics
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