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Stengel, Casey

Biographical/Historical Info
Stengel, Casey

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in: 1966

Primary team: New York Yankees

Primary position: Manager

"Casey (Stengel) knew his baseball. He only made it look like he was fooling around. He knew every move that was ever invented and some that we haven't even caught on to yet." – Sparky Anderson

Casey Stengel's 54 distinguished years in baseball spanned everything from the Dead Ball Era to Mickey Mantle’s booming home runs. Through it all, Stengel’s colorful personality and instantly quotable remarks made him one of baseball’s most beloved characters.

Stengel’s first full major league season as a player began in 1913 as the first Brooklyn player to bat, and later homer, at Ebbets Field. After nine big league seasons in Brooklyn, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Stengel was traded to the New York Giants midway through the 1921 season. The young player was already gaining attention for his zany antics on the diamond.

The Kansas City native found a home at the Polo Grounds when he became Hall of Fame manager John McGraw’s protégé and unofficial assistant coach. From 1922-23, Stengel hit .355 as a platoon outfielder with the Giants and homered in Game 1 of the 1923 World Series. Stengel hit another home run in Game 3 and thumbed his nose at the New York Yankees bench while rounding third base. Baseball commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis was in attendance that day and promptly fined Stengel for his antics.

After two more seasons in the major leagues, Stengel spent several seasons managing in the minor leagues. This included a memorable moment when Stengel released himself as a player, fired himself as a manager and resigned as owner of Boston’s minor-league Worcester affiliate club to manage Triple-A Toledo.

Stengel eventually earned a big league shot as manager of the Dodgers (1934-36) and the Boston Braves (1938-43) with middling success. "I became a major league manager in several cities and was discharged,” Stengel later recalled. “We call it discharged because there is no question I had to leave."

After five seasons more seasons as a minor league manager – during which he led his teams to 100-win seasons three times – Stengel was named the Yankees manager in 1949.

“There is less wrong with this team than any team I have ever managed,” Stengel said.

Featuring stars like Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto and later a young Mickey Mantle, Stengel’s Yankees found immediate success and became the first team to win five consecutive World Series championships from 1949-1953. Stengel is often credited with reviving the practice of platooning his players when he took over the the Yankees, a tactic he learned from McGraw during his days with the Giants.

When asked to divulge his managerial strategy, Stangel deadpanned: "Keep the five guys who hate you away from the five who are undecided.”

While his team hogged the baseball spotlight, Stengel took the opportunity to expand his repertoire of odd sayings that would later be affectionately dubbed ‘Stengelese.’ His famous sayings included everything from the obvious ("You got to get twenty-seven outs to win”) to the head-scratchers ("There comes a time in every man's life, and I've had plenty of them”).

The Yankees dismissed Stengel following a loss in the 1960 World Series, citing Stengel’s advancing age. In his 12 seasons with the team. Stengel led the Bronx Bombers to 10 American League pennants and seven World Series titles.

In 1962, Stengel returned to the Big Apple to manage the expansion Mets – and captured the hearts of New Yorkers all over again. Celebrated as baseball’s lovable losers, the Mets lost 404 games in Stengel’s three and a half years at the helm, prompting the old skipper to ask, "Can't anybody here play this game?"

Stengel finally retired in 1965. His seven World Series titles left him tied with fellow Yankees manager Joe McCarthy for the most all-time.

Stengel was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966. He passed away on Sept. 29, 1975.

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Another Refugee! cartoon, 1941 May 02
Object number: B-1955-0051-003
Coyne, Bob, 1898-1976
1941 May 02
Casey Stengel All-Star Game tray
Object number: B-1978-0253
Gorham Manufacturing Company
1954 July 13
Casey Stengel and New York Mets Coaches photograph, 1962 February 21
Object number: BL-1968-04131-0126
New York Herald Tribune (Firm)
1962 February 21
Casey Stengel and New York Mets photograph, 1962 February
Object number: BL-1968-04131-0127
New York Herald Tribune (Firm)
1962 February
Casey Stengel bobblehead
Object number: B-2018-0030-620
FOCO
2017 September 28
Casey Stengel Facial Expressions Sequence photograph, 1948 and 1949
Object number: BL-1968-01451-0837
New York World-Telegram
1948 and 1949
Casey Stengel Through the Years Sequence photograph, 1960
Object number: BL-1968-01451-0841
New York World-Telegram
1960
Casey Stengel with Newsmen photograph, possibly 1962
Object number: BL-1968-01451-1020
New York World-Telegram
possibly 1962
Casey Stengel Yelling to Reporters photograph, 1956 October 10
Object number: BL-1968-01451-0845
New York World-Telegram
1956 October 10
Tommy Connolly and Casey Stengel photograph, 1938 January 30
Object number: BL-1968-01451-0099
New York World-Telegram
1938 January 30
Walter Johnson, Casey Stengel, Roger Peckinpaugh, and Ford Frick photograph, 1937 October 05
Object number: BL-1968-01451-0228
New York World-Telegram
1937 October 05