Lanier, Hal, 1942-

After a major league career as an infielder, Hal Lanier was a minor league manager and major league coach for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1981 to 1985. He became manager of the Houston Astros in 1986 and led the club to a division title in his first season. After three seasons with the Astros, he returned to coaching, with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1990 and 1991. After two seasons in Philadelphia, he returned to managing. He became manager of the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League in 1996 and led the club to the Northern League Championship Series five times in ten seasons. After the 2005 season, he moved on to manage the league's Joliet JackHammers. In 2016 he was named the manager of the year in the Can-Am Association for leading the Ottawa Champions to their first-ever postseason appearance. He then led the underdog team to the championship when they came back from losing the first two games of the finals at home to defeat the Rockland Boulders, three games to two.He is the son of pitcher Max Lanier.