Jack McKeon is a two-time National League Manager of the Year and has been considered one of the most colorful managers in baseball during his 50-plus years in the game. McKeon came out of retirement during the 2003 season and led the Florida Marlins to a dramatic “David vs. Goliath” World Series victory over the New York Yankees a few months later. By doing so, he became the oldest manager ever to win the World Series.
Besides the Marlins, McKeon also managed the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds. From 1981-90, he served as the general manager of the Padres, where he became known as “Trader Jack” and formed the team that won the 1984 National League pennant. McKeon was named the National League Manager of the Year in 1999 with the Reds and again in 2003 with Florida. He retired as the skipper of the Marlins in 2005 at the age of 74.
As a Major League manager, McKeon won 1,011 career games and lost 940 for a winning percentage of .518 over parts of 15 seasons. As a player, he spent his entire career as a catcher in the minor leagues and also served 15 years as a minor league manager.
McKeon is a devout Catholic and daily communicant who has a special devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux and the Blessed Mother. He credits St. Therese the Little Flower for her intercession in winning the 2003 World Series and called her the Marlins’ Most Valuable Player for all of her prayers from heaven. Capturing that World Series gave McKeon a real platform to share his faith and the power of prayer.
He is also the author of two books, Jack Of All Trades and I’m Just Getting Started.
