These Stars Got on a Kellogg' Baseball Card and Later Won Manager of the Year

The MLB Manager of the Year Award was first presented in 1983, the last year that Kellogg's produced its main sets.  Since inception of the award, Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa have each won it four times.  Neither got on a Kellogg's card so I will ignore them.

The ten players are listed in order with the most recent winners listed first.

Davey Johnson won the award twice (2012 Nationals and 1997 Orioles).   I never liked him when he was a player or when he was a manager.  After playing 12+ years plus two in Japan managed five teams over 17 years including the 1986 Mets.  That's probably a big reason that I didn't like him.

Kirk Gibson won the award in 2001 with the Diamondbacks.   I never liked him when he was a player or when he was a manager.  The 17-year veteran player managed the Diamondbacks for five years.  About 50 people were in my small apartment when he hit his famous home run in the World Series.

Lou Piniella won the award three times (2008 Cubs, 2001 Mariners and 1995 Mariners),   I never liked him when he was a player or when he was a manager.  After playing for 18 years he somehow managed for 23 more winning the World Series with the Reds in 1990.  He did what most other Cub managers did, not win a World Series.

Larry Bowa won the award in 2001 with the Phillies.   I never liked him when he was a player or when he was a manager.  He played for 16 years, but only lasted six years as a manager.

Dusty Baker won the award twice (2000 Giants and 1997 Giants).   I never liked him when he was a player or when he was a manager.  He played 19 years and somehow managed to still around for 20 years as a manager.  Former Cub manager - see Lou Piniella.

Larry Dierker won the award with the Astros in 1998.  Hey, I don't remember him being annoying at all as a player.  He played for 14 years and only managed for five years.   On his 18th birthday he made his debut in 1964 - no one that young has entered the majors since that time.  

Joe Torre won the award twice (1998 Yankees and 1996 Yankees).  He didn't get as much credit as others since the owners game him the typical lineup of stars that were expected to win.  He played for 18 years and managed for 29 years.  His Yankee teams won the World Series four times.

Don Baylor won the award in 1995 with the Rockies.   I never liked him when he was a player or when he was a manager but I didn't really have a reason for that.  He played for 19 years and managed for nine years.  Former Cub manager - see Lou Piniella.

Felipe Alou won the award with the 1994 Expos.  I always liked the Alou trio, but Moises not as much, especially after an infamous play and hearing about his pre-game rituals.  Felipe played for 17 years and managed for 14 years.  

Frank Robinson won the award with the 1989 Orioles.  He played for 21 years and managed for 16 years.  Take away two of those years where he was a player-manager and that still adds up to 35 years.

More about these players and their managing ups and downs in future posts.