Former Bucco Skipper Eligible For December Hall of Fame Vote

Another great moment in Pittsburgh Pirates baseball history just may be coming this December. When the Baseball Hall of Fame s Contemporary Baseball Era Committee meets in six months at MLB s Winter Meetings in Nashville, former Pirates manager Jim Leyland just might be heading to Cooperstown.

This year s voting will be considering non-players. Managers, executives, and umpires are eligible for election. The 10-man ballot is chosen by a Hall of Fame panel. Along with Leyland, other former MLB skippers Lou Piniella and Davey Johnson, are expected to be on the ballot.

Leyland, like Piniella, is a three-time Manager of the Year award winner. The final ballot will be revealed this fall.

After four seasons as the third base coach for Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa s staff, who himself would be inducted into the hall of fame in 2014 as a manager, Leyland would become the Pirates 33rd manager in club history.

During what would be an eleven-seasons run (1986-1996) leading the Pirates, Leyland saw his club win three-straight National League Eastern Division titles (1990-1992). Leading the way of a rejuvenated Pittsburgh organization with Leyland at the helm were budding superstars Bobby Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, and Bobby Bonilla.

After his tenure with the Pirates, Leyland moved on for two seasons (1997-1998) to manage the Florida Marlins (now Miami). It was during his first year leading the Marlins that the club won the World Series in a seven-game match-up with the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians).

Leyland would then depart from the Marlins, and log nine more seasons on the big-league level as a manager. One season guiding the Colorado Rockies (1999), and eight with the Detroit Tigers. While wearing a Tigers uniform, Leyland s club won two American League pennants (2006 & 2013).

During his 22-season MLB managerial career, Leyland racked up 1,769 wins. His wins total is greater than that of former managers Whitey Herzog, Tommy Lasorda, and Al Lopez  all already with a plaque in Cooperstown.

With 22 MLB managerial seasons to his credit, it would seem likely that a Pirates logo would appear on the cap on Leyland s Hall of Fame plaque. However, the decision isn t entirely up to him. In a past interview with a Hall of Fame official, it was stated that the museum tries to decide where the inductee ""made his most indelible mark."" With half of his career spent with the Pirates, it would seem a safe bet.

Prior to first becoming a major league coach with Chicago, Leyland managed in the minor leagues for 11 seasons for the Detroit Tigers organization.