Charlie Fox
Encyclopedia
Charles Francis Fox was an American manager
, general manager
, scout
, coach
—and, briefly, a catcher
—in Major League Baseball
. As manager of the National League West Division champion San Francisco Giants
in 1971, he was named "Manager of the Year" by The Sporting News
.
in seven at bat
s for a career batting average
of .429) with the 1942 New York Giants. But Fox would spend another 33 years in that organization as a minor league
catcher and manager and as a manager, scout and coach for the Giants, who relocated to San Francisco in 1958.
Fox spent eight years as manager of the Giants' Class C St. Cloud Rox
team in the Northern League
, scouted from 1957–63, then managed the Giants' AAA Tacoma
club of the Pacific Coast League
in 1964 before coming to the major leagues as a San Francisco coach in 1965. He returned to the PCL to manage the Giants' Phoenix
club in 1969–70 until he was summoned to San Francisco in May 1970 to replace Clyde King
as the manager of the big club.
in the National League Championship Series
. Subsequently, the Giants made a series of bad trades and fell from contention thereafter. In mid-1974, after compiling a record of 348–327 (.516), Fox was replaced as manager by former stalwart Giants catcher Wes Westrum
.
In 1976, he joined the front office of the Montreal Expos
as a special assignment scout and served as the club's emergency manager when Karl Kuehl
was fired September 4. After winning only 12 of 34 games to close out the season, Fox was named the club's general manager and was succeeded on the field by Dick Williams
. He held the GM title in Montreal through the 1978 season.
Fox, however, was destined to serve another term as an interim manager. In 1983, while working as a special assistant to Chicago Cubs
general manager Dallas Green
, Fox took over from embattled skipper Lee Elia
and managed the Cubs for the final 39 games of the season, winning 17 and losing 22. In 1984
, he was replaced by Jim Frey
. He later coached under Green with the New York Yankees
, and scouted for the Houston Astros
.
Fox's career major league managing record was 377–371 (.504).
Fox died at age 82 in Stanford, California
.
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
, scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
—and, briefly, a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
—in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. As manager of the National League West Division champion San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1971, he was named "Manager of the Year" by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
.
Early career
Born in New York City, Fox appeared in only three games as a Major League player – garnering three hitsHit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in seven at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s for a career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .429) with the 1942 New York Giants. But Fox would spend another 33 years in that organization as a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
catcher and manager and as a manager, scout and coach for the Giants, who relocated to San Francisco in 1958.
Fox spent eight years as manager of the Giants' Class C St. Cloud Rox
St. Cloud Rox
The St. Cloud Rox were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1946 to 1971. Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the team played in the Northern League and was affiliated with the New York Giants from 1946 to 1957, the San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1959, the Chicago Cubs from 1960 to 1964...
team in the Northern League
Northern League (baseball, 1902-71)
This article refers to the original incarnations of the Northern League, which operated between 1902 and 1971. For the more recent league, see Northern League ...
, scouted from 1957–63, then managed the Giants' AAA Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
club of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
in 1964 before coming to the major leagues as a San Francisco coach in 1965. He returned to the PCL to manage the Giants' Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
club in 1969–70 until he was summoned to San Francisco in May 1970 to replace Clyde King
Clyde King
Clyde Edward King was an American pitcher, coach, manager, general manager and front office executive in Major League Baseball. King, whose career in baseball spanned over 60 years, was perhaps best known for his longtime role as a special baseball advisor to George Steinbrenner, late owner of the...
as the manager of the big club.
Major league managerial career
Fox led the Giants to the NL West title in 1971, losing to the eventual world champion Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
. Subsequently, the Giants made a series of bad trades and fell from contention thereafter. In mid-1974, after compiling a record of 348–327 (.516), Fox was replaced as manager by former stalwart Giants catcher Wes Westrum
Wes Westrum
Wesley Noreen Westrum was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager, and scout. He played for 11 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants from to . He was known as a superb defensive catcher...
.
In 1976, he joined the front office of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
as a special assignment scout and served as the club's emergency manager when Karl Kuehl
Karl Kuehl
Karl Otto Kuehl was an American scout, farm system official, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. He also was the co-author of two books on the mental approach to baseball: The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance and A Champion's State of Mind .Kuehl was born in Monterey...
was fired September 4. After winning only 12 of 34 games to close out the season, Fox was named the club's general manager and was succeeded on the field by Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
. He held the GM title in Montreal through the 1978 season.
Fox, however, was destined to serve another term as an interim manager. In 1983, while working as a special assistant to Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
general manager Dallas Green
Dallas Green
George Dallas Green is a former pitcher, manager, and executive in Major League Baseball. After playing for the Philadelphia Phillies and two other teams, he went on to manage the Phillies, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets, and managed the Phillies when they won their first World Series...
, Fox took over from embattled skipper Lee Elia
Lee Elia
Lee Constantine Elia is a former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball. He was a manager of the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies . Additionally, he has served as a coach for the Phillies, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baltimore...
and managed the Cubs for the final 39 games of the season, winning 17 and losing 22. In 1984
1984 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs' 1984 season was the 109th season for the Cubs. The team finished with a record of 96-65 in first place of the National League Eastern Division. Chicago was managed by Jim Frey and the general manager was Dallas Green...
, he was replaced by Jim Frey
Jim Frey
James Gottfried Frey is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He led the Kansas City Royals to their first American League championship in 1980, in his first year with the team...
. He later coached under Green with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and scouted for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Fox's career major league managing record was 377–371 (.504).
Fox died at age 82 in Stanford, California
Stanford, California
Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census....
.
Managerial statistics
| Team | |Regular Season | SFG San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
1970 | 67 | 53 | .558 | 3rd in NL West | – | – | – | – |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFG San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
1971 | 90 | 72 | .556 | 1st in NL West | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost to Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions... |
||
| SFG San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
1972 | 69 | 86 | .445 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | – | ||
| SFG San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
1973 | 88 | 74 | .543 | 3rd in NL West | – | – | – | – | ||
| SFG San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
1974 | 34 | 42 | .447 | 5th in NL West | – | – | – | – | ||
| MON Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's... |
1976 | 12 | 22 | .353 | 6th in NL East | – | – | – | – | ||
| CHC Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National... |
1983 | 17 | 22 | .436 | 5th in NL East | – | – | – | – | ||
| Total | 377 | 371 | .504 | 1 | 3 | .250 | – | ||||
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com – career managing record and playing statistics