Karl Kuehl
Encyclopedia
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 (1989) and A Champion's State of Mind (2005).
Kuehl was born in Monterey Park, California
. He was the second manager in the history of the Montreal Expos
, but did not last even a full season in the job. Promoted after a successful stint as skipper of Montreal's top farm team, the Memphis Blues, in 1975, Kuehl had a disastrous turn as manager of the 1976 Expos, who won only 43 of 128 games (.336) and were in last place in the National League East Division when Kuehl was replaced by Charlie Fox
on September 4.
Weathering the debacle (the Expos ultimately would lose 107 of 162 games in 1976), Kuehl remained in the game as a coach for the Minnesota Twins
under manager Gene Mauch
, the man he replaced in Montreal. He then headed the player development department of the Oakland Athletics
during a period (1983–95) when the A's had one of the most productive farm systems in baseball, and for two seasons (1996–97) worked in the front office of the Toronto Blue Jays
. From 2001 through 2007, Kuehl was special advisor, baseball operations for the Cleveland Indians
.
As a player, Kuehl was a minor league first baseman
and outfielder
who batted and threw left-handed. He played in the farm system of the Cincinnati Reds
from 1955 through 1958, rising to the Seattle Rainiers
of the Open-Classification Pacific Coast League
for ten games in 1957. He began his managing career at the young age of 21 as the playing manager of the independent Salem Senators of the Class B Northwest League
in 1959. He rejoined the Reds in 1961 as pilot of the Class D Geneva Redlegs of the New York-Penn League. He then worked as a scout and minor league manager for the Houston Astros
and the Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers
before joining the Montreal organization in 1971. He managed the Double-A Québec Carnavals
in 1972 and 1973 before moving up to Triple-A Memphis.
Kuehl died of pulmonary fibrosis
on August 6, 2008 in a Scottsdale, Arizona
, hospital at the age of 70.
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 manager
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...
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...
. 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 (1989) and A Champion's State of Mind (2005).
Kuehl was born in Monterey Park, California
Monterey Park, California
Monterey Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. The city's motto is "Pride in the past, Faith in the future"...
. He was the second manager in the history 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...
, but did not last even a full season in the job. Promoted after a successful stint as skipper of Montreal's top farm team, the Memphis Blues, in 1975, Kuehl had a disastrous turn as manager of the 1976 Expos, who won only 43 of 128 games (.336) and were in last place in the National League East Division when Kuehl was replaced by Charlie Fox
Charlie Fox
Charles Francis Fox was an American manager, general manager, scout, coach—and, briefly, a catcher—in Major League Baseball...
on September 4.
Weathering the debacle (the Expos ultimately would lose 107 of 162 games in 1976), Kuehl remained in the game as a coach for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
under manager Gene Mauch
Gene Mauch
Gene William Mauch was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , Boston Braves , St...
, the man he replaced in Montreal. He then headed the player development department of the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
during a period (1983–95) when the A's had one of the most productive farm systems in baseball, and for two seasons (1996–97) worked in the front office of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. From 2001 through 2007, Kuehl was special advisor, baseball operations for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
As a player, Kuehl was a minor league first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who batted and threw left-handed. He played in the farm system of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
from 1955 through 1958, rising to the Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
of the Open-Classification 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...
for ten games in 1957. He began his managing career at the young age of 21 as the playing manager of the independent Salem Senators of the Class B Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
in 1959. He rejoined the Reds in 1961 as pilot of the Class D Geneva Redlegs of the New York-Penn League. He then worked as a scout and minor league manager 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...
and the Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
before joining the Montreal organization in 1971. He managed the Double-A Québec Carnavals
Québec Carnavals
The Québec Carnavals were a minor league baseball team in the Eastern League. They were known as the Quebec Metros from 1976-1977.After the team moved, Québec was without a minor league baseball team until the Québec Capitales began play in the Northern League in 1999.-Year-by-year record:...
in 1972 and 1973 before moving up to Triple-A Memphis.
Kuehl died of pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue in the lungs. It is also described as "scarring of the lung".-Symptoms:Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly:...
on August 6, 2008 in a Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, hospital at the age of 70.
Managerial statistics
| Team | |Regular Season | 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 | 43 | 85 | .336 | 6th in NL East | – | – | – | – |
|---|