Rick Manning
Encyclopedia
Richard Eugene Manning is a former center fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Cleveland Indians
(1975-) and Milwaukee Brewers
(1983–1987). The Indians selected him out of high school with the second overall pick in the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft
.
in Seattle.
Manning played a major role in Cleveland's trade of Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley
. Eckersley was traded with Fred Kendall
on March 30, 1978 to the Boston Red Sox
for Rick Wise
, Mike Paxton
, Bo Diaz
, and Ted Cox
. In the book The Curse of Rocky Colavito, author Terry Pluto
noted that the trade was necessitated by an awkward situation, namely that Eckersley's wife had left him for Manning.
Manning had stayed with the Eckersleys while recovering from back surgery the previous year, and in that time became romantically involved with Denise Eckersley, Dennis' wife.
Manning himself was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
during the 1983 season.
Manning had the support of a motley crew of fans who stationed themselves at the top of the left field bleachers at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and called themselves "Rick's Rejects".
Gold Glove Award
in .
In one of the most memorable images in Cleveland sports history, on May 15, 1981, Manning caught the final out, securing Len Barker
's perfect game
.
A bobblehead doll
depicting Manning's catch was made and given out to fans during a 2006 game celebrating the 25th anniversary of the perfect game.
for Indians telecasts. Manning has the longest tenure of any television announcer in team history.
Currently, Manning can be seen doing Tribe games on WKYC channel 3 in Cleveland (NBC
) and SportsTime Ohio
(alongside Matt Underwood
). He currently resides in Chesterland, OH during the season, and Goodyear, AZ (the spring training city for the Indians) in the offseason.
He also occasionally provides color commentary on regional broadcasts for Major League Baseball on FOX, mainly when FOX shows an Indians game.
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
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...
who played 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...
(1975-) and 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...
(1983–1987). The Indians selected him out of high school with the second overall pick in the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft
1972 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Montreal Expos had perhaps their best draft in franchise history. The Expos grabbed outfielder Ellis Valentine in round two of the June regular phase and then...
.
Major League Career
Manning made his major league debut with the Indians during the 1975 season. In 1977, Manning had surgery for a broken back suffered sliding into second base at the now-demolished KingdomeKingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
in Seattle.
Manning played a major role in Cleveland's trade of Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
. Eckersley was traded with Fred Kendall
Fred Kendall
Fred Kendall was a catcher for parts of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, and Boston Red Sox....
on March 30, 1978 to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Rick Wise
Rick Wise
Richard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
, Mike Paxton
Mike Paxton
Michael De Wayne Paxton is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed....
, Bo Diaz
Bo Diaz
Baudilio José Díaz Seijas was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds between and...
, and Ted Cox
Ted Cox (baseball)
William Ted Cox is a former shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from through for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays . He batted and threw right-handed.Cox was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first-round of the 1973 draft ahead of Fred...
. In the book The Curse of Rocky Colavito, author Terry Pluto
Terry Pluto
Terry Pluto is an award-winning sportswriter who primarily writes columns for The Plain Dealer, and formerly for the Akron Beacon Journal about Cleveland sports and religion. He has been named Ohio Sportswriter of the Year eight times...
noted that the trade was necessitated by an awkward situation, namely that Eckersley's wife had left him for Manning.
Manning had stayed with the Eckersleys while recovering from back surgery the previous year, and in that time became romantically involved with Denise Eckersley, Dennis' wife.
Manning himself was traded to the 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...
during the 1983 season.
Manning had the support of a motley crew of fans who stationed themselves at the top of the left field bleachers at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and called themselves "Rick's Rejects".
Highlights
Manning won an American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
in .
In one of the most memorable images in Cleveland sports history, on May 15, 1981, Manning caught the final out, securing Len Barker
Len Barker
Leonard Harold Barker III , better known as Lenny Barker or Len Barker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. Barker pitched for the Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers...
's perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
.
A bobblehead doll
Bobblehead doll
A bobblehead doll, also known as a bobbing head doll, nodder, or wobbler, is a type of collectible toy. Its head is often oversized compared to its body...
depicting Manning's catch was made and given out to fans during a 2006 game celebrating the 25th anniversary of the perfect game.
Broadcasting career
Since 1990, he has served as a color commentatorColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for Indians telecasts. Manning has the longest tenure of any television announcer in team history.
Currently, Manning can be seen doing Tribe games on WKYC channel 3 in Cleveland (NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) and SportsTime Ohio
SportsTime Ohio
SportsTime Ohio is a regional sports network in Cleveland and northern Ohio, launched in 2006. It was created to air Cleveland Indians games, and is owned by the family which owns the team. It is also the cable television home of the Cleveland Browns...
(alongside Matt Underwood
Matt Underwood
For the actor, see Matthew UnderwoodMatt Underwood is the play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Indians telecasts on SportsTime Ohio and WKYC Channel 3...
). He currently resides in Chesterland, OH during the season, and Goodyear, AZ (the spring training city for the Indians) in the offseason.
He also occasionally provides color commentary on regional broadcasts for Major League Baseball on FOX, mainly when FOX shows an Indians game.