The Baltimore Orioles hired Buck Showalter as new manager on Thursday after meeting with numerous other candidates including interim manager Juan Samuel.  Before the hiring by the Orioles, Showalter had been linked to the Florida Marlins earlier in the season. 

Showalter’s last tour of duty came with the Texas Rangers where he served as manager for four years before being fired at the conclusion of the 2006 season.  Since then, Showalter had served as a senior adviser of baseball operations under the Cleveland Indians and most recently worked with ESPN where he was an analyst for Baseball Tonight. 

Twice named Manager of the Year, Showalter’s career began with the New York Yankees in 1992 after being promoted to the coaching staff two years earlier.  In 1995, the Yankees clinched the American League Wild Card berth and were eventually defeated by the Seattle Mariners in an exciting and memorable finish to the playoff series.

Shortly following the season, Showalter left the Yankees due to personal differences and conflicts with owner George Steinbrenner.  The 1995 playoff appearance marked the first for the Yankees since 1981.  In 1996, the Yankees went on to win the World Series after defeating the Atlanta Braves in six games. 

Showalter was hired shortly thereafter by the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks.  He began work two years before the team was to begin play in 1996 in order to help the upstart team form what would become an eventual roster. 

In just the second season of play, the team compiled a 100-62 record.  However, the third season was considered disastrous following several free-agent player acquisitions a season earlier.    After three years with the Diamondbacks, Showalter was fired as manager.  Once again, the Diamondbacks won the World Series in the year following Showalter’s departure. 

Showalter faces a much different challenge in Baltimore.  The team has experienced several dismal seasons with the latest of blows coming on April 12 when the team set a record for Camden Yards with the lowest paid attendance since the opening of the stadium in 1992.

In the years following the departure of Cal Ripken Jr. the team has struggled mightily and has failed to contend.  The team last made the playoffs in 1997.  Much of Showalter’s work will be with young talent as the Orioles have been unable to attract free-agent players to the city.  In late 2008, the team briefly flirted with signing then free-agent and hometown product Mark Teixeira before he eventually chose the Bronx as a landing spot.  

If the Showalter experience in Arizona is remotely similar to what can be expected in Baltimore the once proud baseball tradition at Camden Yards may be resurrected.  Much like the case in Arizona, Showalter will be expected to develop and encourage young talent to perform.  The question will be when or if Showalter is once again convincing enough to lure veteran players to the city. 

Maybe… finally… one of the nicest parks in Major League Baseball will once again experience sellouts and the thrill of a late season push toward October play.  And maybe Showalter will be around to experience it without watching the success unfold a season later on television. 

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

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