DETROIT — After eight seasons, 700 regular season wins, four trips to the ALCS and two American League pennants, Jim Leyland announced Monday that he will not return as the manager of the Detroit Tigers.
Leyland informed Tigers President, CEO, and GM Dave Dombrowski on the morning of Sept. 7 that this would be his final season managing the Tigers. The team made it official on Monday, Oct, 21 at a press conference in Detroit.
In a press release Leyland said, “It has been a huge honor to have been the Tigers manager for the past eight seasons, so many wonderful days and nights at Comerica Park with almost every seat filled. I can’t thank you enough for your support.”
“When I came here all I wanted was a chance and you gave me that. I hope you do the same for your next manager,” he added. “My goal coming here was to turn talent into team, and with the help of the entire organization, we did that.”
Leyland is the third-winningest manager in Tigers franchise history, and leaves the game ranked 15th all-time in managerial wins with 1,769. Leyland led the Tigers to four different postseasons (’06, ’11, ’12, ’13), the most as a manager in Tigers franchise history.
“On behalf of the entire Detroit Tigers organization, we thank Jim for everything he had done for this franchise over the past eight seasons.” said Dave Dombrowski. “Jim’s tenure will be looked back on as one of the great eras in Tigers history.”
Leyland was named the Tigers 36th manager on Oct. 4, 2005. He was the third manager in franchise history to lead a Tigers club to multiple World Series, joining Hughie Jennings and Mickey Cochrane.
