All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with sports commentator Kevin Hennessy about the retirement of Tom Kelly, who has managed the Minnesota Twins manager for 16 seasons. Kelly was skipper for the 1987 & 1991 World Series championship seasons.
All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with sports commentator Kevin Hennessy about the retirement of Tom Kelly, who has managed the Minnesota Twins manager for 16 seasons. Kelly was skipper for the 1987 & 1991 World Series championship seasons.
SPEAKER 1: It doesn't hurt when a manager starts out with as much success as he did. He won the Twins' first world championship within his first year as manager, first full year. And then they had a winning season the next year, a couple hard years, and then they won the World Championship again. So he had a great start, and I think his career probably could have continued as long as he wanted to.
SPEAKER 2: What was he like to work for from what you've heard?
SPEAKER 1: Well, it all depends on, I think, what era Twin you would have talked to. The Twins that started with him, that knew him as they'd come up through the Minor Leagues, thought Kelly was a player's manager, and they liked him a lot. He always had had the philosophy that he played everybody on the roster.
But as time went on, Kelly seemed to have more problems with the younger players in particular. And I don't know if that's a matter of Kelly changing or times changing. But things had been fairly difficult for him during those trying years when the Twins cut their payroll.
SPEAKER 2: Why do you suppose that Kelly decided to leave now after the Twins had a pretty good year?
SPEAKER 1: Well, this is the Twins' first pretty good year after eight losing seasons. You know, I don't know exactly what went on. I think only Tom Kelly could tell you, and I'm not sure he would either.
But I think he had set out that this was going to be the last year last year. I think he had decided that he was going to give it his best effort this year, and I think he was probably happy with the results that this team that he had been working with, basically Minor Leaguers three years ago, had come all the way this year to being a contending team and surprising everyone with the low budget and the young players that they have.
SPEAKER 2: Well, what do you think the Twins should look for in their next manager?
SPEAKER 1: You know, I think they're looking at two people in particular. I think they're looking at Paul Molitor, who has been the bench coach the last couple of years. And Molitor could have had any number of jobs in Major League Baseball with any number of teams. But he chose to stay home and stay with the Twins. And I think there might be the possibility they would hire him.
Molitor is a big name. He's a solid baseball person and a hometown favorite. So they've got that going.
They've also had Ron Gardenhire as third base coach for a number of years. And he should be ready too should the team want to hire him. So they've already got two people, really, in place that could easily take Kelly's spot.
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