Who are the oldest active managers in MLB and in the history of pro baseball?
There are currently two active managers in Major League Baseball who are in their 70s. But they are still far from being the oldest to hold this position.
Age is not a deterrent if one wants to have a long career as an MLB manager, a position in which some have managed to work well beyond retirement age.
Tony La Russa- 77 years old (active)
Take the case of Tony La Russa of the Chicago White Sox, who is currently the oldest active manager in the league at 77 years old (He turns 78 in October). He has been a manager for more than three decades, during which he led his teams to three World Series trophies. He is only the second person to return to this post after being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager.
A fan from the crowd at the White Sox game was calling for Tony La Russa to put in Adam Engel to pinch run.
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 16, 2022
La Russa actually did it. The peoples coach. @Starting9 @barstoolchicago
pic.twitter.com/FmWiomdonD
Dusty Baker- 73 years old (active)
Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros is next at 73 years of age. He had a standout career as a baseball player, and after he retired, he moved on to manage the San Francisco Giants. He then worked for the Chicago Cubs, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Washington Nationals, before joining the Astros in 2020. He holds the distinction of being the first manager in the league to clinch a division title and reach the playoffs with five different franchises. He however has not yet won a World Series trophy as a manager.
Dusty Baker: "I guess there is no way to describe it. They just took it from us. They got a good team.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 21, 2022
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Brian Snitker- 66 years old (active)
Not yet a septuagenarian, Brian Snitker follows Baker at 66 years old. He has been working with the Atlanta Braves in different capacities since he joined them to play in the minor leagues in 1977. He has been managing the team since 2016, and last year, he led them to their fourth World Series title, the first since 1995.
Braves manager Brian Snitker has been ejected after this called third strike. pic.twitter.com/7T2bXCzTEn
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) August 18, 2022
Connie Mack- 87 years old
The person who holds the record for being the oldest to manage a game is legendary Connie Mack, who is also the longest-serving manager in the history of the league. He led the Philadelphia Athletics for the team’s first 50 years, picking up five World Series titles along the way, until he retired in 1950 at the age of 87 and 283 days. He was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937
Today In 1949: The New York #Yankees hold a special "Connie Mack Day" for the legendary Philadelphia A's manager before a ballgame at Yankee Stadium! #MLB #Athletics #Baseball #History pic.twitter.com/G3M1DmWvGk
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) August 21, 2022
Jack McKeon- 80 years old
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Sitting at number two is Jack McKeon, who last managed a team when he was 80 years old. He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series victory in 2003, when he was 72 years old. He was called up from retirement at that point, and was referred to as a “resurrection specialist”. He worked with the team until 2005, when he once again retired at the age of 74. But the Marlins called him back in 2011 to serve as manager after Edwin Rodriguez resigned. McKeon retired for good after that season.
Look who’s headed back to the World Series: #Nationals senior adviser Trader Jack McKeon. The legendary baseball man turns 89 in six weeks! What a moment for him and his son Kasey, Nats director of player procurement. @backstop213 pic.twitter.com/yFy50MdKew
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) October 16, 2019
La Russa comes next on this all-time list of oldest managers in MLB history, but since he is still in action, he still has a chance to move up the rankings. He led the White Sox to an AL Central division title last year. If he improves on that performance this season, he may be able to hold on to his job a little while longer and extend his stay in the sport.