Jim Leyland was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.
He became the 23rd manager to land in Cooperstown following an illustrious career and a presence those who only lived it can describe. After leading the 1997 Miami Marlins to the World Series, it tops the resume with 1,769 managerial wins, six division titles, and three pennants.
Oakland A’s manager, Mark Kotsay, continuously mentions Leyland as one of his mentors and someone who impacted his career considerably.
“I couldn’t be more proud — or just to have played for Jim,” Kotsay told reporters on Monday. “The impact he left on me as a rookie to this day — that grinding, blue-collar mentality …”
His impact on Kotsay was more than what he did on the field. It was the impression he made on those around him. Reporters included.
“My image of Jim Leyland is sliding shorts and a cigarette at his desk, entertaining the media with no shirt on,” Kotsay added.
“And the best, I would say, undressing of a ball club that I’ve ever been a part of or heard came from Jim Leyland in my rookie year in the old Astrodome. It was the Hall of Fame, and so for him to be in the Hall of Fame, it doesn’t surprise me, and it’s well earned. I couldn’t be happier for Jim, really.”
Kotsay said he hadn’t had a chance to reach out to Leyland. He wanted to wait until the probably “thousands” of congratulatory text messages died down.
"If you mislead a player, you lose them forever. If you tell them the truth, you lose them for about 24 hours."
– Newest Hall of Famer Jim Leyland on being honest with players#MLBTonight | @baseballhall pic.twitter.com/tctEAIhWB1
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 4, 2023
He added that Leyland picked him up from the airport when Kotsay interviewed for the Tigers managerial position in 2020. The two had an extensive conversation in the car.
“But the relationship that we built in a limited amount of time, because I had only played for him in 17 games in ’97 and then all of ’98, and the ’98 season was one like — we just went through an experience like we did in Oakland this season — but, he never wavered.”
The Tigers finished the 1998 season with a 65-97 record, fifth in the AL Central.
“We built a bond that lasted until, obviously, until the current day and will last, you know — forever,” Kotsay said.
