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Who has the most Manager of the Year Awards in the MLB?

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Since Major League Baseball’s Manager of the Year Award was first handed out four decades ago, 16 men have received the prize more than once. Among that group of multiple winners, three managers lead the way with a joint-record four awards each: Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Buck Showalter.

What is the Manager of the Year Award?

Created in 1983, the prize is given to the outstanding manager in each of the MLB’s two leagues, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL).

The two Manager of the Year winners are voted for by the members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, who are also responsible for choosing the MLB’s Valuable Player Award, the Cy Young Award for the best pitchers, and the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award.

The recipients of the AL and NL’s 2023 Manager of the Year Awards are to be announced today, Tuesday 14 November 2023, at 6pm ET/3pm PT.

MLB Manager of the Year: the four-time winners

Tony La Russa

A man who won three World Series titles during just over four decades as an MLB manager, La Russa was named Manager of the Year in the award’s inaugural year, before also claiming the accolade in 1988, 1992 and 2002.

La Russa was Manager of the Year three times in the AL - first with the Chicago White Sox, then twice with the Oakland Athletics - before claiming the gong for the final time in the NL, during his 15-year tenure at the Cardinals.

The 79-year-old’s trio of World Series triumphs came with Oakland in 1989, and with St Louis in 2006 and 2011.

La Russa first managed in MLB in 1979.
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La Russa first managed in MLB in 1979.Jason MillerAFP

Bobby Cox

Like La Russa, Cox was named Manager of the Year in three different decades, winning the prize in 1985, 1991, 2004 and 2005.

The Oklahoman, who spent more than 40 years as a manager, claimed the NL award three times during his 1990-2010 stint in charge of the Atlanta Braves - a team he piloted to the World Series title in 1995.

Cox, who also managed the Braves between 1978 and 1981, earned his first Manager of the Year honours in the AL, during a three-year spell with the Toronto Blue Jays in the early to mid-80s.

MLB Manager of the Year: the multiple winners

  • Bobby Cox: four (1985, 1991, 2004, 2005)
  • Tony La Russa: four (1983, 1988, 1992, 2002)
  • Buck Showalter: four (1994, 2004, 2014, 2022)
  • Dusty Baker: three (1993, 1997, 2000)
  • Terry Francona: three (2013, 2016, 2022)
  • Joe Maddon: three (2008, 2011, 2015)
  • Bob Melvin: three (2007, 2012, 2018)
  • Lou Piniella: three (1995, 2001, 2008)
  • Jim Leyland: three (1990, 1992, 2006)
  • Kevin Cash: two (2020, 2021)
  • Mike Scioscia: two (2002, 2009)
  • Jack McKeon: two (1999, 2003)
  • Davey Johnson: two (1997, 2012)
  • Joe Torre: two (1996, 1998)
  • Sparky Anderson: two (1984, 1987)
  • Tommy Lasorda: two (1983, 1988)

Buck Showalter

Manager of the Year in 1994, 2004, 2014 and 2022, Showalter is the only man to win the award in four separate decades. Most recently, the 67-year-old secured the NL prize after leading the New York Mets to their first 100-win season in over 30 years.

Showalter is the only manager to win the award with four different teams, having also been selected as the AL’s best with the New York Yankees, the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles. He is also the sole four-time Manager of the Year who has never won a World Series.

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