Red Sox coaching staff
By Bob Hohler, Globe Staff, 3/29/2002
Manager - Grady Little (43)
Age: 52
Tenure: 1st year
Fast stat: Yankee ties - was player/coach in system in early '70s; brother Bryan ended five-year career with NY in '86.
The lowdown: The new owners chose him over Felipe Alou and Mike Cubbage to right the ship after last year's calamity. Endorsed enthusiastically by many of the Sox who went to the playoffs in 1998 and '99 when he was bench coach under Jimy Williams, Little was bullpen coach for the Padres when they went to the playoffs in '96. He spent the last two years as bench coach for Cleveland's Charlie Manuel. A former cotton farmer, he also prepared for the Sox job by managing 16 years in the minors.
Pitching - Tony Cloninger (36)
Age: 61
Tenure: 1st year
Fast stat: Only pitcher in major league history to hit two grand slams in one game (1966).
The lowdown: The one man Little wanted with him, Cloninger goes back 15 years with the manager to their home state of North Carolina. He replaced Ralph Treuel, who last August succeeded Joe Kerrigan. Cloninger's style appears to be the antithesis of Kerrigan's hands-on, computer-driven approach. Cloninger coached 10 years with the Yankees before joining the Sox. He pitched 12 years for the Braves, Reds, and Cardinals, going 113-97 with a 4.07 ERA.
Hitting - Dwight Evans (25)
Age: 50
Tenure: 1st year
Fast stat: In '86, became first player to homer on first pitch of the major league season.
The lowdown: After one of his mentors, Walt Hriniak, declined the job, Evans agreed to work as a big-league batting instructor for the first time since 1994, when he coached the Rockies. A member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, Evans played 20 seasons in the majors (19 with the Sox) from 1972-91, batting .272 with 385 homers and 1,384 RBIs. He was an All-Star three times and won eight Gold Gloves.
Bench - Mike Stanley (20)
Age: 38
Tenure: 1st year
Fast stat: Of 187 career homers, 73 came with Sox, 72 came with Yankees.
The lowdown: He had no coaching experience, but he was so highly regarded by Sox players and executives for his leadership that they wasted little time hiring him to replace Nelson Norman. Stanley provides a vital link between the players and management. He played 15 years with five teams, including the Sox, hitting .270 with 187 homers and 702 RBIs. He was an All-Star with the Yankees in 1995.
First base - Tommy Harper (51)
Age: 61
Tenure: 3d year
Fast stat: When stealing Sox-record 54 bases in '73, hit .281 (second-best in 15-year career).
The lowdown: Why the previous administration let him hang for two months last winter before asking him to sign the 40th one-year contract of his career remains baffling. Harper has brought hard work, dignity, and knowledge to the team in his three years at first. He coached 10 years in Montreal before joining the Sox. He played 15 years with eight teams.
Third base - Mike Cubbage (12)
Age: 51
Tenure: 1st year
Fast stat: First of 503 major league hits was a grand slam in '75.
The lowdown: He kept the team on track as interim manager between the firing of Kerrigan and hiring of Little, who edged him out for the manager's post. Cubbage joined the Sox after five years as bench coach and third base coach for the Astros. He spent the previous seven years as a coach for the Mets after managing in the minors for six years. He played eight years for the Rangers, Twins, and Mets from 1974-81.
Bullpen - Bob Kipper (58)
Age: 37
Tenure: 1st year
Fast stat: Surrendered HR to Ron Gant in '91 NLCS in only playoff appearance of eight-year career.
The lowdown: He replaced John Cumberland after spending the last three years as a minor league pitching coach in the Sox system, including the last two years for Single A Augusta. A lefthander, he pitched for the Pirates from 1985-91 and the Twins in '92, going 27-37 overall with a 4.34 ERA. He never returned to the majors after having shoulder surgery in '93.
