Books and articles about Eddie Sawyer

An injury suffered in the minors ended Eddie Sawyer's hopes for a major league playing career. In 1939 he led the Canadian-American League in doubles (53), RBI (103), and batting average (.369). He began managing that year, and succeeded interim manager Dusty Cooke at the Phillies' helm in July 1948, following Ben Chapman's dismissal. In 1950 he led Philadelphia's Whiz Kids to the pennant, though it was almost blown. With nine days to go in the season, the Phillies had a seven-game lead, but lost eight of their last ten. They didn't clinch until the final day of the season, when they defeated the Dodgers in 10 innings at Ebbets Field. They then were swept in the World Series by the Yankees. Sawyer was fired in 1952, but was rehired in 1958. After finishing last in both '58 and 1959, Sawyer quit after losing the first game of the 1960 season. (AL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 16, 1948: There are three managerial changes today. Ben Chapman is fired by the Phillies (though owner Carpenter insists he was "not fired" saying "I'd like to make it clear that there is a difference between not firing a man and concluding business with him.") and Dusty Cooke takes over on an interim basis. Eddie Sawyer, with no ML experience as player or manager, will get the job after Cooke goes 8–6. But the big news is from New York. The Giants remove Mel Ott and replace him with Leo Durocher, who obtains his release from Brooklyn. The Dodgers bring back mild-mannered Burt Shotton who replaced Durocher once before. In a newspaper poll over the winter, an overwhelming majority voted for the gentlemanly Shotton to replace The Lip. The changes today portend those at the end of the season: Bucky Harris of the Yankees, Ted Lyons of the White Sox, and Steve O'Neill of the Tigers will be released. » November 9, 1950: The Associated Press chooses Phillie skipper Eddie Sawyer as Manager of the year. » June 27, 1952: Phils manager Eddie Sawyer is fired. Steve O'Neill will replace him the next day. » July 22, 1958: The Phillies replace manager Mayo Smith with Eddie Sawyer, who had managed the club l948-52. » April 14, 1960: After a 9–4 Opening Day loss to the Reds, Eddie Sawyer decides he's had it with managing and quits the Phillies, stating, "I'm 49 and I want to live to be 50." He came to Philadelphia from Toronto (International League) in 1948 and has managed no other ML team. Interim manager Andy Cohen wins one game before Gene Mauch gets the job and begins a 26-year managerial career in the bigs.