Buck Showalter makes his first trip to the ALCS

10/5/14, In Detroit, "Nelson Cruz hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning to propel the Orioles and their manager, Buck Showalter, into the American League Championship Series," Getty. final 2-1 Orioles

10/5/14, "Orioles’ Veteran Manager Heads to First A.L.C.S.," NY Times, David Waldstein

"As the Baltimore Orioles hugged and jumped on the infield grass in celebration, Buck Showalter stood calmly in the dugout, his arms folded and a proud smile crossing his face as he watched the proceedings.

Three times before his teams had reached the playoffs, losing their opening series each time. Twice, he had the misfortune of guiding a club to the divisional round of the playoffs only to see a different manager take it to a World Series title the year after he left.

The Yankees, who lost a division series under Showalter in 1995, won the 1996 championship under Joe Torre. The Arizona Diamondbacks, who lost a division series under Showalter in 1999 and fired him after an 85-77 season in 2000, captured a title in 2001 with Bob Brenly.

All Showalter could do was accept that he had played some role in the teams’ development, even if he could not celebrate with them. Now, though, Showalter, in his fifth year with the Orioles and his 16th as a big-league manager, is finally going to a league championship series, having earned his first playoff series win with a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. The Orioles will play the Kansas City Royals."...

 

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