Billy Gardner Jr.
William Frederick Gardner Jr. (born September 25, 1966, at New London, Connecticut) is an American professional baseball coach and a former minor league manager and player. As of 2018, Gardner is a roving instructor in the farm system of the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball.[1]
Gardner joined the Nationals on December 20, 2013, when he was appointed skipper of the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, Washington's Triple-A affiliate.[2] He managed the Chiefs for four years, through 2017, and compiled a win-loss record of 262–309 (.459). Through 2017, his cumulative record as a manager was 1,524–1,558 (.494) over 23 consecutive seasons (1995–2017).
He is the son of former major league second baseman, coach and manager Billy Gardner.
Professional baseball player
A third baseman, Billy Gardner Jr. played two seasons of professional baseball in the Kansas City Royals organization (1987–88), batting .279 in 190 at bats at the Rookie, Short Season-A and High A levels. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).[3]
Minor league manager
The 2014 campaign marked Gardner's 20th consecutive year as a minor league manager, his first Triple-A assignment, and his first year in the Nationals' organization. In 2013, he spent his seventh consecutive season as skipper of the Montgomery Biscuits, Double-A Southern League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.[4] He has managed in the farm systems of the Royals, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds, as well as with Tampa Bay. He began his post-playing career in 1990 as a coach at the Short Season-A and Class A levels in the New York Mets' organization, and also coached for unaffiliated Class A and Rookie-level teams through 1994.
Championships, honors and awards
His 2007 Montgomery club won the Southern League championship, and his work with the 2012 Biscuits earned him the Southern League Manager of the Year Award.[5] With Billy Sr. having earned the same honor in 1973, the Gardners became the only father–son duo to win the SL's top manager award.
In 2014, he won the International League Manager of the Year award for his work with the Syracuse Chiefs, having led the team to an 81–62 first-place finish being their best end of season result in 16 years.
References
- ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (19 January 2018). "Nationals Send Syracuse Chiefs New Manager, Pitching Coach". syracuse.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ↑ Nats Insider.com
- ↑ Baseball Reference
- ↑ milb.com
- ↑ Montgomery Biscuits official web site
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- "Billy Gardner Jr.", Baseball-Reference.com
- Kramer, Lindsey. (2013, December 20). "Billy Gardner Jr. will make Triple-A managing debut for the Syracuse Chiefs," The Post-Standard
Preceded by First manager |
Lowell Spinners manager 1996 |
Succeeded by Dick Berardino |
Preceded by DeMarlo Hale |
Trenton Thunder manager 2000–2001 |
Succeeded by Ron Johnson |
Preceded by Charlie Montoyo |
Montgomery Biscuits manager 2007–2013 |
Succeeded by Brady Williams |
Preceded by Tony Beasley |
Syracuse Chiefs manager 2014–2017 |
Succeeded by Randy Knorr |