Jerry Narron

Jerry Narron
Catcher, Manager, Coach
Born: January 15, 1956 Goldsboro, North Carolina
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1979, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1987, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Batting average	.211
Hits	177
Home runs	21
Games managed	632
Win–loss record	291-341
Winning %	.460
Teams
As Player New York Yankees (1979) Seattle Mariners (1980–1981) California Angels (1983–1986) Seattle Mariners (1987) As Manager Texas Rangers (2001–2002) Cincinnati Reds (2005–2007)

Jerry Austin Narron (born January 15, 1956) is a former American Major League Baseball catcher and manager. During an 8-year playing career, he played from 1979 to 1987 for three teams. During a 7-year managing career, he managed from 2001 to 2007 for the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds. He went to college at East Carolina University.^[1]

Early years

Narron was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Through his childhood he played baseball at the Wayne County Boys Club, and played football and baseball at Goldsboro High School where he graduated in 1974.

Playing career

Narron was drafted out of high school in the sixth round by the New York Yankees in the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft and played alongside brother Johnny in Johnson City, Tennessee, during his first professional season. Narron played for the Yankees as the backup catcher to Thurman Munson, who died in a plane crash in August, 1979. Narron was then traded to the Seattle Mariners, and also played for the California Angels before retiring as a player in 1989. He was the Yankees' starting catcher the day after Munson's death,^[2][3] and remained in the dugout during the pregame ceremonies, leaving the catcher's position empty, out of respect for Munson.^[2]

Coaching history

Narron was a manager in the Baltimore Orioles farm system from 1989 through 1992, when he was hired as a coach for the Orioles by skipper Johnny Oates. After two seasons in Baltimore, he moved with Oates to the Texas Rangers. Narron was third-base coach for the Rangers from 1995 until he was named interim manager May 4, 2001 after the firing of manager Johnny Oates. He had the interim tag removed and coached the team during the 2002 campaign. He was replaced in Texas by Buck Showalter in December 2002. Narron then served as bench coach for the Boston Red Sox during their 2003 run to the ALCS and performed the same role for Cincinnati in 2004–05.

In 1995, when the Rangers opened their season after the strike which canceled the World Series the previous year, it was at Yankee Stadium. The first game back from the strike held special significance for Narron since it reminded him of the day after Thurman Munson died and he was the Yankees' starting catcher for the first game after that tragedy, which was also played at the old Yankee Stadium. On this particular day after the baseball strike ended, Narron was the Rangers' 3rd-base coach.^[3]

Narron was named as the Reds' interim manager on June 20, 2005. On September 29 of that year, his contract was extended to cover the 2006 season with mutual option for 2007. Narron was fired as manager of the Reds on July 1, 2007. The Reds named advance scout Pete Mackanin as the interim manager. Narron's record with the Reds was 157–179.

On February 25, 2008, Narron was named a special assignments scout and front-office consultant with his former team, the Rangers.

Narron will coach the Israeli national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.^[4]

Personal life

Narron is the recent husband to Donna Narron. He is a father to seven children, 5 of his own Callie, Caitlyn, Clare, Cara, and Connor and 2 Stepchildren, Hunter and Chelsy. Connor was the fourth ranked prospect for the high school class of 2010 by ESPN's Perfect Game. Narron's brother, Johnny is the former hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers, when he replaced Dale Sveum. He is the nephew of former Major League catcher Sam W. Narron and cousin of pitcher Sam F. Narron.

References

1. "Jerry Narron #36". Roster. Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
2. Brennan, Sean (August 2, 2009). "Jerry Narron recalls night he replaced Thurman Munson for Yankees". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
3. Chass, Murray (April 27, 1995). "BASEBALL; Ceremony, Circus Act And Even Some Fans Greet Game's Return". The New York Times. p. B11.
4. "Meet the Baptist Baseball Lifer Who Will Coach Israel's National Team". TheJerusalemPost.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Jerry Narron managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
• Retrosheet