At the age of 90 years old New York Yankees’ manager, Joe McCarthy passed away from pneumonia in Buffalo, New York on this day 41 years ago. His strict coaching style led the team to become one of the most dominant franchises in baseball, racking up a total of seven World Series championships and eight pennants under his tenure with the Yankees.
From 1936-1939, McCarthy led the Yankees to four consecutive World Series championships where two years later, he’d begin a three-year span of two World Series wins in that time. McCarthy’s time with the Yankees was nothing short of dominant as during his 16 years with the club, he was credited to a .627 win-loss percentage.
Before his years with the New York Yankees, McCarthy spent five years with the Chicago Cubs and after his time in New York, McCarthy finished his coaching career with the Boston Red Sox where he spent three years with them. Out of the three teams McCarthy was with during his career, his time with the Yankees was easily the most prosperous and successful.
Due to his success, McCarthy was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957. His career winning percentage in both the regular season and the postseason is the highest in Major League Baseball history. His 2,125 career wins rank eighth for all-time in Major League history for managerial wins and ranks first for all-time for most wins in the Yankee franchise.
Joe McCarthy was one of the finest managers in Major League Baseball history and easily the best manager in Yankee history. Rest in peace, Marse Joe!