RetroSimba

(Updated Dec. 9, 2019)

Ted Simmons was a key to Joe Torre being able to return to big-league managing in 1990 after a six-year hiatus. Without help from Simmons, Torre might never have gotten the chance to revive his career.

On Dec. 9, 2013, three managers, Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Torre, were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Expansion Era committee.

A candidate needed 75 percent, or 12, of the votes from a 16-member committee to earn election. Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog was one of those voters.

It was Herzog who triggered the chain of events that led to Torre becoming manager of the Cardinals.

Support for Simmons

On July 6, 1990, Herzog, the Cardinals’ manager since 1980, abruptly resigned.

Cardinals coach Red Schoendienst was named interim manager while general manager Dal Maxvill launched a search for Herzog’s replacement.

There was media speculation and popular sentiment for Simmons to get the job. The former St. Louis catcher was the Cardinals’ director of player development, overseeing the minor-league system.

Five days after Herzog quit, St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz opined that Simmons should be the manager.

Wrote Miklasz: “Simmons makes sense for a lot of reasons. The manager must be a motivator, someone who can communicate with the millionaires in the dugout. Simmons … has fresh perspective on what makes today’s players click. And he’s wired. His high energy level is bound to be contagious. Maxvill said the new man must be intelligent … Simmons would beat Tony La Russa at ‘Jeopardy.’ ”

Two days later, in an interview with Vahe Gregorian of the Post-Dispatch, Simmons ended the speculation. “It’s flattering to have people asking me every five minutes if I’m going to be the next manager,” Simmons said. “But, however flattering, it’s not my objective. It’s safe and fair to say I won’t be the next manager. I don’t have any interest.”

After that, attention turned to Torre.

Friends in high places

Fired by the Braves in 1984, Torre became an Angels broadcaster. Six years later, he admitted he largely had abandoned hope of managing again.

Herzog’s surprise resignation provided the opportunity; Maxvill and Simmons provided the support.

Torre and Maxvill were friends and former teammates. They had played together for the Cardinals from 1969-72. Maxvill was on his coaching staffs when Torre managed the Mets and Braves.

Simmons was a Cardinals rookie when St. Louis acquired Torre from the Braves in March 1969. Torre, a five-time all-star catcher before converting to first baseman, became a mentor to Simmons, who was being groomed to replace Tim McCarver as the everyday catcher. Torre and Simmons were Cardinals teammates from 1969-74 and often batted back-to-back in the St. Louis order.

In late July 1990, Torre told the Los Angeles Times he would enjoy working with Maxvill and Simmons. “It would be the first time I’d be working with somebody instead of for somebody,” Torre said. “That can only be ideal.”

Maxvill told the Post-Dispatch he had seven candidates: Torre, big-league coaches Don Baylor, Hal Lanier, Pat Corrales and Gene Tenace, Class AAA Louisville manager Gaylen Pitts and Cardinals minor-league hitting instructor Mike Jorgensen. Torre, though, was the leading candidate all along.

When Torre was named Cardinals manager on Aug. 1, 1990, Herzog told Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch, “I don’t know why they didn’t do it on July 7 (the day after Herzog’s resignation). He was going to be the guy.”

Tips from Ted

With eight Cardinals eligible for free agency after the 1990 season, Herzog also said Torre would have to rely on Simmons for advice on which prospects were ready to contribute at the big-league level.

Torre agreed, telling the Post-Dispatch, “I’m going to pretty much take the rest of this season to work with Dal and Ted Simmons and make sure that when we go out there in 1991 we’re going in the right direction.

“I’m looking to Ted Simmons to see where it’s coming from.”

Wrote Miklasz: “Simmons will develop the prospects for Maxvill. Maxvill will pass them … along to Torre. Torre will manage. Presenting: The Three Amigos. United, they stand.”

Said Torre: “It’s going to be very comfortable working with people that I know so well. We were teammates. We were taught the game the same way. We played together and now we’re working together.”

Maxvill elaborated to the Post-Dispatch about the relationship between Torre and Simmons.

“When Ted came up, Joe was his mentor,” Maxvill said. “Joe told him about the league, about opposing pitchers, about what to expect in situations, told him how to handle our pitching staff. I knew they had a good relationship and that their baseball philosophy was pretty much the same.

“That’s helpful. If we go through our minor-league system, we don’t like to have eight or 10 different opinions about the way cutoffs or rundowns or relays should be done. With all of us being pretty much brought up on the Cardinal Way _ through George Kissell, all of us _ I think we’ll be able to pull the wagon in the same direction from that standpoint.”

The Three Amigos, however, didn’t stay together long.

Simmons left the Cardinals in 1992 to become general manager of the Pirates. Maxvill was fired in 1994 and, a year after that, Torre was fired by Maxvill’s successor, Walt Jocketty (who selected La Russa to manage the Cardinals).

Maxvill and Simmons brought Torre back into managing and, in so doing, opened a path to his Hall of Fame election. After leaving the Cardinals, Torre was hired by the Yankees. He managed them to four World Series titles and six American League pennants in his first eight years in New York.

In 29 years managing the Mets, Braves, Cardinals, Yankees and Dodgers, Torre compiled 2,326 wins, ranking fifth all-time. (La Russa is third at 2,728.)