Nov. 13: Hurdle says he has indeed decided not to seek in-uniform positions, as Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. But that doesn’t mean he’s through with the game. Hurdle says he has spoken with organizations about front-office possibilities, so it seems likely he’ll remain engaged in some capacity.
Nov. 12: Longtime major league manager Clint Hurdle has decided to retire, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Padres interviewed Hurdle for their hitting coach vacancy, but he decided not to pursue the opportunity, per Acee.
The 62-year-old Hurdle’s just a few weeks removed from the end of a lengthy tenure as the Pirates’ manager. The team fired Hurdle in late September after a disastrous season in which it went 69-93. It was the fourth straight non-playoff season for the Hurdle-led Pirates, though they did have success earlier in his run. Pittsburgh went to the playoffs in each season under Hurdle from 2013-15, but it never won a playoff series. Hired prior to 2011, Hurdle oversaw Pirates teams that went a combined 735-720-1 – which is plenty respectable for a low-budget franchise that has largely struggled over the past few decades.
Before joining the Pirates, Hurdle managed the Rockies to a 534-625 mark from 2002-09. The Rockies only made the playoffs once in that span, in 2007, but they did win the NL pennant that year before falling to the Red Sox in the World Series.
Long before his managerial career started, Hurdle was an outfielder/infielder/catcher for the Royals, Reds, Mets and Cardinals from 1977-87. Hurdle hit a solid .259/.341/.403 across 1,596 plate appearances. Now, if Hurdle’s decades-long stay in the majors truly is up, MLBTR wishes him the best in retirement.
He might take a year or two off then reconsider. I figured he’d look to manage again.
Clint is done.You could tell by the last two years that he had no enthusiasm left.You have to maintain it at especially that age or the game passes you by quickly.
Agreed. It looked like he stopped having fun.
Pittsburgh will do that to you.
Not a knock on the team but losing does that to you. I thought he did a solid job given the team had. They could have competed even with their financial limits if it weren’t for some recent bad trades. Good luck to him.
I know he said “MLBTR wishes him the best” but is it considered okay if I don’t wish him the best as long as I don’t wish him the worst either? I wanna wish him something in between. He’s 62 and retiring now so I want him to slow it down and not live it up too much. Not the best but not the worst. Something in the middle. Like the medium. Can I just wish him the medium or would that be considered rude and offend some people? Ehhh, what do I care if it offends people. I’m wishing him the medium.
Nice job of talking yourself in circles there.
Yeah. A long time ago U realized that the best person in the room to have a conversation with is usually me so if I just talk to myself I never get disappointed.
Good job StandUpGuy. Your comments are always the best.
Yeah StandUpGuy. Another great comment. You always make such good points. Your the best. I wouldn’t be surprised if most people just come on to this site only to read your replies and nothing else.
I don’t know what’s happening here but I’m scared.
You’re
Don’t worry, I took him to the secured psych unit, he’s on a 72-hour hold.
Ya know, StandUp, if you weren’t literally insane, it might be interesting to have a beer with you sometime.
I pulled the fire alarm and broke out of the psych unit. I couldn’t leave you guys hanging like that. THE SCENE NEEDS ME!
Say what you will, but crazy is still more entertaining than ignorant and stupid.
Carry on, StandUpGuy. I welcome more of your antics.
The best doesn’t have to mean living fast and furious, For him, it could mean living in the mountains and talking to animals. I don’t judge.
With that said, does he deserve the best? I don’t know. I have no personal connection to the guy. He could be a jerk behind closed doors for all I know. So in that sense, blindly wishing him the best wouldn’t make much sense.
I wish him whatever he deserves in life. If that’s the best, great. If not, too bad.
Yeah. It was kind of a joke. I guess what I meant by “the best” was life in the fast lane. Similar to spending as much money as you want, killing 5% of the remaining functional part of your liver and practicing making babies and doing all of that every single night. I’m sure he’s not going to do that and I’m assuming he’s a good guy. I would only consider that “the best” in the sense that it is the exact opposite of people who have zero choice or decisions in their lives and could never even imagine the luxury if having that kind of freedom. Medium to me would be what most people do. Live comfortably and enjoy being around/taking care of their family. That’s what most people do so I would say that is medium, right? Anyway, it was still kind if a joke. I know “the best” means whatever makes him happy and healthy.
great man.
I remember I walked past him once and couldn’t match the face until way after. Was like, who is that? One of my dad’s friends? One of my neighbors? Ohhh, that was Clint Hurdle lol
The Padres have this effect on people, particularly hitting coaches.
735-720-1…where did the 1 come from?
Was there an overtime loss?
baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201609290.shtm…
there was a game with the cubs a few years back that was never finished because of weather issues. tie game and late in September, with the Pirates way out of the playoff race. that’s the 1, I think
Cover of Sports Illistrated as a rookie. Maybe it was Spring training Issue. 1978 I think. big hype for Hurdle coming up.
Terrible manager.
His head hunting antics were so out of touch with today’s game. Not sure any opposing team will miss him.
no, it was pirates pitchers that couldn’t pitch effectively. don’t blame him for their inability to field a major league staff. major league pitchers should be able to back someone off the plate without hitting them.
Every single manager that any random fan boldly states is “terrible”, well then you’ve earned my respect. I think LaRussa, LaSorda, John McGraw, Dick Williams, Joe Torre just to name a few were terrible. Why? Because I’m anonymous and random and I know everything.
Lautrec- good retort.The two Champs are proven to be just two Chumps.
Clint Hurdle had every Pittsburgh team he ever managed in contention at mid-season. Remember, at the all-star break in 2019, the Pirates were 2.5 games out of first. As in most years, smoke and mirrors got exposed. I doubt there’s another manager who could have squeezed any more out of the Pirates. Owner Nutting gave GM Huntington an allowance—bit a budget—and was always less than half of what every other NL Central team gets. Can you name another NL team that could win with a $60 million payroll. Casey Stengel was a genius when he managed the Yankees, but became an idiot when he led the Mets. The Cards, Reds, Cubs, and Brewers sigh stars. Hurdle gets Lonnie Chisenhall.
In spite of everything, only Clarke, Murtaugh, and Leyland managed more Pirates wins.
Thanks, Clint
Nah, he wasn’t a terrible manager. Terrible teams for the most part.
It’s not good when you are old enough to remember Hurdle being a top prospect….and now see him retiring from coaching…..yeesh, that went fast
Good riddance to an angry old man.
You’re leaving?
For Hawaii with Clint Hurdle. We’ll roll around in the sand before heading to the bar.
For Hawaii with Clint Hurdle. We’ll play in the sand before heading to the bar. Want to join us?
Phillies Bob.Do you know Clint personally or are you just being a dirtbag?
This is like shooting fish in a barrel. It’s too easy to post some ridiculous non-sensical comment and get an angry reaction. Who cares about any of this? Some old guy decided to ride off peacefully into retirement. He’s an antenna stuck in a streaming world. I wish the man a happy retirement.
Sorry Bob.I cannot speak for Josh but when you said that Clint was an angry old man I took you seriously.
I will not make the same mistake again.
Good guy. Had a good run here. All the best.
Yankees won’t sign one free agent
Topical
It’s definitely not, but his comment is true. They won’t sign one. They’ll sign at least two.
Lol
Interesting , if stupid segue. What’s wrong. Yankees not mentioned for ten or so posts in a row?
Yankees bring back David wells
I think he actually retired in 2017.
No he was castrated in 2017 by the former GM. He retired after the all star break this year
He retired sometime during the 2017 season.David Freese said that there was no urgency to win in Spring training of 2018.
NH did not castrate the team.He followed the economic protocol of the owner.It was not totally dissimilar to other small market teams.God forbid any of them actually do make it to the WS.The TV ratings will plummet.
Sorry but shipping out your top hitter and top pitcher is castration
I figure you are saying McCutcheon and Cole when of course you know that they were made for financial reasons only and NH had to meet them.
So what you’re saying is he’s going to be managing the Padres in 2021?
During Player’s Weekend this season, he wore the nickname “Not Done Yet” on the back of his jersey.
Well, he’s done now! And he was managing in a very difficult situation. Some will claim that he was part of the problem. I don’t know. Regardless, best wishes to him.
I think that they all were part of the problem to various degrees.
Except Eckstein who I wish that they would sign to a contract for next year today.
Pirates ownership is the problem
Make Dusty say this next.
Hurdle’s old skool BS was simply wretched to sit through. Moron endangering players careers, go away and dont come back….
Strike six.See mfh530 comment above.
Moron wanted his pitchers to pitch inside like Bob.Gibson and Don Drysdale used to do.
Anyone who thinks 62 is “old” obviously didn’t see Pete Carroll running up and down the Seahawks sideline last night……
And I remember when Pete Carroll was one of the youngest coaches.
Still is.
DM – Pete Carroll Is the oldest coach in the NFL.
The Rockies made the playoffs in 2009.
But The Truth is that they were 18-28 when he was fired that year.
He should go to Hollywood and become an actor. He looks like he could be the next John Wayne.
Meet the next team USA wbc manager!
Why are the Yankees so cheap
Wish you well in the next chapter in your life Clint.
Thanks Clint. Enjoyed your career. Best of luck
March 20th 1978 SI cover. “ This years phenom” Clint Hurdle
After what he went through working for Bob Nutting, Clint Hurdle has earned a stress-free retirement. He will always be respected and appreciated in Pittsburgh.
Hurdle is a good guy who did well here but at some point had his hands tied behind his back. I give him credit for continually looking for answers or combinations within the trainwreck he was often provided and attempting to stay positive when all was crashing around him
I never saw his name mentioned regarding all the managerial openings so in other words MLB management retired him. He wasn’t the worse manager the Pirates had but he was no Danny Murtaugh but few are that good. Managing that bullpen this year would burn out anybody. Thanks Neal.
So he’s hanging up the man muumuu
Good…he’s a POS manager and person.
Doc-whereas you are only a POS person
Enjoy your retirement Clint
Is it spring training yet?
Can the Yankees make the world series I don’t think so with. Cashman in charge