The Managers 1980-1986
When Gene Mauch resigned in the middle of the 1980 season, the Twins named Johnny 
Goryl as his successor. Goryl was a utility player for the Cubs from 1957-1959, and for the Twins from 1962-1964. His best season as a player came in 1963 when, in 64 games, he batted .287/.353/.540 with nine home runs. Despite those numbers he only appeared in 58 games in 1964, his final major league season. Goryl stuck around the organization as a minor league player and eventually a minor league manager until he was named interim manager of the Twins. When he took over, the team was in sixth place. A 23-13 finish under Goryl vaulted the Twins to a third place finish, but an 11-25 start to the 1981 season ended Goryl’s time as “interim” manager with a 34-38 overall record. Goryl went on to coach in the Indians organization, and currently works with the Indians farm system.
Billy Gardner was the third base coach under Goryl, and was promoted to manager when Goryl was fired early in the 1981 season. Gardner was a journeyman second baseman who had his best years as a player in Baltimore from 1956-1959. He joined the Senators in
1960 and was a part of the lineup in the very first game for the Minnesota Twins before he was traded to the Yankees later that season. Gardner did some coaching for the Red Sox and the Expos before he landed with the Twins in 1981. The Gardner years were, for the most part, rebuilding years for the Twins, who were .500 or below in every season Gardner managed. The team showed some life in 1984, but faded with some famous melt-downs in the last week of the season to finish 81-81. Gardner was criticized for being too conservative in his approach on the field, and it was likely what got him fired after a 27-35 start in 1985. Gardner’s legacy for many is the 1984 season, where the seeds were sown for later success; and his affinity for Super 8 motels, where all of the coaches stayed during his tenure as manager. He was 268-353 as manager for the Twins.
The Twins went outside of the organization to find Gardner’s replacement, and named Ray Miller as the new manager on June 21, 1985. Miller was a hot prospect for a manager 
position based on his success as Baltimore pitching coach in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Miller’s short time as Twins manager proved that he was not a miracle worker, as the teams poor pitching had the highest ERA in the league under his watch. The end of Miller’s time in Minnesota may have been expedited by some of the comments he made late in the 1986 season, generally blaming the team’s lack of talent on offense as the biggest factor in the Twins’ struggles. Miller was fired on September 12, and left Minnesota with a 109-130 record as manager.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:04 am
I’m enjoying the manager series. Truly, the Twins have been blessed by not having a revolving door in the supervisory on-field personnel department.
Bill Rigney, covered earlier, kinda stepped into a good thing when Billy Martin wasn’t rehired. He had a winning team, and actually that was his only glory day as a manager before retreating back into his old ways.
I never cared for Gene Mauch and could never figure why he was always “with job.” He seemed to promise winning ways and was quick to play the blame game when he didn’t. I still like the comment Mike Marshall made about Gene being anti-union, but was more than happy to accept his player’s association check each season for fees from the card, bat and ball companies.
Calvin Griffith was known for staying in the organization and giving guys a chance, when he felt they were deserving. Frank Quilici followed Cal Ermer as the “company man” and I really can’t tell you what he did to get the managerial job, but he did keep an even keel and the players seemed to enjoy the clubhouse. Frank also stayed in radio with the Twins, and still resides in the cities and is an active booster of the team and the community.
John Goryl was the wizened veteran who got his chance to manage, but is probably best at what he is doing…coaching and working with minor league guys. That he was basically a stopgap is unfortuante.
Especially when he was followed by the Billy Gardner era. Talk about getting a team in need of rebuilding and watching the pieces come together, albeit slowly. Yes, Billy is best rememebred for staying at the Super 8 (”they even brought in a fridge for me”) when the team was home, and returning each winter to his job in the meat packing plant, I believe. Ah, back when ballplayers actually had to work for a living at soemthing other than sport (preparing for life after baseball…another career, perhaps).
Was Ray Miller all charts and graphs (wasn’t he one of the first). He may have worked wonders with the Orioles pitching staff, but I think he was looking at too quick of a fix with the Twins, plus he inherited a staff that was ill-prepared to really focus on the fundamentals…or re-learn pitching the Miller way. More personality conflicts with the mounting frustration of needing to post a winner after years of development h-e-l-l. Miller did go abck to coaching and succeeded, still, with his ways. And he’s one of the more friendly guys for us autograph collectors.
Coming next will be Tom Kelly. Someone wondered who influenced Tom Kelly as a manager. Hopefully, an answer. But I like the fact that Tom did believe that anyone could play professional ball if they used their skills, paid attention to the fundamentals and played as a team. You may not always win bigtime, but there’s only so many people that can win.
Good job!
May 16th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Joel- I appreciate your insights into the managers. It adds a lot to the series.