Grady Little Manager Born: March 30, 1950 (1950-03-30) (age 60) Batted: Right Threw: Right  MLB debut April 1, 2002 for the Boston Red Sox Last MLB appearance September 30, 2007 for the Los Angeles Dodgers Career statistics Games     626 Win-Loss Record     350-276 Winning %     .559 Teams Boston Red Sox (2002-2003) Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-2007) Career highlights and awards William Grady Little (born March 30, 1950) is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007. He was inducted into the Kinston, North Carolina, Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. Contents 1 Playing career 2 Coaching career 2.1 Minor Leagues 2.2 Boston Red Sox (2002–03) 2.3 Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–07) 3 Family 4 Managerial records 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Playing career He graduated from Garinger High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, before he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round of the 1968 MLB Draft.

After spending the 1969 season in the Marine reserves, Grady played in 167 games as a catcher over five minor-league seasons in the Braves and New York Yankees organizations. He posted a career .207 batting average with two homers and 37 RBI. He retired from playing in 1973. Coaching career Minor Leagues Little became a player–coach for the West Haven Yankees while still playing in 1971 and continued through his retirement as a player, remaining as a coach with West Haven until 1974. During the 1975–79 seasons he stayed away from baseball and worked as a cotton farmer. He managed in the minor leagues for 16 years, compiling a record of 1,054-903 (.539). The minor league teams he managed: 1980: Bluefield Orioles 1981–82,84: Hagerstown Suns 1983–84: Charlotte O's 1985: Kinston Blue Jays 1986–87: Pulaski Braves - league champs in 1986 1988: Burlington Braves 1988–1991: Durham Bulls 1992: Greenville Braves - League Champs, won minor league manager of the year 1992: Grand Canyon Rafters- In Arizona Fall League, inducted into AzFL's Hall of fame in 2006. 1993–1995: Richmond Braves - League Champs & International League Manager of the Year in 1994

From 1996 to 2001, Little served as a coach for the Padres, Red Sox, and Indians. 1 Boston Red Sox (2002–03) In March 2002, the Boston Red Sox hired Little as their manager. Little was enormously popular with his players as he enhanced the loose nature of the clubhouse and supported struggling players. His tenure was very successful, the Red Sox winning a combined 188 games in his two seasons and nearly taking the pennant in 2003. However, the 2003 season (and Little's entire tenure with the Red Sox) is mostly remembered for his controversial decision during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox led the game 5–2 in the 8th inning, and were five outs away from reaching the World Series. Little visited the mound after starting pitcher Pedro Martínez gave up three straight hits, and a run from Derek Jeter, but he decided against taking out the ace pitcher. The Yankees tied the game several at-bats later on a two-run double by Jorge Posada, and went on to win the game (and the pennant) in the 11th inning. Little was the target of great angst in the aftermath of the Red Sox' loss (which turned out to be the final manifestation of the so-called Curse of the Bambino). Critics pointed out that Martinez' ERA almost tripled when his pitch count exceeded 100, and the Red Sox had a well-rested Embree, Timlin, and Wiliamson in the bullpen waiting to take over in the eighth inning with a three run lead. In fact, the strong performance of the bullpen in relief of Martinez that day would seem to suggest that Little's decision was ultimately responsible for the Game 7 ALCS result. Supporters responded that Little's decision to trust Martinez was in keeping with his intuitive style that had brought the Red Sox that far in the first place. Nevertheless, the management made the determination that the Red Sox needed a change, and decided not to renew Little's contract, instead hired Terry Francona.

When Little's contract was not renewed by the Red Sox, the independent minor league Brockton Rox announced plans to give away Grady Little bobble arm dolls to the first 1,000 fans to attend the May 29, 2004 game. The doll's arm bounces to simulate a manager's call to the bullpen, displays the date October 16, 2003 (the date of Game 7 of the ALCS) and Little's win total from the 2002 and 2003 seasons. The plans were canceled when Little objected to his likeness being used. In an agreement with the Rox, Little permitted the dolls to be sold with the provision that the money raised from the sale would go "to the Professional Baseball Scouting Foundation, which provides relief to retired scouts in financial peril".234 The initial selling price was $38.36 (two times $19.18, 1918 being the last time the Red Sox won the World Series) but later auctions of autographed versions sold for as high as $255.5 Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–07) Little spent 2004 and 2005 as a consultant, instructor, and scout with the Chicago Cubs. On December 8, 2005, after an organizational shakeup that resulted in the dismissal of both manager Jim Tracy and GM Paul DePodesta, the Los Angeles Dodgers turned to Little to be the team's 7th manager since its 1958 move to L.A. As manager of the Dodgers, Little was reunited with several players from the 2002–03 Boston team, including pitcher Derek Lowe, third baseman Bill Mueller, and shortstop-turned-first baseman Nomar Garciaparra. Little and new GM Ned Colletti were widely credited for bringing a fresh outlook to a team that had been wracked by instability over the previous decade. The Dodgers won 88 games in 2006 and earned the NL wild-card spot in the playoffs during Little's first season; however, they were swept by the New York Mets in the NLDS. Plagued by injuries to several key players and fielding a lineup loaded with youngsters, the Dodgers failed to reach the playoffs in 2007.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti initially confirmed that Little would return as manager of the ballclub in 2008. However, Little appeared hesitant to do so after Colletti partly blamed him and his staff for the Dodgers' disappointing 2007 season. Little failed to contact Colletti for over two weeks. This resulted in Colletti entering into a tentative agreement with Joe Girardi, and when it fell through, negotiations with Joe Torre. Citing 'personal reasons', Little subsequently resigned on October 30, 2007.6 Family Little with his wife, Debi, have a son, Eric, and three grandchildren (Braden, Luke, and Jace). His brother Bryan Little is a former major league infielder. Managerial records Team Year Regular Season Post Season Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result BOS 2002 93 69 .574 2nd in AL East - - - - BOS 2003 95 67 .586 2nd in AL East 6 6 .500 Lost in ALCS LA 2006 88 74 .543 2nd in NL West 0 3 .000 Lost in NLDS LA 2007 82 80 .506 4th in NL West - - - - Total 385 290 .553 6 9 .400 See also List of Major League Baseball managers in 2006 List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007 References ^ http://beacon.mcla.edu/2002/03.14/s_littel_coach.htm ^ Rod Beaton (2004-07-12). "Bobbin'-arm doll immortalizes Little's non-call to bullpen". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/minors/2004-07-12-grady-little-bobble_x.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-02.  ^ Rod Beaton (2004-07-10). "GRADY LITTLE OK’S SALE OF HIS BOBBLE-ARM DOLL; PROCEEDS TO CHARITY". Brockton Rox Press Release. http://www.brocktonrox.com/therox/news/index.html?article_id=72. Retrieved 2007-11-02.  ^ Gordon Edes (2004-07-11). "These guys aren't half bad:Land of the dolls". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/07/11/these_guys_arent_half_bad?pg=2. Retrieved 2007-11-02.  ^ Gordon Edes (2004-08-24). "AUTOGRAPHED GRADY LITTLE BOBBLE-ARM DOLLS TO BE AUCTIONED ON EBAY". Brockton Rox Press Release. http://www.brocktonrox.com/therox/news/index.html?article_id=27. Retrieved 2007-11-02.  ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-brown103007&prov=yhoo&type=lgns External links Baseball-Reference.com - Major League managerial record Minor league managerial record Surviving Grady - Red Sox in the Aftermath of Grady Little  Links to related articles Sporting positions Preceded by J. R. Miner Bluefield Orioles manager 1980 Succeeded by Lance Nichols Preceded by First manager Hagerstown Suns manager 1981-1982 Succeeded by John Hart Preceded by John Hart Charlotte Orioles manager 1983-1984 Succeeded by Len Johnston Preceded by Mark Wiley Hagerstown Suns manager 1984 Succeeded by Len Johnston Preceded by Doug Ault Kinston Blue Jays manager 1985 Succeeded by Preceded by Craig Robinson Pulaski Braves manager 1986-1987 Succeeded by Cloyd Boyer Preceded by Buddy Bailey Durham Bulls manager 1988-1991 Succeeded by Leon Roberts Preceded by Chris Chambliss Greenville Braves manager 1992 Succeeded by Bruce Kimm Preceded by Tim Johnson Boston Red Sox bench coach 1997–1999 Succeeded by Buddy Bailey Preceded by Chris Chambliss Richmond Braves manager 1993-1995 Succeeded by Bill Dancy Preceded by Joe Kerrigan Boston Red Sox manager 2002–2003 Succeeded by Terry Francona Preceded by Jim Tracy Los Angeles Dodgers manager 2006–2007 Succeeded by Joe Torre v · d · eBoston Red Sox managers Boston Americans (1901–1907) J. Collins • C. Stahl • Young • Huff • Unglaub • McGuire Boston Red Sox (1908–present)

McGuire • Lake • Donovan • J. Stahl • Carrigan • Barry • Barrow • Duffy • Chance • Fohl • Carrigan • Wagner • S. Collins • McManus • Harris • Cronin • McCarthy • O'Neill • Boudreau • Higgins • York • Jurges • Baker • Higgins • Pesky • Herman • Runnels • D. Williams • Popowski • Kasko • Popowski • Johnson • Zimmer • Pesky • Houk • McNamara • Morgan • Hobson • Kennedy • J. Williams • Kerrigan • Little • Francona v · d · eBrooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers managers Brooklyn Atlantics (1884) Taylor Brooklyn Grays (1885–1887) Hackett • Byrne Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888–1890) McGunnigle Brooklyn Grooms (1891–1895) Ward • Foutz Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1896–1898) Foutz • Barnie • Ebbets • Griffin Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1910) Hanlon • Donovan • Lumley • Dahlen Brooklyn Dodgers (1911–1913) Dahlen Brooklyn Robins (1914–1931) Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers (1932–1957) Carey • Stengel • Grimes • Durocher • Sukeforth • Shotton • Durocher • Blades • Shotton • Dressen • Alston Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present) Alston • Lasorda • Russell • Hoffman • Johnson • Tracy • Little • Torre • Mattingly Persondata Name Little, Grady Alternative names Short description Date of birth 1950-03-30 Place of birth Date of death Place of death