Charles Fuqua Manuel Jr. is a former American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played parts of six MLB seasons for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Yakult Swallows and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Over four consecutive seasons in NPB, Manuel maintained a batting average of at least .312, hit at least 37 home runs each season, and won the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award in 1979.
1921: Giants Postseason Streak Begins
The New York Giants began a notable postseason streak in 1921.
January 4, 1944: Birth of Charlie Manuel
Charlie Manuel was born on January 4, 1944.
April 1963: Father's Death and Signing with the Twins
In April 1963, Charlie Manuel's father died by suicide. Following this, Manuel signed with the Minnesota Twins.
1964: Last American MVP
Charlie Manuel was the first American to win MVP since 1964.
1969: Major League Debut with the Twins
Charlie Manuel made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins in 1969.
1971: Pacific Coast League Leading Batter
In 1971, Charlie Manuel led the Pacific Coast League in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
1972: Final Season with the Twins
Charlie Manuel played his final season with the Minnesota Twins in 1972.
1974: Strong Season with the Albuquerque Dukes
Charlie Manuel had a strong season with the Albuquerque Dukes in 1974, batting .329 with 30 home runs and 102 RBIs.
1974: Start with the Dodgers
Charlie Manuel started playing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974.
1975: End of MLB Career
Charlie Manuel finished his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975.
1976: Ozark Manages 101 Wins
Danny Ozark managed the Phillies to 101 wins in 1976.
1977: Ozark Manages 101 Wins Again
Danny Ozark achieved another season of 101 wins with the Phillies in 1977.
1977: Success with the Yakult Swallows
In 1977, Charlie Manuel helped the Yakult Swallows achieve second place in the Central League.
1978: First Pennant and Japan Championship Series
In 1978, Charlie Manuel helped the Yakult Swallows win their first pennant and reach the Japan Championship Series.
June 19, 1979: Jaw Injury
On June 19, 1979, Charlie Manuel suffered a severe jaw injury after being hit by a pitch.
1979: Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award
In 1979, Charlie Manuel won the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award.
1981: Return to Yakult Swallows
Charlie Manuel returned to the Yakult Swallows in 1981.
1983: Begins Minor League Managing Career
In 1983, Charlie Manuel started his minor league managing career with the Minnesota Twins organization.
1984: First Manager of the Year Award
Charlie Manuel received his first Manager of the Year award in 1984.
1987: End of First Stint with Twins Organization
In 1987, Charlie Manuel concluded his first managing stint with the Twins' minor league system.
1988: Return to MLB as Hitting Coach
Charlie Manuel came back to Major League Baseball in 1988 as the hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians.
1989: First Stint with Indians as Hitting Coach Ends
In 1989, Charlie Manuel's initial period as hitting coach for the Indians came to an end.
1990: Begins Managing in the Indians Organization
Charlie Manuel began managing in the Cleveland Indians organization in 1990.
1991: Braves Postseason Streak
The Atlanta Braves had a notable postseason streak from 1991 to 1995 (excluding 1994).
1992: Winning the Pacific Coast League Championship
In 1992, Charlie Manuel led his team to the Pacific Coast League Championship.
1993: Minor League Championships and Awards
In 1993, Charlie Manuel won championships in the Pacific Coast League and International League. He was also named Manager of the Year and managed the IL All-Star team.
1994: Indians Lead AL in Runs and Home Runs
The Cleveland Indians, under Charlie Manuel's guidance as hitting coach, led the American League in runs and home runs in 1994.
1994: No Baseball Season
There was no baseball season in 1994 due to a players' strike.
1995: Indians Lead AL in Runs and Home Runs
In 1995, the Cleveland Indians, led by hitting coach Charlie Manuel, topped the American League in both runs scored and home runs.
1995: Braves Win Back-to-Back Pennants
The Atlanta Braves won back-to-back National League pennants in 1995 and 1996, a feat the Phillies emulated under Manuel's leadership in 2008 and 2009.
1995: Braves Postseason Streak Ends
The Braves' postseason streak ended in 1995.
1997: Manuel's Close Call
In 1997, Charlie Manuel experienced a close call as the manager of the Cleveland Indians, further fueling his desire for a World Series title.
1999: Indians Set Franchise Record for Runs
The Cleveland Indians set a franchise record for runs scored in 1999, exceeding 1,000 under Charlie Manuel's guidance.
2000: Becomes Indians Manager
Charlie Manuel became the manager of the Cleveland Indians in 2000.
2000: Strong Second Half Leads to 90-72 Record
Despite a slow start, Charlie Manuel led the Indians to a 90-72 finish in 2000 after a strong second half, narrowly missing the playoffs.
2001: Indians Win Central Division and Achieve Historic Comeback
In 2001, the Indians, under Charlie Manuel, won the Central Division and achieved a historic comeback against the Seattle Mariners, overcoming a 14-2 deficit.
July 11, 2002: Fired as Indians Manager
On July 11, 2002, Charlie Manuel was fired as manager of the Cleveland Indians due to a contract dispute.
2002: End of Tenure as Indians Manager
Charlie Manuel's time as manager of the Cleveland Indians ended in 2002.
2004: Hired as Phillies Manager
Charlie Manuel was hired as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004.
2005: Phillies Finish One Game Out of Wild Card
In 2005, the Philadelphia Phillies, under Charlie Manuel's management, finished just one game short of the Wild Card spot.
2005: Phillies' Slow Start
The Phillies had a slow start in 2005, continuing a trend from the previous seasons under Manuel.
2005: Phillies' Slow Start
The Phillies had a slow start in the 2005 season, opening with a 9-12 record. This was a recurring issue for the team in the early years of Manuel's tenure.
2006: Last Time Phillies Missed Postseason
2006 was the last time the Phillies missed the postseason before 2012.
2006: Phillies Finish Short of Playoffs
In 2006, the Phillies fell short of the playoffs, finishing three games behind the wild card spot. Despite missing the postseason, there were some positive developments for the team. Ryan Howard set a franchise record with 58 home runs, Chase Utley started in the All-Star game, and rookie pitcher Cole Hamels showed great promise.
2006: Phillies' Slow Start
The Phillies again started slowly in 2006, with a 6-10 record. This continued a pattern of slow starts under Manuel's leadership.
April 17, 2007: Manuel Questioned by Howard Eskin
On April 17, 2007, after the Phillies' 8-1 loss to the New York Mets, radio personality Howard Eskin publicly questioned Charlie Manuel's leadership during a post-game press conference. This incident highlighted the tension between Manuel and some members of the media.
2007: Phillies Win NL East, Swept in Playoffs
Despite battling injuries throughout the 2007 season, the Phillies won the National League East title in a dramatic finish, overtaking the collapsing Mets. However, their playoff run was short-lived as they were swept by the Colorado Rockies in the first round. Jimmy Rollins won the NL MVP award this season.
2007: Phillies' Slow Start
The Phillies started slow once again in 2007, similar to the previous seasons.
October 10, 2008: Manuel's Mother Dies
On October 10, 2008, Charlie Manuel's mother, June, passed away at the age of 87 after suffering a heart attack.
December 9, 2008: Manuel Signs Contract Extension
On December 9, 2008, Charlie Manuel signed a contract extension with the Phillies, securing his position as manager through the 2011 season.
2008: World Series Championship
Charlie Manuel managed the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008.
October 21, 2009: Phillies Reach Consecutive World Series
On October 21, 2009, the Phillies, led by Charlie Manuel, became the first team in franchise history to reach the World Series in consecutive years. Manuel's decision not to pitch Cliff Lee in Game 4 drew criticism, as the Phillies lost that game.
2009: National League Championship
In 2009, Charlie Manuel led the Philadelphia Phillies to win the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2010: Phillies Win Fourth Consecutive NL East Title
In 2010, the Phillies won their fourth consecutive NL East title, a remarkable achievement that solidified their dominance in the division. This also marked the first time the franchise finished a season with the best record in baseball.
September 2011: Phillies Clinch Fifth Straight NL East Title
In September 2011, the Phillies clinched their fifth consecutive NL East title, setting a new franchise record for the quickest postseason clinch. During this period, Manuel surpassed Gene Mauch to become the Phillies' all-time winningest manager.
2011: End of Contract Extension
2011 marked the end of Manuel's contract extension that he signed on December 9, 2008.
2012: Phillies Miss Postseason
In 2012, the Phillies finished with an 81-81 record, marking their first time missing the postseason since 2006.
2013: Manuel Fired by Phillies
Despite winning his 1,000th game as a manager on August 12, 2013, Charlie Manuel was fired by the Phillies on August 16, 2013, following a prolonged slump. His firing was met with sadness and gratitude from fans and players alike.
2014: Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame Induction
Charlie Manuel was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 2014.
2015: Marriage and Family Life
In 2015, Charlie Manuel married Melissa "Missy" Martin. He resided in Florida with his wife, two children (Chuck and Julie), three step-children (Collin, Hailey, and Allie), and five grandchildren.
August 13, 2019: Return to the Phillies as Hitting Coach
On August 13, 2019, Charlie Manuel returned to the Philadelphia Phillies as their hitting coach.
2019: Manuel Returns as Advisor
In 2019, Charlie Manuel returned to the Phillies organization as a senior advisor to the General Manager.
September 16, 2023: Stroke and Recovery
On September 16, 2023, Charlie Manuel suffered a stroke during surgery. He was subsequently released from the ICU two days later and tweeted his gratitude for the support he received and the care provided by the Lakeland (FL) Regional Health medical staff.