Ralph Houk
Ralph Houk was fortunate enough to take the helm of a New York Yankees team that marched into three straight World Series and won two before becoming general manager of the Yankees. Houk was also unfortunate enough to be witness to aging and deteriorating Yankees’ team that also included Houk’s return to the managerial hot seat after firing Johnny Keane. Houk resigned as Yankees manager in 1973 and quickly moved to a rebuilding project with the Tigers until retirement in 1978.
Houk’s Yankees roots ran deep being a backup catcher for eight seasons and collecting more rings than a marriage addicted Hollywood starlet. Houk’s nickname was “The Major” and it was well deserved with World War Two heroics and enough medals to wear down the physically intimidating Houk. After Zimmer, the Red Sox clubhouse needed a different style and Houk was just that. Just maybe “The Major” would treat the clubhouse like he did Omaha Beach on D-Day?
Houk, at age 61, came out of retirement and assumed the Red Sox hot seat for the strike-shortened 1981 season and stayed the course until 1984. The high watermark in the reign of Houk was an 89 win season in 1982 when Boston finished third in the American League East (89-73) with Houk retiring after the 1984 season with a .525 winning percentage (312-282). A failure? Let’s take a look at Houk and the motivation for the Tigers and Red Sox to place such high value on his leadership.
Houk took over a team that had defections via free agency and trades that had decimated the core of the great Red Sox teams of the previous five seasons. Rick Burleson, Carlton Fisk, and Fred Lynn were elsewhere, but Houk was needed for a rebuild – not a significant one, but necessary. A steady hand and veteran leader with an excellent record for the tutelage of young players. The Red Sox were also suffering the lingering stench of “The Buffalo Heads.” The Fenway asylum needed a combination of motivator, teacher, and disciplinarian. That summed up Houk as all three boxes were checked.
Houk’s reputation was centered upon a rather loosely defined baseball term of being a “player’s manager.” Houk was well-respected as a handler of men and one would expect nothing less from an honored combat veteran. Houk also was well noted for his quick temper and blunt style. Need proof? Houk rang up 45 ejections as a major league manager.
With the Tigers, Houk had taken a team that was old and when he left they were five years younger with a budding core of players that would be in the Tigers World Series in 1984. Houk was hired to carry out and begin the same formula with Boston and did exactly that.
Veteran guidance is important and Boston had excellent remnants remaining, but youth was on the way. Rich Gedman, Marty Barrett, Bruce Hurst, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens became – like the Tigers under Houk – an integral part of a series of great Red Sox teams of the 1980s.
The won and loss record is – at least to me – illusionary since Houk left the stage before all the actors played their part. Houk’s managerial record may not be outstanding but his development record with Boston is. Sometimes the honors go to those who are the beneficiaries of the patience and diligence of others.