Wednesday, November 03, 1999McKeon easy choice as AP's Manager of Year
The Associated PressNEW YORK — Jack McKeon, who came within a win of leading the Reds into the playoffs, was the overwhelming choice Tuesday for The Associated Press Manager of the Year award.
McKeon received 43 votes in nationwide balloting by writers and broadcasters. Jimy Williams, who led the Boston Red Sox to the AL wild-card berth and a first-round playoff upset of Cleveland, was second with 27.
“It's real nice to receive this kind of award,” said McKeon, who also has managed Kansas City, Oakland and San Diego. “A lot of it goes to the players. You're only as good as your players, and we had good players.”
Bobby Cox, who led the Atlanta Braves to their eighth straight NL Championship Series appearance, was third with 10 votes, followed by Oakland's Art Howe and Arizona's Buck Showalter (six each).
Cincinnati won 96 games, its highest total since the Big Red Machine in 1976, and lost the wild-card tiebreaker playoff to the Mets. McKeon, who turns 69 on Nov.23, set a laid-back tone that allowed the Reds to develop fast.
“They played hard. They had fun,” said McKeon, who received a one-year contract extension last week. “I just let them play. I might have been different in my early years. Later on, you realize no one playing the game wants to make a mistake. The only thing you can do is correct those mistakes as you go and let the players gain experience.”
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