Area Native Buck Showalter Provides Further Pride With MLB Manager Of Year Award

Area native and former resident Buck Showalter (center) with Blue Wahos president Jonathan Griffith, far left, team owner Quint Studer, Hall of Famer Don Sutton, and former executive president Bruce Baldwin during 2015 City of Champions baseball gala at the Pensacola Bay Center. (Photo courtesy of Pensacola News Journal)

By Bill Vilona, Senior Writer

October 31, 2022

While honored seven years ago in Pensacola at an event celebrating the community’s baseball legacy, Buck Showalter expressed humility and pride for his area roots. "I am lot more proud of y'all, than you are of me, trust me," Showalter said that night at the Pensacola Bay Center during the

While honored seven years ago in Pensacola at an event celebrating the community’s baseball legacy, Buck Showalter expressed humility and pride for his area roots.

"I am lot more proud of y'all, than you are of me, trust me," Showalter said that night at the Pensacola Bay Center during the “City of Champions” banquet gala. "It is with a great deal of passion that I tell people where I am from.”

His success continues to produce community pride.

Showalter, a DeFuniak Springs native and Century High graduate, who has become one of the area’s most famous sports figures, was recently named The Sporting News National League Manager of the Year for the fourth time in his decorated career. In his first season as New York Mets manager, he guided the team to a 101-61 record – the Mets’ first season with 100-or-more wins since 1988.

The Mets finished tied for first in the NL East before losing a best-of-three wild card playoff series against the San Diego Padres. But their win total was the second-most in franchise history and far exceeded a 77-win season in 2021 before Showalter arrived.

The honor put him in exclusive company as one of just three managers to have won the Sporting News honor at least four times. The other two are Bobby Cox and Jim Leyland. The Sporting News chooses its manager of year award, based upon a survey of MLB players, managers and executives.

Showalter, 66, has won this award, incredibly, while managing four different teams, beginning with the New York Yankees in 1994, then Texas Rangers (2004), then Baltimore Orioles (2012). He was also manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the franchise’s startup years in 1998 and set the stage for the Diamondbacks winning the World Series in 2001.

Buck Showalter is greeted by the late Don Sutton, when the Hall of Fame pitcher and Showalter were together on stage at the Pensacola Bay Center during the 2015 City of Champions event honoring the community's baseball legacy.Photo courtesy of Pensacola News Journal

Showalter’s family moved from DeFuniak Springs during his early years. He grew up in Century where his father was principal at Century High, which is now Northview High. Showalter helped Century win a state championship before moving on to Chipola College in Marianna where he played two years before transferring to Mississippi State to finish his collegiate career.

For many years Showalter maintained a home in Pensacola, including while he was Yankees manager. He has kept a strong affinity for the Pensacola area. He has kept in touch with people in the area, including Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer.

"Don't stop making this (Pensacola area) the place that it is,” Showalter said that night in 2015. “This is a special place. I just hope to come back again."

Showalter will be considered a strong candidate for two other manager of the year awards. Baseball America and the Baseball Writers Association of America both choose a manager of year in early December to be awarded during MLB Winter Meetings on Dec. 4-11 in San Diego. The one awarded by the BWAA is considered the recognized one by MLB.