The Sacramento region has long been recognized as a hotbed for producing major league baseball talent. But what goes unrecognized is the success of those who have become major league managers. Sacramento’s “Magnificent Seven” – Dusty Baker, Jerry Manuel, Larry Bowam Johnny McNamara, Buck Martinez, Stan Hack and Jerry Royster – have combined for 50 years of managerial experience, 3,871 victories and six Manager of the Year awards. Seven managers who attended local high schools from one county is unfathomable and speaks volumes for Sacramento’s place in major league baseball history.  

Local connection: Del Campo High School 

Managerial record: 1,314-1,213 in 10 major league seasons. He never managed in the minor leagues. 

Teams: San Francisco Giants 1993-2002, Chicago Cubs 2003-06, Cincinnati Reds 2007-09. 

Awards: National League Manager of the Year in 1993, 1997, 2000. 

Best seasons: Baker won National League West Division titles with the Giants in 1997 (90-71) and 2000 (97-65). In 1993, the Giants (103-59) finished second to the Atlanta Braves. Baker won a N.L. East Division title with the Cubs in 2003 (88-74).  

Claim to fame: In addition to three Manager of the Year awards, Baker played 19 seasons with four different teams -- the Atlanta Braves (1968-75), Los Angeles Dodgers (1976-83), San Francisco Giants (1984) and Oakland A’s (1985-86). A 26th-round draft pick of the Braves in 1968 out of Del Campo High School, he played in 2,039 games, hit .278 with 242 home runs and 1,013 runs batted in and was an All-Star in 1981 and 1982, Silver Slugger award winner in 1980-1981, Gold Glove winner in 1981 and National League Championship Series MVP in 1977. He played in the 1977, 1978 and 1981 World Series – all against the New York Yankees – and earned a championship ring in 1981. He was traded twice in his career. On November 17, 1975, along with Ed Goodson, the Braves traded him to the Dodgers for Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek, Jerry Royster and Jimmy Wynn. The second time was on March 24, 1985, when the Giants sent him to the A’s for Dan Winters and Ed Puikunas.  

Where is he now? Baker is currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.  

Local connection: McClatchy High School, Sacramento City College  

Managerial record: 418-435 in six major league seasons and 80-62 in one minor league season. 

Teams: Las Vegas Stars (San Diego-AAA) 1986, San Diego Padres 1987-88, Philadelphia Phillies 2001-2004.  

Managerial awards: National League Manager of the Year in 2001.  

Best season: Bowa’s 2001 Phillies team was 86-76 and finished second in the N.L. East two games behind the Atlanta Braves. None of his clubs made the playoffs. 

Claim to fame: While at McClatchy High, Bowa went out for but never made the school's baseball team. According to former major league local scout Ronnie King, Bowa didn't get along with the coach at McClatchy and consequently failed to make the varsity team. . Bowa went to Sacramento City College and had an excellent season. He hoped to be drafted. The Phillies were interested in him and sent local scout Eddie Bockman to watch him play, only to see Bowa thrown out of the game for arguing. Bockman had a winter league team in the area and offered Bowa a chance to play. Bowa played well and signed with the Phillies for $2,000 and became one of the most decorated individuals from the Sacramento area, playing 16 seasons, the majority with the Phillies He was named an all-star five times, garnered a World Series ring in 1980, earned two Gold Gloves and led the N.L. in fielding percentage six times. He retired with the N.L. record for career games at shortstop (2222) and the major league records for fielding average in a career (9.80) and a single season (.991 in 1979). In between managing and coaching, Bowa served as an analyst for ESPN’s Baseball Tonight and co-hosted a baseball talk show on XM Radio. 

Where is he now? Bowa is currently the third-base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

STAN HACK                    Age: Deceased

Local connection: Sacramento High School 

Managerial record: 199-272 in four major league seasons and 472-516 in eight minor league seasons. 

Teams: Des Moines Bruins (Chicago Cubs-A) 1948-49, Springfield Cubs (Chicago Cubs-AAA) 1950, Los Angeles Angels (Chicago Cubs-AAA) 1951-1953, Chicago Cubs 1954-56, St. Louis Cardinals 1958, Denver Bears (no affiliation-AA) 1959, Salt Lake City Bees (Chicago Cubs-AAA) 1960. 

Managerial awards: None. 

Best seasons: Hack had four losing seasons with the Cubs and only managed 10 games for the Cardinals after being promoted from batting coach. 

Claim to fame: "Smiling Stan" had a 16-year playing career with the Cubs and was ranked No. 12 on the team’s Top 100 list. He was considered the N.L.'s top third baseman in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The left-handed leadoff hitter batted .301 lifetime, scored 100 runs seven times and led the league in hits and stolen bases twice. His 1,092 walks ranked fourth in N.L. history when he retired, and remains a franchise record. He also hit .348 over four World Series and his .394 career on-base percentage was the highest by a 20th-century third baseman until Wade Boggs exceeded it in the late 1980s, and was the top N.L. mark until 2001. Hack, who died December 15, 1979, led the N.L. in putouts five times, in double plays three times and in assists and fielding percentage twice. At the end of his career, he ranked second in major league history to Hall of Famer Pie Traynor in games (1836) at third base and second in N.L. history to Traynor in putouts (1,944), assists (3,494) and total chances (5,684) and third in double plays (255).  

What they said: “Hack came closest to an earthly manifestation of the ideal third baseman of the day. Tall, slender, handsome, confident - Hack was the idol of every sandlot urchin playing third base in a pair of torn knickers." - William Curran, author of a study on baseball fielding. 

Local connection: Christian Brothers High School 

Managerial record: 1,160-1,233 in 19 major league seasons and 647-631 in nine minor league seasons. 

Teams: Lewiston Broncs (Sacramento Solons-A) 1959-62, Binghamton Triplets (Kansas City A’s-AA) 1963, Dallas Rangers (KC-AAA) 1964, Birmingham Barons (KC-AA) 1965, Mobile A’s (KC-AA) 1966, Birmingham A’s (KC-AA) 1967, Oakland A’s 1969-70, San Diego Padres 1974-77, Cincinnati Reds 1979-82, California Angels 1983-84, 96, Boston Red Sox 1985-88, Cleveland Indians 1990-91.  

Managerial awards: American League Manager of the Year in 1986. 

Best seasons: In winning the pennant in 1986, McNamara compiled a 95-66 mark. He also won N.L. Divisional titles with the Reds in 1979 (90-71) and 1981 (66-42). He won a Northwest League title in 1961 (84-56) and Southern League titles in 1966 (88-52) and 1967 (84-55). 

Claim to fame: McNamara's managerial moves during the 1986 World Series are still questioned today. In the pivotal sixth game, McNamara removed Red Sox ace Roger Clemens in the eighth inning despite pitching well. Each man had different explanations regarding the situation. Clemens said he did not want to leave the game, but McNamara said Clemens wanted to be removed because of a blister on his pitching finger. McNamara was also criticized for pinch-hitting Clemens with rookie Mike Greenwell, who struck out on three pitches, when veteran slugger Don Baylor was available. However, the move McNamara will be most remembered for is leaving first baseman Bill Buckner in the game in the 10th inning rather than removing him for a defensive replacement. McNamara often replaced Buckner in late innings for defensive purposes. With two outs, a routine ground ball trickled through Buckner’s legs, allowing the go-head run to score. The Red Sox would lose the game 8-5 and the series 4-3. On a more positive note, McNamara led Sacramento City College to the California state championship in 1951. 

Where is he now? Retired and residing in Brentwood, Tenn. 

JERRY MANUEL            Age: 56

Local connection: Cordova High School 

Managerial record: 625-601 in eight major league seasons and 159-128 in two minor league seasons. 

Teams: Jacksonville Expos (Montreal-AA) 1990, Indianapolis Indians (Montreal-AAA) 1991, Chicago White Sox 1998-2003, New York Mets 2008-09.  

Managerial awards: American League Manager of the Year in 2000. Southern League Manager of the Year for Jacksonville in 1990 

Best season: Manuel’s White Sox won the A.L. Central in 2000 (95-67) behind five-time All-Star and two-time MVP Frank Thomas who hit .328 with 43 home runs and 143 runs batted in.  Despite the best record in the A.L., however, the White Sox were swept by the West Division runner-up Seattle Mariners in the best-of-five first-round series.  

Claim to fame: After graduating from Cordova High School in 1972, Manuel was selected with the 20^th pick overall of the June draft by the Detroit Tigers. The selection of Manuel, a shortstop, came eight picks after high school teammate and outfielder Mike Ondina was picked by the White Sox at No. 12. Manuel and Ondina became the first pair of high school teammates to be drafted in the first round of the Major League draft. The Sacramento-area had three first-round draft picks that year. McClatchy High School shortstop Joel Bishop went 16^th overall to the Boston Red Sox. 

Where is he now? Manuel is currently the New York Mets manager. 

BUCK MARTINEZ            Age: 61 

Local connection: Elk Grove High School, Sacramento City College 

Managerial record: 102-115 in two major league seasons. He never managed in the minor leagues.  

Team: Toronto Blue Jays 2001-02. 

Managerial awards: Named manager of Team USA for the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. The team went 3-3.  

Best season: In 2000, Martinez was hired as the Blue Jays manager. His energetic attitude was seen as the right fit for a young and talented team that through the first two months of the season outperformed expectations. The level of play tailed off the final four months of the season and the team finished 80-82. 

Claim to fame: While playing for the Blue Jays, Martinez's career took a frightening turn on July 9, 1985 in the Kingdom when he severely dislocated his ankle and broke his leg in a home plate collision with Phil Bradley of the Seattle Mariners. After the collision, he still had the presence of mind to throw the ball to third base in an attempt to get Gorman Thomas. When the throw went into left field, Thomas tried for home. However, he was tagged out by a sprawled-out Martinez, who caught the return throw from left-fielder George Bell, completing what is believed to be the only 9-2-7-2 double play in major league history.  

Where is he now: On December 10, 2009, Rogers Sportsnet announced that Martinez, who after 17 years as a player and two as a manager in the major leagues and a radio and television broadcasting career with the Baltimore Orioles, ESPN, TBS, EA Sports, XM Radio and others since 1987, would be the play-by-play announcer for the telecasts of Toronto Blue Jays games starting with the first game of the 2010 season.  

Local connection: Sacramento High School  

Managerial record: 53-94 in one major league season, 598-659 in 10 minor league seasons and 135-124 in two season in the Korea Baseball Organization. 

Teams: Kissimmee Dodgers (Los Angeles-R) 1989, Yakima Bears (Los Angeles-A) 1990, Vero Beach Dodgers (Los Angeles-A) 1991, San Antonio Missions (Los Angeles-AA), 1992, Memphis Chicks (San Diego-AA) 1995, Las  Vegas Stars (San Diego-AAA) 1996-98, Milwaukee Brewers 2002, Las Vegas 51s (Los Angeles-AAA), 2005-2006, Lotte Giants (KBO) 2008-09. 

Managerial awards: None. 

Best season: In 2008, Royster became the manager of the Lotte Giants, making him the first foreigner to take the helm of one of Korea's professional baseball clubs. The former major league coach and manager soon gained pop-star status. He led the Giants to a third-place finish with a 69-57 record and their first appearance in the playoffs in eight years. And, it’s difficult to miss the KBO playoffs because four of the eight teams in the league make the playoffs. 

Claim to fame: Though, Royster was a major league coach and manager and a manager and infield and base-running coordinator at the minor league levels, his greatest success came in 16 seasons as a player. He became the regular third baseman for the Atlanta Braves in 1976, earning Topps All-Star Rookie honors. He was a member of the Braves' 1982 N.L. West Division championship team and enjoyed his best big league campaign came in 1979, when he appeared in 154 games for the Braves and hit .273 with 25 doubles, 51 runs batted in, 103 runs scored and 35 stolen bases. He swiped 22 or more bases for five consecutive seasons from 1976-80.  

Where is he now? Royster is currently the manager of the Lotte Giants of Busan, South Korea of the KBO.