June 4, 1932
John McNamara found himself in the unenviable position of following Sparky Anderson as the Reds skipper in 1979, but performed well, leading the team to a first-place, 90-win finish. The Reds finished with the best record in the National League West in 1981 as well, but failed to make the playoffs because of a questionable decision by the powers that be to ignore full-season records due to the strike. Prior to his stint in Cincinnati, McNamara managed in Oakland and San Diego; after leaving the Reds in 1982, he later managed the Angels, Red Sox, Indians, and Angels again.
The Writer's Journey 