Hal Lanier Named Astro Manager, Promises an Aggressive Style of Play

Hal Lanier, a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals for the past 10 seasons, has been named manager of the Houston Astros, General Manager Dick Wagner said Tuesday.

Lanier replaces Bob Lillis, who was fired Oct. 7 after the Astros finished in third place in the National League Western Division last season.

Lanier said he signed a two-year contract with the Astros and also announced he expected former New York Yankee manager Yogi Berra to become an Astro coach.

“I like the club that I’ve seen so far,” Lanier said. “I am a very aggressive manager. I see us doing more running. I like to put people in motion and make the defense come up with a lot of mistakes.”

Lanier said he saw no obstacles in obtaining Berra’s services. Wagner said Berra is still under contract with the Yankees, but the Astros expect to receive permission within two days to talk with him.

Lanier ended his major league playing career with the New York Yankees in 1973, signed as a free agent with the Cardinals and was a player-coach until after the 1975 season.

Beginning in 1976, Lanier served five years as a minor league manager in the Cardinal farm system and managed St. Petersburg to a third-place finish in the Florida State League. In 1977, his Gastonia team won the Carolina League championship.

In 1979, Lanier led the American Assn. Springfield, Ill., team to a second-place finish and in 1980, Springfield won the title.

Lanier joined the Cardinals’ major league staff in 1981 as a coach and was a third base coach with the Cardinals’ in the 1985 World Series against Kansas City.

Lanier, the son of former Cardinal pitcher Max Lanier, signed his first pro contract in 1961 with the San Francisco Giants. He reached the major leagues in 1964 as a second baseman but primarily played shortstop for the Giants.

In replacing Lillis, Lanier becomes the ninth manager in Astro history. Lillis took over Aug. 10, 1982 after Bill Virdon was fired.