Pirates Name Jim Leyland Manager

The Pittsburgh Pirates, hoping new ownership and management will pull them out of the red and out of the cellar in the National League East, named former Chicago White Sox coach Jim Leyland as their manager Wednesday.

Leyland, 40, who spent 11 seasons managing in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system before he joined the White Sox as third-base coach in 1982, became the 33rd man to manage the Pirates since they joined the National League in 1887.

He succeeded Chuck Tanner, who was fired in October by mutual agreement of both the old and incoming owners after nine years as the Pirates’ manager. Tanner subsequently was hired as manager of the Atlanta Braves.

“I’m no miracle worker; I’m a hard worker,” said Leyland, who was signed to a one-year contract. “My main concern is that at the end of the year, I can sit back and ask myself, ‘Did the Pittsburgh Pirates win as many games as we had the talent to win?’ If we did, I will be satisfied. Management may not be satisfied; the fans may not be satisfied, but I would be satisfied.”