Harrelson Wanted to Make Gene Mauch White Sox General Manager Last Winter

Gene Mauch is approaching his 25th season as a major league manager.

If Ken Harrelson had gotten his way, Mauch would now be in his first year as a general manager.

Harrelson, the Chicago White Sox’s flamboyant new vice president of baseball operations, called the Angels last November, seeking permission to talk with Mauch about the position of Chicago general manager, it was learned Wednesday.

Angel General Manager Mike Port said he rejected Harrelson’s request after determining that Mauch was satisfied where he was.

“Harrelson said something to the effect that he was trying to put together a front office and wondered if Gene had decided what he wanted to do (in ‘86),” Port said.

“Gene and I chatted about it, as I recall, but we already had things in place here, and Gene said he was happy where he was, that he wanted to stay on the field.”

Said Mauch: “I love Ken Harrelson. I’ve known him since he was a kid. But if I’d wanted to be a general manager I could have been one a couple times before--once six years ago and once three years ago.

“The way I look at that job, it’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The way I go about things I’d have been dead by now.”