McNamara, Piniella to Manage

John McNamara and Lou Piniella became major league managers again Friday, McNamara with the Cleveland Indians and Piniella with the Cincinnati Reds.

McNamara, 57, got his sixth chance to manage a major league team when he was signed to a two-year contract, succeeding Doc Edwards, who was dismissed Sept. 12 as the Indians were on their way to finishing 73-89, sixth in the American League East and 16 games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.

McNamara, 57, was fired by the Boston Red Sox midway through the 1988 season.

The Reds signed Piniella to a three-year contract worth a reported annual salary of $350,000.

Piniella, 49, who spent the last 16 years with the New York Yankees as a player, coach, manager and general manager replaces Pete Rose, who was banned from baseball Aug. 24 for alleged gambling activities. Tommy Helms had been the interim manager.