Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 20, 1995 TAG: 9510200038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``I've had a bunch of people call me about tickets,'' Manuel said Thursday from his Cleveland suite. ``I've heard from family, other people I know from back in Virginia. I don't have any tickets.''
Welcome to the World Series, Charlie. The Indians' first Series appearance since 1954 is a first for Manuel, unless you count the three Series in another baseball world, Japan, where he played three seasons and won a Triple Crown.
Usually at this time of year, Manuel is home in southwest Roanoke County, working in his yard or playing golf, or he's putting his hitting knowledge to use with the Tribe's instructional league players. After 33 years in pro ball, the Buena Vista native doesn't mind spending another week in his season hotel home not far from Jacobs Field.
``I don't know how to explain the feeling,'' said Manuel, in his second year of his second stint as Cleveland's batting coach. ``I was happy just to get to the first step in the playoffs. The [American League championship] series with Seattle was bigger. This is bigger still. It's more fun. It's like, the more you play, the happier you get.''
Manuel has seen only one World Series as close as the one that starts Saturday night in Atlanta. In 1974, he spent the Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being a late-season call-up. However, the outfielder wasn't on the active roster.
His only postseason at-bat came in the ALCS with Minnesota in 1970. As a player, he toiled in 11 U.S. cities and two in Japan, beginning in Wytheville in the Appalachian League in 1963. As a coach and manager, he's worked in three others.
``It's taken a long time to get here,'' Manuel said. ``I'm going to really enjoy it.''
He should. The Indians were denied their first postseason trip in four decades when the strike ended last season in August, and the Tribe was the best-hitting club in the majors. This season, the Indians had the game's best record (100-44), and they led the bigs in hitting, homers and runs scored.
Six of Cleveland's every-day players batted .300 or better. Four ranked among the top 10 in AL hitting. Six Indians hit at least 15 home runs, including Albert Belle, the first player to hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in a season. Many of the players who took the Tribe to the top played for Manuel, a Class AAA manager from 1990-93.
Some see this as the first politically incorrect World Series matchup. Another view is that it's the ultimate validation of Manuel's expertise as a hitting instructor.
``I think a big part of the satisfaction of being here is just showing how I can do my job and help and teach other people,'' said Manuel, 51. ``We've accomplished something, and I feel like I've had a part in getting us here. It's the biggest milestone you can reach in baseball.''
Yes, bigger than being the first American to be named MVP in Japanese baseball. Bigger than his stellar season in 1967 at Wisconsin Rapids, where Manuel missed a Midwest League Triple Crown by only two homers. Bigger than three straight first-place finishes as a Triple A skipper.
``Everybody's talking about the pitching in this Series, and they should,'' Manuel said. ``But don't forget, there's a lot of power in both lineups, and the two ballparks are great hitting parks. The ball carries well both places. And I can promise you our hitting is no fluke.''
As he does with his pupils all season, Manuel plans to take batting practice with the Tribe at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium today. He hasn't hit there in two decades, since he left the Dodgers for Japan.
``It's a great place to hit, I do remember that,'' he said.
It's better swatting flies than tee shots in October, right?
``What's strange is that it seems so long since the [regular] season ended,'' Manuel said. ``It even seems a long time since we beat Boston [in the divisional series]. Every game, every pitch, every hit is so big now. What's another week or two?''
by CNB