Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 21, 1995 TAG: 9510230119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Medium
The Baltimore Orioles, who entered the season with pennant aspirations but finished below .500, fired manager Phil Regan and announced the resignation of general manager Roland Hemond on Friday.
The dismissal of Regan, who led the Orioles to a 71-73 record in his first year as a major-league manager, paves the way for the hiring of former Oriole Davey Johnson.
Johnson, who guided the Cincinnati Reds to the National League Central title this year, interviewed for the Baltimore opening last season. But the Orioles opted for Regan, whose managerial experience was limited to 10 seasons in the winter leagues.
Johnson was out of town for the weekend and could not be reached for comment.
``While the 1995 season was disappointing to our fans, the Orioles feel that Phil certainly gave his best and will be remembered with gratitude for his efforts on the club's behalf,'' owner Peter Angelos said in a statement. ``The Orioles continue to hold Phil in high personal and professional esteem. Despite the fact that Phil will not return to the Orioles in 1996, the terms of his contract will be fully complied with by the Orioles.''
Regan has one year left on the contract he signed last October. For the past three weeks he has been waiting at home in Michigan, eager to learn his fate, while Angelos interviewed applicants for a possible replacement.
In addition to Johnson, Angelos has spoken to Oakland Athletics manager Tony La Russa about the manager's job. Johnson is the front-runner for the opening, and an announcement is expected soon after the conclusion of the World Series.
The Orioles' new manager will inherit a team that features standouts Mike Mussina, Cal Ripken, Rafael Palmeiro and Bobby Bonilla. Despite that talent, Baltimore battled injuries and never made an impact in the AL East.
``I thank the Orioles for the opportunity to manage, and I am sorry we couldn't bring a championship to Baltimore,'' Regan said.
Regan, 58, came to the Orioles after spending one season as the Cleveland Indians' pitching coach.
Hemond, a three-time winner of major-league baseball's executive of the year award, spent eight seasons as the Orioles' general manager. He was one of the main forces behind the team's 321/2-game improvement in 1989, the third-greatest jump in major-league history.
But Baltimore had a dismal 1995 season despite carrying a payroll in excess of $40 million.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB