Phillies fire Charlie Manuel, name Ryne Sandberg manager

The Philadelphia Phillies hired Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg as their manager on Friday after firing Charlie Manuel.

Manuel, 69, had managed the Phillies since 2005, a run that included five consecutive National League East championships and a World Series title in 2008.

The only managers who have served their current teams longer than Manuel are Mike Scioscia of the Angels and Ron Gardenhire of the Minnesota Twins, neither of whom is assured of returning next season.

Manuel, who also managed the Cleveland Indians from 2000 to 2002, has exactly 1,000 victories as a major league manager. He ranks 59th on the all-time list, behind the following active managers: Jim Leyland (1,747), Dusty Baker (1,650), Bruce Bochy (1,507), Davey Johnson (1,345), Scioscia (1,209), Buck Showalter (1,143) and Terry Francona (1,094).

Johnson is stepping down at the end of the season. Among the candidates rumored under consideration to replace him: Dodgers coach Tim Wallach and Arizona Diamondbacks coaches Jay Bell and Matt Williams.

Sandberg, 53, has been the Phillies’ bench coach this season after five seasons as a minor league manager. He was drafted by the Phillies in 1978 but spent all but six at-bats of his distinguished career with the Chicago Cubs. In 1982, the Phillies packaged Sandberg with shortstop Larry Bowa to get shortstop Ivan DeJesus from the Cubs.

The Phillies are on pace for their first losing season since 2002. They have lost 19 of their last 23 games and stand 53-67 before Friday’s game against the Dodgers.

Manuel, an outfielder in his playing days, closed his career as a pinch-hitter for the Dodgers in 1975. For his final major league hit, he batted for DeJesus and singled.

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