A true company man....long time Giant farm system skipper elevated to the big club....ironically grew up near the Polo Grounds and was part of NY devoted population....spent much of his early career in the late 40’s and 50’s being player/manager for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northern League...future stars Willie Kirkland, Leon Wagner, and Orlando Cepeda passed along the way....In the 60’s moved to the Giant’s scouting corps, managing Arizona Winter League in the Phoenix area and third base coaching with Giants....managed at AAA level in Tacoma 1964 and Phoenix 1969....brought in to an underachieving and floundering SF Giant team in 1970....at the time was four games under .500....produced a squad finishing 10 games above .500....follows up in 1971 with a hard fought West Division pennant and a first time birth in the NLCS....took home Sporting News Manager of the year award....it came crashing down however as 1972 uncovered an aging, often injured roster....subsequent years brought on see-saw results....dismissed mid season 1974....was able to resurface twice in MLB as an interim managers..... also rans Montreal (1976) and Chicago Cubs (1983).....hence served in various baseball capacities from scout to all the way up to Expos GM....As a player at the very start of career was able to make the NY Giants for 3 games in 1942....further time in a MLB uniform was blocked by catcher Wes Westrum who would be eventually be a Giant coach under Fox....known as an easygoing manager by players....recalled as having a talent for storytelling aided by a light Irish wit....passed away 2004 at age 82.
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