Ron Gardenhire, the former head coach of the Detroit Tigers, has passed away at the age of 67. Gardenhire’s career spanned several decades, during which he made significant contributions to Major League Baseball (MLB).
Born on October 24, 1957, in Butzbach, West Germany, Gardenhire was the son of a military family. He attended Okmulgee High School in Oklahoma and later played college baseball at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1979, he was drafted by the New York Mets in the sixth round of the MLB Draft. Gardenhire played as a shortstop for the Mets from 1981 to 1985, appearing in 285 games and achieving a .232 batting average. citeturn0search2
After retiring as a player, Gardenhire transitioned into coaching and management. He served as a coach for the Minnesota Twins from 1991 to 2001 and then as their manager from 2002 to 2014. During his tenure, he led the Twins to six division titles and was named the American League Manager of the Year in 2010. citeturn0search0
In 2018, Gardenhire became the manager of the Detroit Tigers. However, in September 2020, he announced his retirement due to health concerns. citeturn0search4
Following his retirement, Gardenhire remained active in the baseball community. In December 2024, he was honored with the Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award by the Minnesota Twins, recognizing his dedication to the sport and the organization. citeturn0search6
Gardenhire’s passing marks the end of a distinguished career in baseball. His leadership, dedication, and passion for the game have left an indelible mark on the sport and the many players and fans who admired him.
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