If you could have a beer and shoot the breeze with one MANAGER...
 

who would you choose and why?

Manager that I would like to have a beer with
 

Billy Martin wouldn't be a bad choice either....

That's a tough one, but I think I choose Stengel mainly because his playing and managing career spanned such a long time. He saw so much, and saw how the game and players changed over the years. My second choice would be Durocher because I 'd love to know if they stole the pitching signs that led up to the Shot heard 'round the world.

McGraw
 

Would like to see what he was really like as a person and manager.

I went with McGraw, as I feel like he might have had one of the greatest baseball minds the game has ever seen (not that the others were slouches by any stretch). I feel like I would love to pick his brain about strategy, and certainly about what it was like being with the Orioles in the 1890s, and then managing some of the finest ballplayers the National League has ever seen. Mathewson? Marquard? McGinnity? Ames? Hubbell? Ott? Meusel? Yes, please...

I think Casey would be incredible also, though I would worry about getting trapped in any Stengelese and just confusing myself in the process.

McGraw.
So I could ask him about Mathewson.
But Martin would be the most fun. My father was acountry and western musician in the 1960-80's. He would play in many clubs through the NY metropolitan area. Mantle and Martin were frequent visitors to a particular club where he played a lot. I was too young to be there most times, but dad did have great stories of both of them telling stories. Apparently, the liquor did loosen them both up quite a bit.

I went with McGraw, but I would love obviously love to pick the brain of all those guys!!

I'd have to go with the Old Professor, but it would be great to talk to Mack about the '29-'31 Athletics with Cochrane, Foxx, Simmons, and Grove.

How about Lou Piniella? I'd love to see what he's like when he's NOT managing a terrible baseball team.

Lasorda would be cool...

From your list, Stengel
 

but if I had my choice, Charlie Grimm

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Durocher would be my choice...
 

Hell, he was teammates with Babe & Lou during the roaring twenties.

In 1951 he led the Giants from 13.5 back on August 11th, to win the pennant, and when Bobby Thomsom hit "the shot heard round the world" Leo was in the third base coaching box!

Although he would lose the series in '51, the 1954 season finished on a much better note. The G-Men went up against the heavily favored Cleveland Indians, who had posted an AL record of 111-43 in the regular season. Durocher's Jints disposed of the Tribe in four straight as Mays' incredible catch in game one set the tone for the series,

He was married to a Hollywood Starlet and had his A-List celebs that he partied with. He also did multiple guest shots on TV shows during the '50's & 60's.

He could spin stories just on those topics alone and I wouldn't budge all night long. I wouldn't even speak. Just take it all in...

Before I even read the managers in the poll, I knew I was going with Mack. He could probably talk about any player from the 1880-s to the 50's. He could tell you about Cobb, a young Joe Jackson, and so on and so on.
Matt
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Mack
 

I picked Mack for the same reasons as MGHPro

McGraw for me so we could chat about that 04 Series that was not to be.

For those of you who voted for him, Connie Mack stated in his autobiography "My 66 Years in the Big Leagues" that he didn't drink alcohol, so the beer consumption would be one sided

http://www.philadelphiaathletics.org...ldmanbooze.jpg

Connie Mack- no beer..
 

Connie wouldn't drink beer with me?? Damn!! Hmmm..I think I will have to rethink my vote. Hopefully it's not too late........

"He was married to a Hollywood Starlet and had his A-List celebs that he partied with. He also did multiple guest shots on TV shows during the '50's & 60's."

Jimmy, who could forget Durocher's guest stint on the Munsters! An all time classic.

However, Connie was not in favor of banning beer sales at the ballpark, so there's something for you.

Connie Mack is out since he didn't drink. McGraw seems too serious, and Durocher would probably steal my wallet. That leaves Stengel and Martin. Since I once met Martin (I was too young then to drink a beer), I'm going with Stengel, who no doubt would have wonderful tales to tell ...

Ned Hanlon would be a pretty good choice too. Check out his 1894 Baltimore Orioles team. Four famous managers (including three HOF'ers): Wilbert Robinson, Hughie Jennings, John McGraw and Kid Gleason. Obviously this guy was a pretty inspirational manager. Then also Hall of Famers Joe Kelley and Dan Brouthers. What a team!