Former Longtime Pirates Manager Jim Leyland Inducted Into MLB Hall of Fame

After 18 seasons in the minor leagues and 22 seasons as a manager, Jim Leyland was inducted as part of the Class of 2024 into the Major League Hall of Fame.

Sunday, July 21st saw the addition of the newest faces to the Hall of Fame, with just four new additions this year. Among the four is former longtime Pirates manager Jim Leyland, who managed Pittsburgh from 1986-1996. The other new members consisted of Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, and Joe Mauer.

While managing the Pirates, Leyland won the Manager of the Year award twice in 1990 and 1992, finishing as runner-up in 1988 and 1991. Leyland brought Pittsburgh to the playoffs three years in a row from 1990-1992. Leyland would go on to coach the Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers in the second half of his career.

Leyland has worn his emotions on his sleeve his whole career and didn’t hold anything back at the induction ceremony according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck.

“As Leyland talked on the podium at Sunday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, chronicling his journey from an 18-year Minor Leaguer to a 22-year MLB manager, three-time Manager of the Year, three-time pennant winner, a World Series champion and now a Hall of Famer, there was no hiding his emotion,” Beck said. “Leyland’s voice briefly cracked when talking about the fans in Pittsburgh, his first Major League job, his team for half his career and his full-time home.”

After a storied career, both with the Pirates and elsewhere, Jim Leyland got the recognition he deserved when inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. He joins all of the biggest names to ever be involved with the game and will be forever known in the hallowed halls of baseball history.

More MLB: ESPN Name Paul Skenes Among Top Athletes Of Next Generation