Roy Hartsfield

Roy Thomas Hartsfield (October 25, 1925 – January 15, 2011) was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball; his MLB playing and managing careers each lasted three years. Hartsfield played his entire major league career with the Boston Braves from 1950 to 1952. He was then traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers for outfielder Andy Pafko.

Hartsfield spent the next 19 years in the Dodgers organization as a minor league player, manager and major league coach. In the latter role, he worked under Los Angeles skipper Walter Alston for three seasons.

He later left the Dodgers organization, and worked with the San Diego Padres organization.

In 1977, he became the first manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, helming the club for its first three seasons.

Playing career Hartsfield played with the Boston Braves between 1950 and 1952. In 265 career games, he had a .273 batting average,

Having lost over 100 games in each of his three years as manager, and having been very publicly criticized by the Toronto sports media for apparently having lost control of the team, Hartsfield was let go at the conclusion of the 1979 season and replaced by Bobby Mattick. "This year, we should win 10 more games on attitude alone", enthused pitcher Mark Lemongello about the managerial change. In fact, the team improved by 14 games that year.

This would be Hartsfield's only managerial job in Major League Baseball. His teams finished last in the American League East Division in each of his three seasons.

Later career Hartsfield managed in the Chicago Cubs organization in 1981, starting the season with the Triple-A Iowa Oaks and finishing with the Double-A Midland Cubs. Both teams ended up with losing records, as did the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 1983, which was Hartsfield's final management job.

Managerial record

Team Year Regular season PostseasonGamesWonLostWin %Finish Won Lost Win % ResultTOR 161 7th in AL East ————TOR 161 7th in AL East ————TOR 162 7th in AL East ————Total 484——

Death Hartsfield died of liver cancer at his daughter's home in Ball Ground, Georgia, on January 15, 2011, at 85.