Everybody can compete but not many people can go the distance and win it all, especially more than once. Some of the best ever retire without knowing what it’s like to become a champion but that’s just not the case with the MLB managers with most World Series wins.
These guys have proven to be capable of consistently leading a team to success. They’ve turned theirboys into perennial contenders, and more often than not, they’ve ended up winning the ultimate prize at the end of the season.
Considering how teams want to win it all right away nowadays, it’s unlikely that a coach will everclimb to the top of this list, as there’s just no patience to keep a manager around unless he delivers a World Series in a couple of seasons.
It takes more than just good players to win it all. These guys have proven it and today, we’ll honor them by letting you know about the 10 MLB managers with most World Series wins of all-time.
MLB Managers With Most World Series Wins
10. John McGraw- 3
John McGraw was often a controversial person during his days as a manager. In great Bill Belichick fashion, he had a strong temper and often bentthe rules in his favor. Also, like Belichick, he was one of the greatest masterminds his sport had ever seen.
McGraw first served asplayer-manager until getting the full-time coaching job. He worked for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants, leading them to 3World Series wins in 1905, 1921, and 1922. He’s 2nd all-time in wins with 2,763.
9. Tony La Russa- 3
Tony La Russa is one of the latest managers to make it to this list. He served as an MLB manager for 33 years after his playing career, working for theChicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals (until 2011).
La Russa is 3rd all-time in wins (2,728). He won the World Series in 1989 with the Athletics and later in 2006 and 2011 with the Cardinals. He retired on a high note, leaving the game right after winning the Commissioner’s Trophy, and being unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame.
8. Miller Huggins – 3
Miller Huggins was a pesky, savvy player with a great feel for getting on base. Even so, he didn’t find much success in his baseball career until he started coaching. He worked for the St. Louis Cardinals (1913-17) and the New York Yankees (1918-29).
He was a smart leader who never hesitated to make a bold move to keep his teams in contention. He was rational, not emotional, and that helped them lead the Yankees to 3 World Series titles in 1923, 1927, and 1928.
7. Bruce Bochy – 3
Bruce Bochy is the most recent addition to this list. He made a name for himself for turning the San Diego Padres into perennial contenders, leading them to their only 5 postseason appearances and to their lone World Series in franchise history.
He took it up a notch with the San Francisco Giants, taking them to 3 World Series titles in 6 seasons, so yeah, it didn’t take him that long to become one of the MLB managers with most World Series wins. He’s also the 11th manager to win 2,000+ games.
6. Sparky Anderson – 3
Sparky Anderson is yet another example of a subpar player who turned out to become a legendary manager. Anderson climbed his way out from managing Minor League teamsand got the nod with the Cincinnati Reds for 9 seasons, taking them to 2 World Series wins.
He was later called to put an end to the Detroit Tigers’ postseason woes and he succeeded, leading them to their first-ever World Series win. He won 2,194 games as a managerbefore retiring in 1995 out of ‘disillusion for the 1994 strike’. On an interesting note, he’s the lastAL manager to win a game by forfeit.
5. Joe Torre – 4
Joe Torre is the ultimate winner. He was a great player and went on to become a legendary manager. He’s given his life to the game and is currently serving as a special assistant to the commissioner.
The New York Yankees retired Torres’ number after he led them to 4 World Series titles (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000), as well as being named 2-time AL Manager of the Year. He also coached the Mets, Braves, Cardinals, and Dodgers.
4. Walter Alston – 4
Walter Alston is one of the greatest baseball masterminds of all time. He won 2,040 out of 3,658 games (.558 winning percentage) throughout his 22-year career with the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers.
Under his calm temper and great instincts, the Dodgers retired Alston’s number after he led them to 4 World Series wins (1955, 1959, 1963, and 1965). He was also named Manager of the Year 6-times.
3. Connie Mack – 5
No other manager in MLB history is going to top Connie Mack’s records. He coached7,679 games with3,731 wins, 3,948 losses, and managed the Philadelphia Athletics for 50 years (allrecords). He can also brag about being one of the MLB managers with most World Series wins.
Mack won 5 World Series with the Athletics (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930) despite being constantly forced to overhaul the team’s roster due to financial struggles. He was a pioneer in terms of players repositioning and was one of the best tacticians in the game.
2. Casey Stengel – 7
Casey Stengel was a great player but an even better manager. The New York Yankees retired his number 37 jersey after leading them to 7 World Series titles (1921, 1922, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, and 1958) in just 12 seasons in charge of the team.
He’s the only manager to ever win 5 straight World Series titles. Other than his tenure with the Yankees, however, he mightily struggled to lead his teams to success. Ironically, he was still a fan favorite because of his twisted sense of humor. His 1962 New York Mets hold the record for most losses in one season (120).
1. Joe McCarthy – 7
Joe McCarthy is perhaps the greatest MLB manager of all time. He’s the only manager to win AL and NL pennants, and even though he always had plenty of talents under his command, he was still great at developing talent and helping his players blossom and fulfill their potential.
McCarthy holds the highest winning percentage in both the regular season(.615) and postseason (.698). He’s also the Yankees’ (1,460) all-time leader in winsand led them to 7 World Series titles (1932, 1936, 1973, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943).