Danny Ozark, former Phillies manager, dead at 85

[dbackjon]

Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark has died at his home in Florida. He was 85.

Team officials say Ozark died Thursday morning at his home in Vero Beach.

Ozark led the Phillies to three consecutive National League East titles in the late 1970s but fell short of the World Series each time. He became manager of the Phillies in 1973 and was named Associated Press Manager of the Year in 1976 after leading the Phillies to a 101-61 record.

Ozark had a 594-510 record in seven seasons in Philadelphia. A year after his departure the Phillies won their first World Series under manager Dallas Green.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns

[Marcus Garvey]

Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark has died at his home in Florida. He was 85.

Team officials say Ozark died Thursday morning at his home in Vero Beach.

Ozark led the Phillies to three consecutive National League East titles in the late 1970s but fell short of the World Series each time. He became manager of the Phillies in 1973 and was named Associated Press Manager of the Year in 1976 after leading the Phillies to a 101-61 record.

Ozark had a 594-510 record in seven seasons in Philadelphia. A year after his departure the Phillies won their first World Series under manager Dallas Green.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns

That's too bad.
Despite being one of the winningest managers in Phillies history, he was not well liked by fans. They blamed him for squandering the years '76-'79, which were arguably the most talented Phillies teams in their history.
He was the Phllies equivalent to Andy Reid.

[Ivytalk]

Ozark, like Charlie Manuel, was not a gifted speaker. Unlike Charlie, he never won a World Series (in fact, he never even got to a WS), and Phillies fans never forgot some of his mistakes, like not subbing Jerry Martin for Greg Luzinski for late-inning defense in that '78 Dodger playoff game. He was a good baseball man, though -- coached the Dodgers for years.

[BlueHen86]

Ozark, like Charlie Manuel, was not a gifted speaker. Unlike Charlie, he never won a World Series (in fact, he never even got to a WS), and Phillies fans never forgot some of his mistakes, like not subbing Jerry Martin for Greg Luzinski for late-inning defense in that '78 Dodger playoff game. He was a good baseball man, though -- coached the Dodgers for years.

A mistake that very likely cost them a trip to the World Series. (It was the 1977 playoffs by the way.)

RIP Danny Ozark.