Manny Acta

Coaching career

Acta began his coaching career in 1991 as a player-coach at the A level, then quit playing to focus entirely on coaching. He managed the A-level Auburn Astros in Auburn, New York in 1993 and continued managing in the minors through 2000, leading the Kissimmee Cobras to a Florida State League championship in 1999. In 2002, he was hired as the third base coach for the Montreal Expos under Frank Robinson, a position he held through 2005. In 2005, Acta became the third base coach for the New York Mets under manager Willie Randolph, staying for two years before leaving to manage the Washington Nationals.

On November 9, 2015, he was hired as the third base coach for the Seattle Mariners under new manager Scott Servais for the 2016 season, becoming the first person issued uniform number 14 since Lou Piniella left the team after the 2002 season. On November 26, 2024, Acta became the bench coach for the Mariners.

Managerial career

Acta was hired as manager of the Washington Nationals on November 14, 2006, returning to the franchise that gave him his first major league job (the Nationals were the Expos before relocating after the 2004 season). He got the job for his youth and enthusiasm, as well as knowing some Nationals players from his time as third base coach with the Expos. In his first season, the Nationals finished 73–89 despite many injuries, and he earned votes for NL Manager of the Year, finishing fifth.

His second season saw the team's record worsen to 59–102. In his third season, with the club at 26–61 and coming off a 100-loss season, Acta was fired on July 12, 2009, after a loss to the Houston Astros; the Nationals confirmed the dismissal the next day, and bench coach Jim Riggleman took over as interim manager. On October 25, 2009, the Cleveland Indians hired Acta as their manager, signing him to a three-year contract with an option for an additional year; the Astros had also offered him their managerial position.

The Indians went 69–93 in his first year, then improved to 80–82 in his second season, finishing second in the division. On September 29, 2011, the Indians exercised his option for the 2013 season. After a 20–51 record in the second half of the 2012 season, the Indians fired Acta on September 27, 2012 with six games remaining; bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. was named interim manager. Acta also served as interim manager for two games in May 2018 for the Mariners while regular manager Scott Servais attended his daughter's college graduation.

Personal life

Acta comes from a family of Lebanese descent that settled in San Pedro de Macorís a century ago. On October 11, 2006, the plane crash that killed New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his pilot crashed into Acta's apartment building in New York while he was still coaching for the Mets; Acta was not there because he had gone to Shea Stadium to prepare for that night's Game 1 of the NLCS between the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. His ImpACTA Kids Foundation has raised awareness and donations to provide children with opportunities to achieve their dreams, awarding $5,000 in college scholarships in the United States and nearing completion of an athletic/education youth complex in Consuelo, Dominican Republic as of 2010.