John McLaren

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Lore & Background

McLaren was a catcher in the Houston Astros minor league system from 1970 to 1976 and later managed in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He became a major league coach with the Blue Jays in 1986 and has also coached in the majors with the Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Washington Nationals. He also served as a coach for the United States national team during the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He graduated from Westbury High School in Houston in 1970 and attended Blinn College, the University of St. Thomas, and Houston Baptist University. He was selected by the Houston Astros in the seventh round of the 1970 Major League Baseball draft and was assigned to the rookie-level Covington Astros. He led Western Carolinas League catchers in putouts and assists in 1971, and in 1973 at Columbus led Southern League catchers in fielding. His best offensive season came in 1975, when he batted .270 with 13 home runs and 57 runs batted in for the Iowa Oaks and Dubuque Packers. His playing career lasted through the 1976 season, having peaked at the triple-A level. He began his managerial career in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, managing several minor league affiliates between 1978 and 1985. He entered MLB as the Blue Jays’ third-base coach in 1986 and later served on coaching staffs for the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 2007, McLaren was named manager of the Seattle Mariners on July 2, 2007 following the resignation of Mike Hargrove. He managed the club through June 19, 2008, when he was fired. At the time of his firing, the Mariners possessed the worst record in baseball (25–47), despite a payroll in excess of $100 million. His firing followed the firing of general manager Bill Bavasi by three days. Jim Riggleman, the bench coach, replaced McLaren on an interim basis. McLaren spent the season as a scout in the Rays organization and in November 2009 was hired as the Washington Nationals' bench coach under manager Riggleman. He became interim manager of the Nationals on June 24, 2011, a day following Riggleman's resignation, and was ejected in his first game as interim manager against the Chicago White Sox; he was replaced with Davey Johnson for the remainder of the 2011 season after McLaren managed three games. McLaren subsequently resigned his coaching position and took a position a

In Their Own Story

On July 2, 2007, John McLaren assumed the role of Seattle Mariners manager, stepping in after Mike Hargrove resigned. He guided the team through the remainder of that season and into the early part of 2008. The pressure mounted as the team's record slipped, culminating in a 25–47 start to the 2008 campaign. This record stood as the worst in all of baseball at the time, creating an untenable situation despite the organization's financial commitment with a payroll over $100 million. The turning point arrived on June 19, 2008, when McLaren was fired. Just three days prior, general manager Bill Bavasi had also been let go, signaling a complete restructuring of the team's leadership. Jim Riggleman, who had served as the bench coach under McLaren, took over as interim manager to finish the season.

Reader's Guide

John McLaren is a baseball figure known for his long coaching and managing career in MLB and his current role managing the Poland national team and the Arabia Wolves. Key points: managed the Seattle Mariners from July 2, 2007 to June 19, 2008; served as interim manager of the Washington Nationals for three games in 2011; last MLB coaching role was with the 2017 Philadelphia Phillies.

Did You Know?

• McLaren was a catcher in the Houston Astros minor league system from 1970 to 1976.
• He was inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
• He managed the Seattle Mariners for parts of the 2007 to 2008 seasons.
• He was ejected in his first game as interim manager of the Washington Nationals.