CPN member becomes 38th skipper in Bucs history

Russell named Pirates manager

By Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

   (John Russell dons a Pirates uniform top at the news colnference at which he was introduced as the Bucs' new manager.)

PITTSBURGH -- Introduced on Monday, November 5 as the next manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Citizen Potawatomi Nation member John Russell joked that the Peoria, Arizona grocery store where he and his wife, Jamie, stood the previous Friday when he received a call from Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington offering him the job,will never be the same. "We just got excited," Russell explained. "Some people turned their heads. My wife was a little vocal screaming, and I was pacing."

The grocery store may never be the same, and neither will Russell. Ultimately, he hopes, neither will the culture and the disappointing results that have been hallmarks of the Pirates for so long. Speaking to reporters at PNC Park, Russell, 46, used the words "accountability," "discipline," "pride," and "passion." Those are adjectives he believes will be attached to the club moving forward. They are words Huntington believe already describe the man he brought in to replace Jim Tracy.

"It's being a tireless instructor, being a tireless communicator," Huntington said, expounding on his expectations for Russell. "It's instilling pride back and expecting it to be done the right way. It's holding the staff accountable and the players accountable."

The new Pirates manager is the son of Delores Russell of Camargo, Oklahoma. His great-grandfather was Arthur G. Higbee and his grandfather was Verl P. Higbee. His siblings are David Michael (Mike) Russell of Dallas, Texas and Dr. D’Anne Stephens of Hurst, Texas.

Throughout much of Huntington's month-long search process, speculation strongly suggested that he would look to name someone to the managerial post with whom he had a previous professional tie. Though Russell didn't fit that criterion, Huntington said that he was indeed on his initial list of candidates. As the process lengthened throughout October, Huntington became more convinced that Russell's vision better aligned with his own. In naming Russell the club's next manager, Huntington made his first major announcement since becoming GM near the end of the season.

"I've never worked with John before and I've never had a relationship with John before, but because of how he has managed before, I wanted to do more research on [him]," Huntington said. "It wasn't a guy I had a preexisting relationship with, but it's a guy who I had a preexisting respect for."

While the hire was ultimately a decision made by Huntington, Pirates president Frank Coonelly used his network around baseball to also assist in the process of gathering information on potential candidates. What he saw in Russell confirmed Huntington's initial assessment and convinced Coonelly that Russell Is the one needed to turn the organizations' on-field results around. "I think it became more evident to me that we needed to get someone here that had previous managerial experience," Coonelly said. "It wasn't necessarily someone who has done it at the Major League level, but has actually managed a club and written out a lineup card. I think it's important that John has done it and has done it for a long time."

Not only has Russell done so for many years, but he has also done so in numerous different capacities. He has managed from rookie ball up to Triple-A, as well as in both the Arizona Fall League and in Venezuela.

Russell's return to Pittsburgh is a homecoming of sorts, after he spent three years as a Pirates third-base coach under manager Lloyd McClendon. Before that, however, the 46-year-old Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native spent the majority of his post-playing days as a manger. His last two years were spent managing the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, which included a season in which Russell earned International League Manager of the Year honors in 2006 for guiding the team to the International League North title.

Russell, who also served as the manager in the International League All-Star game in 2007, managed an Ottawa club last season that finished last in the standings; however, their 55-88 record should not be viewed with much concern. "[Phillies owner] Dave [Montgomery] said he was named manager of the year in 2006 because we won the division, but that, though the record was poor, (Russell) did an even better job in 2007," Coonelly said. "[The Phillies] gave him absolutely no talent whatsoever, yet John continued to work with those players through the entire season."

Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Russell spent eight seasons managing in the Minnesota Twins' Minor League system, during which he earned Baseball America's nod as the 2002 Minor League Manager of the Year and Best Managerial Prospect. The baseball publication had also named Russell the Eastern League's Best Managerial Prospect four seasons earlier.

Russell put together a 10-year playing career after joining the Phillies in 1984. After five years with Philadelphia, he spent one season with Atlanta before finishing his career in a Rangers uniform. Though his primary duties were behind the plate, Russell played six different positions during his time in the Majors, which included making one relief-pitching appearance. He also holds the distinction of having caught Nolan Ryan's sixth no-hitter.

Now back in Pittsburgh, Russell is charged with the task of doing something that the Pirates' last three managers -- Gene Lamont, McClendon, and Tracy -- couldn't do: have a winning season. He replaces Tracy, who was fired on October 5, after the Pirates improved their 67-95 showing in 2006 by just one game. And he has also been handed the immediate task of helping the club avoid a 16th consecutive losing record.

Inheriting a relatively young team, Russell arrives with a successful record as an instructor, as a communicator, and as one very in-tune with details. While Tracy often took a more hands-off managerial approach during his two years as the helm, Russell is expected to be a strong clubhouse presence, and most importantly, a teacher. "It was really his passion for the game and his passion for teaching," Coonelly said. "I could see immediately that John could accept accountability for how his players were playing. And I think it's fair to say that that's something that we haven't always seen in Pittsburgh the last couple of years."

While it's too early for Russell to have specific groundwork in place as to what is going to change, both on and off the field, Russell knows where he is going to start. "Accountability to me is the backbone of what we're going to have to do on the field," he said. "Great players that I have been around are accountable for what they do. They are hard workers. That's what we're going to do. If the program runs true and the players do it, then we'll get better."

Asked how soon this team -- and Pittsburgh -- can expect a winning team on the field, Russell never hesitated. "April," he confidently answered. "That's my goal. We're going to compete. I know people are going to look at me like, 'This guy's stupid,' but that's my goal. If I had any other thought in my mind, then I don't deserve this job."

Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com.