Chuck LaMar

Charles G. "Chuck" LaMar (born 1956) was the first general manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise in American Major League Baseball, being hired July 19, 1995 — several months after the Tampa Bay franchise was awarded. It began play in the American League East Division in 1998.[1]

Biography

Early life

Chuck grew up in Houston, Texas,[2] where his father, Chuck, Sr., was a coach at Willow Creek Little League. He attended Madison High School where he was a three-sport captain. He played college baseball at Texas Christian University. After his senior year, LaMar taught and coached at St. Thomas Catholic High School in Houston. During this time, his high school-aged brother, Dan, was selected in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds.[2]

Early career

Larry Smith, former head coach at Texas Wesleyan University, tabbed LaMar to be his assistant coach when Smith took the head coaching job at Indiana University in the Big Ten Conference.[2] LaMar earned his master's degree in physical education from Indiana, then went on to become the head coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.[2]

Cincinnati Reds

In 1985, Lamar left to become a full-time scout with the Cincinnati Reds.[2] LaMar signed the first working agreement between a Mexico and America professional baseball team.

Pittsburgh Pirates

From the Reds, LaMar became the director of minor league operations with the Pittsburgh Pirates, holding the position between 1989-1990.[2] From 1990-1992, the Pirates won three National League East Division titles.[3]

Atlanta Braves

In 1991, LaMar moved to the Atlanta Braves and served as director of player development and scouting (through 1993),[2] with the team winning its division in both seasons.[4] He then served as assistant general manager and director of player personnel (1994-95),[2] working with General manager John Schuerholz during one of the most successful periods in Braves' history, as the club won the 1995 World Series.[4]

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

During the eight seasons (1998–2005)[2] when LaMar oversaw the Devil Rays franchise, the expansion team compiled a 518–777 (.400) record and only once won more than 70 games (2004).[5]

LaMar's tenure was characterized by moves such as trading Bobby Abreu and Dmitri Young while receiving Kevin Stocker and Mike Kelly in return. Those trades proved to be failures, as Abreu and Young went on to have successful careers. He was also responsible for signing Juan Guzmán, Wilson Alvarez, Wade Boggs, Roberto Hernández, and trading for Fred McGriff.[2]

LaMar was fired on October 6, 2005 by incoming owner Stuart Sternberg.[6]

Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies

Lamar spent the 2007 season with the Washington Nationals as special assistant to the general manager and national crosschecker.[7]

In October 2007, LaMar was appointed director of professional scouting by the Philadelphia Phillies, later promoted to assistant general manager of player development & scouting in November 2008.[8] On September 6, 2011, Lamar resigned from the Phillies.

Toronto Blue Jays

On November 4, 2011, it was announced that LaMar would be joining the Toronto Blue Jays as a special assistant for amateur scouting.[9]

Personal life

LaMar resides in Rockport, Texas and is married with a son and two daughters.[2]

LaMar has stated many times that his hero is Ted Williams.

In February 2007 Deadspin guest columnist R.J. Anderson announced LaMaritis; a book about the LaMar reign as GM of the Tampa Ray Devil Rays.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Rays Timeline Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite at rays.mlb.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite 11/30/09
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Chuck LaMar Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite at rays.mlb.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite 11/30/09
  3. ↑ Pittsburgh Pirates Team History & Encyclopedia at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite 11/30/09
  4. 1 2 Atlanta Braves Team History & Encyclopedia at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite 11/30/09
  5. ↑ Tampa Bay Rays Team History & Encyclopedia Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite 11/30/09
  6. ↑ Sternberg takes over Rays, fires GM LaMar at espn.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite 11/30/09
  7. ↑ Nationals bolster scouting department at mlb.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 11/30/09
  8. ↑ Now With the Phillies, an Ex-General Manager Left His Mark on the Rays by Tyler Kepner at nytimes.com, URL accessed November 30, 2009. Archived 11/30/09
  9. ↑ Blue Jays hire LaMar as special assistant at mlb.com, URL accessed November 8, 2011. Archived 11/08/11
  10. ↑ Baseball Season Preview: Tampa Bay Devil Rays at deadspin.com Archived 2009-12-01 at WebCite 11/30/09
Sporting positions
Preceded by
first general manager		 Tampa Bay Devil Rays General Manager
1995–2005 		Succeeded by
Andrew Friedman
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