Tigers Manager Gardenhire Retires; Detroit Rallies for Win in Tribute

DETROIT (WHTC-AM/FM) – Ron Gardenhire has called time on his managerial career.

In a surprise move before Saturday night’s scheduled home game against the Cleveland Indians, the 62-year-old field leader of the Detroit Tigers announced his retirement, effective immediately. In a press briefing, Gardenhire said that he is stepping down for health reasons, saying to reporters, “The way I’ve been feeling since I had that bout of food poisoning in Minnesota and the stomach problems and the stress involved with this job, I told Al (General Manager Al Avila) I’ll step down right now.

“This is tough. It’s a tough day for me. I didn’t expect it, to be honest, when I walked in today. But I know the way I’ve been feeling. I don’t want to feel like I’m running out on everybody, but I know I have to take care of my health.”

Gardenhire went 132-241 in his nearly three years as Detroit’s manager, and in his 16 years as a big league skipper, including a 13-year stint with the Minnesota Twins, Gardenhire is the 46^th field boss to win 1,200 contests in the major leagues. His 2,480 games managed is 35^th in big league history.

Bench coach Lloyd McClendon, who has had past managerial experience guiding Pittsburgh and Seattle, will take over at the helm of the Bengals through the end of the season. Coming into Saturday’s game, Detroit was fourth in the AL Central at 21-29, 11½ games back of the division-leading Chicago White Sox, and 4½ lengths from Toronto for the last AL Wild Card berth.

McClendon’s first game as interim manager on Saturday was against the Cleveland Indians, who are guided at the moment by Sandy Alomar Jr., as Terry Francona has been sidelined for much of the season due to a gastrointestinal condition. Francona is a one-time Detroit coach.

The Tigers won on McClendon’s debut, scoring four runs in the eighth inning to defeat visiting Cleveland, 5-2. The home season finale at Comerica Park is on Sunday (12:45 PM broadcast on Detroit Tigers Radio Network, including 590 WKZO in Kalamazoo and 99 7/1450 WHTC in Holland).