NEW YORK -- Mike Shildt began his life in baseball at his mom's side, tagging along for her shifts at a Class AA ballpark and picking up odd jobs around the clubhouse.
When Shildt was recognized Tuesday night for the career that has followed, the late Lib Shildt was the first thing on his mind.
Less than a week after his mother's passing, Shildt was honored for piloting the St. Louis Cardinals back into the playoffs, narrowly beating Craig Counsell of the Milwaukee Brewers to win National League manager of the year.
Shildt earned the award in his first full season on the job, even though Counsell received more first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Minnesota Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli won the American League prize in a tight ballot over Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees. Both received 13 first-place votes, but Baldelli got more second-place nods. The 38-year-old is the youngest to win the award.
Shildt teared up upon learning he'd been chosen. The 51-year-old is the first manager of the year who never played pro ball at any level. Of course, he's been around the pro game since he was a child, when his mom took him to her job with the Charlotte O's in the Baltimore Orioles' system.
"Appreciative of the time and love she and my dad invested in me," Shildt said.
Shildt replaced Mike Matheny as Cardinals manager during the 2018 season, and under his steady guidance, St. Louis has been among baseball's best teams since. The club won 91 games and the NL Central crown this year, ending the franchise's three-year postseason drought. The Cardinals gave Shildt a contract extension through the 2022 season.
"I set my sights on being the best coach I could be, just like being the best player I could be, and the journey has led me here," Shildt said.
Atlanta's Brian Snitker was third after winning the award last year. The Dodgers' Dave Roberts finished fourth, and Nationals Manager Dave Martinez was fifth. Washington turned a 19-31 start into a World Series championship, but voting for the award concluded before the postseason began. The Nationals entered the playoffs as a wild card, not far off from preseason expectations.
Baldelli and Shildt are the eighth and ninth managers to win this award in their first full seasons on the job.
Baldelli took over a team that won 78 games in 2018 and pushed them to 101 victories and an AL Central title. He worked tightly with Minnesota's analytics-focused front office -- a shift from predecessor Paul Molitor, who won this award in 2017 -- and oversaw a turnaround propelled by the team's major-league record 307 home runs.
The self-dubbed Bomba Squad thrived under Baldelli, whose big-league playing career was spoiled by a rare disorder that led to frequent fatigue and soft tissue injuries.
One of Baldelli's priorities was keeping players rested, a strategy that worked especially well with his catchers. Nobody started more than 73 games behind the plate for Minnesota, yet the trio of Mitch Garver, Jason Castro and Willians Astudillo combined for 48 home runs, most in the majors by any team's catchers.
Jorge Polanco emerged as a star at shortstop, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton began to meet the expectations that followed exceptional minor-league careers, Nelson Cruz kept putting up big numbers and the bullpen emerged as one of the most reliable in baseball.
Tampa Bay Rays Manager Kevin Cash also earned three first-place votes and finished third. Oakland's Bob Melvin was fourth, followed by Houston's AJ Hinch and Cleveland's Terry Francona.
Past managers of the year
AMERICAN LEAGUE
2019 Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota
2018 Bob Melvin, Oakland
2017 Paul Molitor, Minnesota
2016 Terry Francona, Cleveland
2015 Jeff Banister, Texas
2014 Buck Showalter, Baltimore
2013 Terry Francona, Cleveland
2012 Bob Melvin, Oakland
2011 Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay
2010 Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota
2009 Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles
2008 Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay
2007 Eric Wedge, Cleveland
2006 Jim Leyland, Detroit
2005 Ozzie Guillen, Chicago
2004 Buck Showalter, Texas
2003 Tony Pena, Kansas City
2002 Mike Scioscia, Anaheim
2001 Lou Piniella, Seattle
2000 Jerry Manuel, Chicago
1999 Jimy Williams, Boston
1998 Joe Torre, New York
1997 Davey Johnson, Baltimore
1996 Johnny Oates, Texas, and Joe Torre, New York
1995 Lou Piniella, Seattle
1994 Buck Showalter, New York
1993 Gene Lamont, Chicago
1992 Tony La Russa, Oakland
1991 Tom Kelly, Minnesota
1990 Jeff Torborg, Chicago
1989 Frank Robinson, Baltimore
1988 Tony La Russa, Oakland
1987 Sparky Anderson, Detroit
1986 John McNamara, Boston
1985 Bobby Cox, Toronto
1984 Sparky Anderson, Detroit
1983 Tony La Russa, Chicago
NATIONAL LEAGUE
2019 Mike Shildt, St. Louis
2018 Brian Snitker, Atlanta
2017 Torey Lovullo, Arizona
2016 Dave Roberts, Los Angeles
2015 Joe Maddon, Chicago
2014 Matt Williams, Washington
2013 Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh
2012 Davey Johnson, Washington
2011 Kirk Gibson, Arizona
2010 Bud Black, San Diego
2009 Jim Tracy, Colorado
2008 Lou Piniella, Chicago
2007 Bob Melvin, Arizona
2006 Joe Girardi, Florida
2005 Bobby Cox, Atlanta
2004 Bobby Cox, Atlanta
2003 Jack McKeon, Florida
2002 Tony La Russa, St. Louis
2001 Larry Bowa, Philadelphia
2000 Dusty Baker, San Francisco
1999 Jack McKeon, Cincinnati
1998 Larry Dierker, Houston
1997 Dusty Baker, San Francisco
1996 Bruce Bochy, San Diego
1995 Don Baylor, Colorado
1994 Felipe Alou, Montreal
1993 Dusty Baker, San Francisco
1992 Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh
1991 Bobby Cox, Atlanta
1990 Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh
1989 Don Zimmer, Chicago
1988 Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles
1987 Buck Rodgers, Montreal
1986 Hal Lanier, Houston
1985 Whitey Herzog, St. Louis
1984 Jim Frey, Chicago
1983 Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles
Sports on 11/13/2019