Always the Bridesmaid

Most Games Managed in MLB by A Manager With No First Place Finishes in His Managerial Career:
1. Jimmy Dykes 2,962 games (.477 winning percentage)
2. Frank Robinson 2,242 games (.475 winning percentage)
3. Bobby Valentine 2,189 games (.510 winning percentage)
4. Phil Garner 2,041 games (.483 winning percentage)
5. Jack McKeon 1,952 games (.518 winning percentage)
6. Paul Richards 1,837 games (.506 winning percentage)
7. Jimmy McAleer 1,658 games (.453 winning percentage)
8. Patsy Donovan 1,597 games (.438 winning percentage)
9. Lee Fohl 1,521 games (.474 winning percentage)
10. Billy Barnie 1,480 games (.438 winning percentage)

Those looking for Gene Mauch on this list are reminded that although in his long managerial career he never got a team to the World Series, Mauch did manage two Angels teams to first place finishes. In 1982 his Angels led the best-of-five LCS two games to none, but the Brewers came back to win three straight to take the AL pennant. In Game 5, the Angels led 3-2 late but Cecil Cooper knocked in two runs in the bottom of the 7th, and Milwaukee's Bob McClure got six closing outs to send the Angels home for the year. And in the 1986 ALCS , the Angels took a 3 games to 1 lead into game 5 and a 5-2 lead into the 9th inning of that 5th game, only to have Don Baylor and Dave Henderson both hit ninth inning two-run homers to keep the Red Sox going, and Boston won games 6 and 7 handily. Mauch was perhaps snakebitten to the nth degree, but he did manage two first place teams.