Stump Merrill

Miscellaneous

Birthday February 15, 1944

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Brunswick, Maine, U.S.

Age 80 years old

Nationality United States

#45440 Most Popular

1944

Carl Harrison "Stump" Merrill (born February 15, 1944) is an American former manager in Major League Baseball.

Merrill was born in 1944 in Brunswick, Maine.

He graduated from Brunswick High School, where he was a star in baseball, basketball, and American football despite being considered undersized.

Merrill was listed as 5 ft tall and 185 lb; he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

He began his baseball career as a catcher for the Maine Black Bears, where he also played football and earned a degree in physical education.

1963

Merrill's nickname, "Stump," was given to him in 1963 by Jack Butterfield, his college baseball coach at Maine.

Merrill recalled of the coining: "In my freshman year, we were walking out of the field house. I was with a tall pitcher who was about 6-foot-5. Just as we were outside, Jack Butterfield was trying to get my attention. He hollered at me three or four times and I didn't hear him. Finally he said, 'Hey Stump you little devil, turn around.' The pitcher heard it, and I guess it stuck."

1966

He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1966 free-agent draft.

He spent that season in the class-A New York–Penn League with the Batavia Clippers, and the following year with single-A teams in Bakersfield and Eugene.

1968

In 1968 and 1969, Merrill was at the double-A level with the Reading Phillies, and returned to Eugene in 1970 and 1971 while that team was at the triple-A level.

1971

His playing career ended after the 1971 season due to a leg injury.

1978

Merrill's managerial career started in 1978 with the West Haven Yankees of the Eastern League.

1979

He led the team to the best overall record in the league that season, and to a first-place finish in 1979.

1980

When the Yankees moved their affiliation to the Nashville Sounds, Merrill moved as well, guiding the team to two more first-place finishes in 1980 and 1981.

1982

In 1982 and 1983, Merrill managed the Fort Lauderdale Yankees of the Florida State League, winning the league championship in 1982.

1984

For the 1984 season, he jumped to the triple-A level, managing the Columbus Clippers to another first-place finish.

1985

Merrill joined the New York Yankees in 1985 as first-base coach for manager Yogi Berra, but was returned to Columbus in mid-season to again serve as that team's manager.

1986

He rejoined the major-league team in 1986 as a coach on Lou Piniella's staff.

1988

During the 1988 season, Merrill was sent to the Albany-Colonie Yankees, then the team's double-A affiliate in the Eastern League.

1989

He won the league title that season, and did so yet again in 1989, guiding the Prince William Cannons to the Class A Carolina League championship.

1990

Merrill spent 38 years in the New York Yankees organization, including 1990 and 1991 as the manager of the Yankees, and he also managed several of the Yankees' minor league affiliates.

In 1990, Merrill began the season with Columbus before getting the call to take charge of the New York Yankees in June when Bucky Dent was fired as manager.

Merrill finished out what would be one of the worst seasons in Yankees history.

The Yankees finished 67-95 (49-64 under Merrill), dead last in the American League and second-worst in baseball.

It was only the fourth time that the storied franchise had finished with the worst record in the league.

1991

However, Merrill was not blamed for the debacle and was brought back for the 1991 season—the first time in four years that the Yankees had a single manager for the entire season.

1992

However, after the Yankees could only improve to 71–91, he was replaced by Buck Showalter prior to the 1992 season and served that season as a roving minor-league instructor.

1993

During 1993 and 1994, Merrill once again managed the Columbus Clippers before spending 1995 as a special assignment scout.

1996

In 1996, Merrill guided the Clippers for a third time, winning the International League title, the Governors' Cup.

Along the way, Merrill won his 1000th game as a manager on August 2, 1996.

1997

He remained with the Clippers for the 1997 and 1998 seasons before returning to New York.

1999

In 1999 and 2000, Merrill had a two-year stint as special assistant to the general manager under Brian Cashman.

2001

He returned to the dugout in 2001 to manage the Yankees' double-A farm club, then the Norwich Navigators.

2002

When the Yankees changed affiliations after the 2002 season, Merrill moved with the team once more, managing the Trenton Thunder in 2003 and 2004.

2005

Merrill returned to New York in 2005 and was once again named special assistant to the general manager.

2014

He retired in 2014.