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Badin grad named top NL manager

Jim Tracy took over Rockies May 29 when they were 18-28, led them to the playoffs.

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The Associated Press Updated 2:48 AM Thursday, November 19, 2009

NEW YORK — Jim Tracy of Colorado won the National League Manager of the Year award on Wednesday, Nov. 18 — and earned a new contract, too.

Tracy, a Badin High School graduate and Fairfield native, became the second manager to win the award after taking over during the season, joining Jack McKeon, who did the same with Florida in 2003.

Less than an hour after the award was announced, the Rockies said Tracy had been rewarded with a three-year contract.

“One guy doesn’t win an award like this,” Tracy said in a conference call. “The Colorado Rockies won this award.”

Tracy received 29 first-place votes and two seconds for 151 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia got 15 first-place votes, 10 seconds and one third for 106 points to win the honor in the American League.

Colorado was 18-28 and 14½ games behind NL West-leading Los Angeles when Tracy was promoted from bench coach following Clint Hurdle’s dismissal on May 29. The Rockies responded to Tracy’s steady hand, going 74-42 the rest of the way and taking the division race to the final weekend before settling for the wild card.

There was no Rocktober this year — Colorado lost to Philadelphia in the division series — but it was still quite the turnaround for the club and Tracy, who was fired after leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 68-94 record in 2007.

The 53-year-old Tracy was out of baseball before becoming the Rockies’ bench coach in November 2008.