RIP Whitey Lockman

[NCCubFan]

Former Cubs' manager Whitey Lockman died Tuesday at 82. The death wasn't reported until today. Lockman spent most of his playing career with the Giants, scoring on Bobby Tompson's "shot heard around the world" in 1951. He took over from Leo Durocher as Cubs' manager during the 1972 season and managed the Cubs through part of 1974.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

Former Cubs' manager Whitey Lockman died Tuesday at 82. The death wasn't reported until today. Lockman spent most of his playing career with the Giants, scoring on Bobby Tompson's "shot heard around the world" in 1951. He took over from Leo Durocher as Cubs' manager during the 1972 season and managed the Cubs through part of 1974.

 

I'm 43-years-old and he is the first Cubs manager I remember. He seemed like he was in his 60s to me then. Seems odd to think he was only a little older then than I am now.

[NCCubFan]

He's the second Cubs manager I remember (Leo Durocher was the first). The first managerial change since I started following the Cubs was when Durocher was fired and replaced by Lockman during the 1972 season (very shortly after that, I believe during the same season, Durocher was hired to manage the Astros). At first I was impressed with Lockman because the Cubs won more during the remainder of the season and finished 2nd with a winning record, but that turned out to be the last winning season for over a decade, so that turned me against him. I don't think the decline was really his fault; I think it had more to do with dismantling the nucleus of the team. Since I started following the Cubs in 1969 I saw four consecutive winning seasons, and at the time I didn't realize that was the aberration and losing seasons was the norm. I learned quickly.