Lee Mazzilli

Lee Louis Mazzilli (aka "Mazz", born March 25, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York), is the former manager of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles and will start the 2006 season as the bench coach for the New York Yankees. Mazzilli was fired by the Orioles on August 4, 2005, after the Orioles had fallen from first place in the AL East to playing below .500. The 2005 baseball season marked Mazzilli's sophomore season with the Orioles, as well as his second season as a major league manager. Before taking the helm in Baltimore, Mazzilli served as first base coach for the Yankees under Manager Joe Torre.

Mazzilli's career as a player was quite respectable. He played for the Yankees, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Toronto Blue Jays; but his ten years with the New York Mets marked his longest team commitment.

Mazzilli led the Mets in runs with 82 in 1980. He led Mets in hits with 181 in 1979 and with 162 in 1980. He led Mets in doubles with 31 in 1980. He led Mets in home runs with 16 in 1980. He led Mets in runs batted in with 79 in 1979 and with 76 in 1980. He led Mets in stolen bases with 41 in 1980.

He was selected by Mets organization in the first round (14th pick overall) of the free agent draft on June 5, 1973. He was traded by the Mets to the Rangers in exchange for Ron Darling and Walt Terrell on April 1, 1982. Mazzilli signed with the Mets as a free agent on August 3, 1986, but was claimed by the Blue Jays on waivers on July 31, 1989.

At the end of his career, Mazzilli took up acting, starring as Tony in an off-Broadway production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding.

Managerial career

Mazzilli's tenure as the Baltimore Orioles' manager was a controversial one. He was not the top choice of the team's majority owner, Peter G. Angelos. However he was chosen by the team's two general managers, Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan. This is believed to have caused friction in the team.

Fans had doubts about Mazzilli's abilities due to his quiet, reserved nature, which they believe stems from Joe Torre. For a city used to Earl Weaver and his in-your-face attitude, Mazzilli's baseball style was unfamiliar to Baltimore.

After the teams's struggles over the last season and a half, Mazzilli was relieved of his duties and was replaced by his bench coach, Sam Perlozzo , the person of whom Angelos originally wanted for the job.

During the Major League Baseball offseason he agreed to be an analyst on the show [Cold Pizza], but left when he agreed to be the Yankees bench coach.