After retiring as a player, Piniella managed for a combined 23 seasons with the New York Yankees (1986 – 1988), Cincinnati Reds (1990 –1992), Seattle Mariners (1993 – 2002), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003 – 2005) and Chicago Cubs (2007 – 2010). In 2008, he joined Joe Torre as one of only two people with 1,700 major league hits and 1,700 big league victories, and his 1,835 managerial wins rank 14th in major league history. Then of course, who can forget that he led the Mariners to four post season appearances in 10 seasons. His 840 victories with Seattle is a franchise record and are eight more wins than the previous eight Mariners managers combined. Lou led the Mariners to 300 victories in three seasons from 2000 – 2002, including a major league record tying 116 wins in 2001.
In his illustrious major league career, Piniella has gone to the postseason 12 times (seven as a manager and five as a player), the World Series five times (once as a manager in 1990 with the Reds) and won championship rings as an outfielder with the Yankees in 1977 and 1978, and as manager of the Reds in 1990. He has also been the Baseball Writers Association of America Manager of the Year selection three times, is a two time The Sporting News Manager of the Year selection and has received All-Star recognition five times.
After retiring from the uniform, Piniella is now back in pinstripes rejoining the New York Yankees as a special assistant and a commentator on the Yankee owned YES Network. He and his wife Anita are involved in numerous charities in Tampa Bay including the Gold Shield Foundation which grants scholarships and living expenses to families of fallen firefighters and law enforcement officers in the area. Piniella also serves as an active spokesperson on behalf of prostate cancer awareness and Heartbeat International, an organization that helps provide pacemakers for those around the world who can’t otherwise afford them.
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is honored to welcome Lou Piniella back to Seattle as the keynote speaker for the 2013 Hutch Award Luncheon.
