Jim Snyder (second baseman)

Jim Snyder
Second baseman
Born: (1932-08-15)August 15, 1932
Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
Died: March 9, 2021(2021-03-09) (aged 88)
Lutz, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 15, 1961, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
August 2, 1964, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Batting average.140
Home runs1
Runs batted in10
Managerial record45–60 (.429)
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Managerial record at Baseball Reference 
Teams
As player

As manager

As coach

James Robert Snyder (August 15, 1932 – March 9, 2021) was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. He managed the 1988 Seattle Mariners for 105 games, from June 6 until the end of the season. He played as a second baseman for 41 games for the Minnesota Twins over three seasons (1961, 1962, and 1964). He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg) during his 12-year playing career. He then coached and managed professionally for decades, working as an MLB coach for the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.

Born in Dearborn, Michigan, Snyder attended Eastern Michigan University, earning bachelor's and master's degrees. In 1952, he signed with the St. Louis Browns and played in several minor league organizations. He was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago White Sox for Bobby Winkles in July 1958. After three seasons with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, the Twins acquired Snyder in September 1961. As a 29-year-old rookie, he went hitless in five at bats that month, then notched one hit in ten at bats during an early-season 1962 trial with Minnesota.[1][2][3] He did not return to the majors until June 1964, when the Twins gave him a 26-game audition, ending his MLB tenure in August.[1] He batted .140 in 86 MLB at bats, including one home run, hit July 15, 1964, off Don Rudolph of the Washington Senators.[1][4]

In 1966, Snyder began his managerial career in the farm system of the Cincinnati Reds, where over 11 years he rose from Class A Short Season to Triple-A Indianapolis in 1976. Snyder then spent five seasons as a manager in the Philadelphia Phillies' organization, including two years at Triple-A with the Oklahoma City 89ers. In 1982, he was among several Phillies' instructors and scouts who accompanied Dallas Green to the Chicago Cubs' system, where Snyder was field coordinator of instruction from 1982 to 1986 and an MLB coach in 1987.[5][6]

During that offseason, Snyder joined the Mariners' 1988 staff as first base coach for future Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams. With the Mariners at 23–33 on June 6, and Williams under fire for lack of communication with his players, Snyder was promoted to acting manager.[7][8][9] Weathering a 1–12 patch from June 8–21, Seattle played marginally better (.429 vs. .411 managed by Williams) in four months under Snyder, yet the Mariners finished last in the American League West. The Mariners fired him at the end of the season,[10] replacing him with Jim Lefebvre.[11]

Snyder then spent his first term as coordinator of instruction for the Chicago White Sox in 1989 and 1990, returning to the big leagues as a coach for San Diego Padres' manager Greg Riddoch in 1991 and 1992.[12] He filled in as manager when Riddoch attended a family graduation.[13] After working as a minor-league coach in the Atlanta Braves' system in 1993, Snyder rejoined the White Sox as director of instruction in 1994, working for the team through 2008.[14]

Personal life and death

Snyder died on March 9, 2021, in Lutz, Florida. He was married and has four children.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jim Snyder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Jim Snyder Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ "The 1962 MIN A Regular Season Batting Log for Jim Snyder". Retrosheet. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Minnesota Twins 6, Washington Senators 0". Retrosheet. July 15, 1964. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  5. ↑ Seattle Mariners 1988 Media Guide. pp. 12–13.
  6. ↑ Meece, Volney (February 9, 1982). "Ex-89er boss not in unemployment line long". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Mariners Fire Williams, Name First-Base Coach to Interim Role". The Los Angeles Times. June 7, 1988. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ Meece, Volney (June 22, 1988). "Snyder Has Mariners Under Sail". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Seattle's Jimmy Snyder Is a Manager on the Hot Seat". Los Angeles Times. UPI. July 3, 1988. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Seattle Mariners fired their interim manager,..." Los Angeles Times. October 7, 1988. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  11. ↑ LaRue, Larry (November 8, 1988). "A's Lefebvre 8th manager for Mariners". The Spokesman-Review. McClatchey News Service. p. C1 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ↑ "Padres Sign On 2 New Coaches". Los Angeles Times. October 15, 1990. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ Nightengale, Bob (June 7, 1992). "Decisions, Decisions: Snyder Is Glad to Leave Them Up to Riddoch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  14. ↑ Chicago White Sox 2008 Media Guide. p. 2.
  15. ↑ "James Snyder Obituary - Tampa, FL". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
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