Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Manager, Major League Baseball Player. Known for his heated confrontations with umpires, which earned him the nickname "Leo The Lip." He is also remembered for his many assorted quotations. For seventeen seasons (1925, 1928 to 1941, 1943, 1945), he played at the shortstop and second-base positions with the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers. Born Leo Ernest Durocher in West Springfield, Massachusetts he marked his Major League debut with the Yankees on October 2nd, 1925 and appeared in two games that year with them. He spent the next two seasons (1927 to 1928) in the Minor Leagues and returned to the Yankees in 1928, as a contributor to the Yankees' squad who captured the World Series. He appeared in 2 games during the 1928 Fall Classic. He experienced a second world championship as a prominent member of the 1934 Cardinals' team known as the "Gas House Gang" and recorded 7 hits during the 1934 World Series. In 1,637 regular season games, he compiled 1,320 hits with a .247 lifetime batting average, while earning All-Star status three times (1936, 1938 and 1940). During the seasons of 1939 to 1941, 1943 and 1945, he served as a player-manager with the Dodgers and guided Brooklyn to two consecutive 100 win years (100 in 1941 and 104 in 1942), including the National League Pennant in 1941. Prior to the 1947 season, Jackie Robinson was placed on the Dodgers' big league roster shattering the baseball racial barrier. Durocher made the point of telling his team that they accept Robinson as a teammate or else they be traded. His message transcended baseball and in a way helped ease the entry of African-Americans into professional sports. Durocher himself would not manage the Dodgers during the 1947 season, due to a suspension imposed by commissioner Happy Chandler for allegedly associating with gamblers and allowing gambling in the clubhouse. He returned to the dugout in 1948 and after a poor first half of the season, he was released from his contract by the Dodgers and took over managerial duties with their cross-town rivals the Giants. In 1951, the New York captured the National League Pennant with Bobby Thomson's famed walk off home run known as the "Shot heard 'round the world". However, this accomplishment was overshadowed with speculation that the Giants players intercepted signs from opposing teams (later confirmed by some Giants' players). Nevertheless three years later, New York captured the 1954 World Series over Cleveland, a series that was highlighted by Willie Mays' Incredible over-the-shoulder catch. From 1956 to 1965, he served as a color analyst on baseball game broadcasts with both NBC and ABC. In addition, he had guest appearances on several TV programs including "The Munsters" and "The Beverly Hillbillies". In 1966, he resumed his managerial career with the Chicago Cubs (1966 to 1972). His tenure there was highlighted by ace pitcher Ferguson Jenkins' six consecutive year string of 20 wins or better (1967 to 1972). During the 1972 season, he moved onto the Houston Astros and remained there through 1973, retiring there after. He amassed a 2,008 win, 1,709 loss regular season managerial record and holds the distinction of registering 500 wins with three different franchises. He was named Manager of the year three-times (1939, 1951 and 1954). He was formerly married to actress Laraine Day. Durocher was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 1994.