Charlie Manuel

Charles Fuqua Manuel, Jr. (born January 4, 1944) is a former American professional baseball manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1969–75 and in Nippon Professional Baseball as an outfielder in 1976–81. After his playing career, Manuel became an MLB coach and manager, most recently managing the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005–13. Manuel managed the Phillies to a championship title during the 2008 World Series. He now serves as the senior advisor to the Phillies General Manager.

Early life

Although he was born in West Virginia, his family was actually living in Virginia at that time, and he lived in Virginia throughout his childhood. He was born in an automobile while his mother, June, was visiting her mother. His father, Charles Sr., was a Pentecostal preacher, and the family lived in Wythe and Grayson Counties until they settled in Buena Vista when Charlie, the third of 11 children and the oldest son, was 12.

He became a four-sport star at Parry McCluer High School in Buena Vista, playing baseball, football, basketball and track and field, captaining the baseball and basketball teams. His first love was basketball and he had received scholarship offers in that sport, but his plans and his life would dramatically change just before his high school graduation.