O's skipper Buck: Show of appreciation for Yankees

BALTIMORE - Buck Showalter likened his return to New York Monday as Baltimore Orioles manager to a high school reunion: You show up and try to remember the good stuff.

"I grew up there, so to speak," Showalter, 54, said Sunday in his office at Camden Yards before the Orioles beat the Rays, 8-7. "I spent 19 years there . Not a day goes by that I don't realize how lucky I was to be exposed to so many great baseball people."

So although Showalter described the day he was forced to resign as Yankees manager in 1995 - under pressure from the late George Steinbrenner - as "one of the saddest days in my life," he pointed out the positive: Steinbrenner's club also provided a valuable chance for Showalter by drafting him in 1977.

"This is the guy that gave me an opportunity in professional baseball," Showalter said in response to a question about Steinbrenner's passing. "It was sad. We were on very good terms. I got a letter from him after I made the decision to go to Arizona. I'd see him a couple of times here and there.

"We all have faults, but I understood the job description there. We always knew where to go for an answer. I shared the same passion and love for wanting to win that I think he had."

Showalter spoke about the Core Four of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada - who all made their major-league debuts under Showalter in 1995 but won multiple world championships under Joe Torre - with some jealous humor, but also respect.

"I hope they leave," Showalter joked before saying, "They show the way that it's supposed to be done. People can sniff out a phony in a heartbeat in New York. Those four guys are far from that."

Showalter guided the Yankees to their first postseason berth in 14 seasons in 1995, and he said he could sense Steinbrenner's satisfaction during workout day before the postseason began.

"Seeing Mr. Steinbrenner out on the field walking around and the look of pride on his face," Showalter said. "He'd never say anything. The reward for a job well done there was an opportunity to do it again."

The Yankees won the first two games of the 1995 Division Series against Seattle at Yankee Stadium, then led in each of the three games at the Kingdome before losing all three - dropping Game 5 after taking a lead in the top of the 11th. But despite that success, Showalter didn't return. Personal differences emerged between manager and owner and Showalter resigned after four seasons, refusing Steinbrenner's mandate to fire coaches.

"It broke my heart," said Showalter, who said he watched the Yankees on TV when he was a child and imitated players' batting stances. "It hurt, but you get forced into making those calls."

Then the Yankees won the World Series in 1996, and a dynasty was born.

Thus began Showalter's reputation for building teams into contenders but not being there to enjoy the benefits. He took over the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks and won 100 games as their manager in 1999, their second year. But they fired him after an 85-77 season in 2000, and they beat the Yankees in a thrilling seven-game World Series the next year.

Showalter went 319-329 with the Texas Rangers before being fired after the 2006 season.

His latest reclamation project is the Orioles, a team that hasn't had a winning season since it last made the playoffs in 1997. They were 32-73 when he took over, but they've already seen improvement. The Orioles, who begin a three-game series at Yankee Stadium this afternoon, are 19-13 since Showalter replaced interim manager Juan Samuel Aug. 3.

Showalter, who has a contract through the 2013 season, earned his 900th managerial win Saturday against the Rays.

"We know that Buck is going to be the manager and that plays a major part of us playing better," said Orioles infielder and former Met Ty Wigginton. "Everybody is starting to get a sense for his passion of the game."

That passion grew where Showalter grew up - with the Yankees.