Connie Ryan

Who was Connie Ryan?

Cornelius Joseph Ryan was an American second baseman, third baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball.

A native of New Orleans who attended Louisiana State University, Ryan appeared in 1,184 games over 12 seasons, and compiled a lifetime batting average of .248 with 58 home runs for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. On April 16, 1953, Ryan made six hits in six at bats in a 14–12 loss to Pittsburgh, tying a then-Major League record. He batted and threw right-handed.

Ryan spent much of his career with the Braves, working in three different cities: as a player in Boston; a coach and minor league manager for Milwaukee during the late 1950s; and as a coach, manager and scout for the Atlanta club during the 1970s. Ryan succeeded Clyde King as skipper of the Atlanta Braves on August 30, 1975, and guided the team to a record of 9–18 over the final 27 games of the season.

In 1977, Ryan began the season as a coach for the Texas Rangers. In a season of managerial turmoil, Texas skipper Frank Lucchesi was replaced by Eddie Stanky, a teammate of Ryan's on the 1948–1949 Braves, on June 22. But Stanky resigned after only one game. Ryan then filled the breach for six games while the Rangers signed Baltimore Orioles coach Billy Hunter as permanent manager. His career managerial mark was 11–22. Ryan remained a Rangers' coach through 1979.