Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2002
- Class:
- 1977
Nat “Buck” Showalter starred on the Mississippi State baseball season in 1977 and has made his mark in Major League Baseball as manager for five different franchises.
Having played at Chipola Junior College, Showalter transferred to State prior to the 1977 season. During his time on Coach Ron Polk's club, he shattered the program record with a .459 batting average – a record that still stands today. He also set the single-season school record with 44 RBIs.
He was selected in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the New York Yankees and played seven seasons in the Yankees organization.
Showalter went on to manage in the minor leagues before being hired on the Yankees coaching staff. He was promoted to manager in 1992 and led the club to an American League Eastern Division title in the shortened 1994 season and a Playoff appearance in 1995. He was named AL Manager of the Year in 1994.
He managed the Arizona Diamondbacks for three seasons, winning the National League West in 1999. He was named AL Manager of the Year in 2004 during his time with the Texas Rangers and began a nine-year stint leading the Baltimore Orioles in 2010.
During his time in Baltimore, Showalter led the Orioles to three Playoff appearances. His 2014 club won the AL East title and advanced to the American League Championship Series, for which he was named AL Manager of the Year. His 684 wins rank second in franchise history.
He was named manager of the New York Mets in 2022 and led the club to a Playoff appearance in his first season, for which he received NL Manager of the Year.
He was the third manager in MLB history to be named Manager of the Year four times and the first to receive the honor with four different teams in four different decades.
