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"Ben McTigue: A Champion, A Leader, A Manager of the Year"
By Michael Kay
Ladies and gentlemen, the votes are in, and the verdict is unanimous—not just in the numbers, not just in the standings, but in the clubhouse, on the field, and throughout the baseball world: Ben McTigue is the 1915 National League Manager of the Year.
And when the announcement came down, when the envelope was opened, and the name was read, the St. Louis Cardinals coaching staff broke out the bubbly—not out of surprise, but out of joy. Out of pride. Because this was not just a manager who tallied wins. This was a manager who earned hearts.
McTigue skippered the Redbirds to a 104-58 regular season record, a commanding first-place finish in the NL Central, and—let’s not forget—the franchise’s first World Series title. That’s right. The first. And you better believe it felt like destiny with him at the helm.
In every city, in every ballpark, McTigue brought a quiet confidence. He’s not loud. He’s not brash. But what he is… is brilliant. Calculated. Steady. And when the pressure mounted, when October roared, he didn’t blink.
And it wasn’t just the results. It was the relationships.
“He just has a way with people,” said one coach. “Coaches and players alike love him.”
In a sport that values routine, rhythm, and trust, that kind of respect is everything. Everything.
So now, in the record books, his name will sit beside the best to ever do it. But in that Cardinals clubhouse, his name’s been etched in legend since that final out in Game 6.
Ben McTigue. Manager of the Year. Champion. And most importantly—a leader of men.
And folks... that is the story. So put it on the back page, raise a glass in St. Louis, and remember the name. Because Ben McTigue isn’t done yet.
See ya!
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