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06/20/2008 1:27 PM ET
Blue Jays make managerial and coaching changes
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The Toronto Blue Jays have relieved Manager John Gibbons of his duties along with coaches Marty Pevey, Ernie Whitt and Gary Denbo. In uniform tonight will be Manager Cito Gaston, First Base Coach Dwayne Murphy, Third Base Coach Nick Leyva and Hitting Coach Gene Tenace.
Gaston, 64, becomes the first two time manager of the Blue Jays moving over from his position as Club Ambassador and Special Assistant to the President and CEO. Gaston managed the Blue Jays from 1989 to 1997 and led the team to four play-off appearances including back to back World Series Championships in 1992 & 1993. One of nine men inducted to the Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence, he owns a career 681-635 record as manager in a franchise high 1,316 games. The former Major League outfielder was the clubs Hitting Coach from 1982 to 1989 and again in 2000 and 2001.
Leyva, 54, returns to the Blue Jays where he served as Third Base Coach from 1993 to 1997 as a member of Cito Gaston's staff. The Ontario, California native also managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1989 to 1991 with a record of 148-189. Prior to joining the Phillies he coached for five seasons with Whitey Herzog and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1984-1988. The former Minor League infielder joins the club after serving as the Milwaukee Brewers Third Base Coach in 2007.
Murphy, 53, moves from his position as Blue Jays Roving Minor League Hitting Instructor to coach first base. The Merced, California native played in 1,360 Major League games with Oakland (1978-1987), Detroit (1988) and Philadelphia (1989) and captured six consecutive Gold Gloves from 1980 to 1985. He joined the Blue Jays organization in 2005 coaching for Syracuse of the International League (AAA) before being named Roving Hitting Instructor in 2007. He also coached in the Majors for the Arizona Diamondbacks as First Base & Outfield Coach (1998-2000) and then as Hitting Coach in 2001.
Tenace, 61, returns to Cito Gaston's staff, a position he held from 1990 to 1997 serving as Hitting Coach and Bench Coach. He also served as Interim Manager compiling a 21-15 record. Tenace is a winner of six World Series Championships, two as a coach with the Blue Jays and four during his playing career, three as a member of the Oakland Athletics and one with the St. Louis Cardinals. Tenace, the 1972 World Series MVP, was a career .241 hitter with 201 home runs and 674 RBI over seasons with Oakland (1969-1976), San Diego (1977-1980), St. Louis (1981-1982) and Pittsburgh (1983). In 2007 worked for the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Gibbons, 46, began managing the Blue Jays in 2004 and has compiled a career 305-305 record in time. The San Antonio, Texas resident joined the Blue Jays coaching staff in 2002 starting as a bullpen catcher before moving to first base coach later that season, a position he held until being named interim manager on Aug. 8, 2004. Following the season was named the ninth full-time manager in club history.
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