View source for Jerry Narron

{{Short description|American baseball player, coach and manager (born 1956)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name       = Jerry Narron
| team       = Los Angeles Angels
| number     = 87
| image      = Jerry Narron - Seattle Mariners - 1981.jpg
| caption    = Narron in 1981
| position   = [[Catcher]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]] / [[Coach (baseball)|Coach]]
| bats       = Left
| throws     = Right
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1956|1|15}}
| birth_place = [[Goldsboro, North Carolina]], U.S.
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate  = April 13
| debutyear  = 1979
| debutteam  = New York Yankees
| finalleague = MLB
| finaldate  = October 2
| finalyear  = 1987
| finalteam  = Seattle Mariners
| statleague = MLB
| stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value = .211
| stat2label = [[Home run]]s
| stat2value = 21
| stat3label = [[Runs batted in]]
| stat3value = 96
|stat4label=Managerial record
|stat4value=291–341
|stat5label=Winning %
|stat5value=.460
| teams      =
'''As player'''
*[[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1979}})
*[[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|1980}}–{{mlby|1981}})
*[[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] ({{mlby|1983}}–{{mlby|1986}})
*[[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|1987}})
'''As manager'''
*[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|2001}}–{{mlby|2002}})
*[[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2007}})
'''As coach'''
*[[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1994}})
*[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|2001}})
*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2003}})
*[[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2005}})
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2015}})
*[[Arizona Diamondbacks]] ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2019}})
*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2020}})
*[[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})
*[[Los Angeles Angels]] ({{mlby|2024}}–present)
}}
'''Jerry Austin Narron''' (born January 15, 1956) is an American professional [[baseball]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]], [[coach (baseball)|coach]], and former player. He is the current catching coach for the [[Los Angeles Angels]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). He recently served as a major league instructor for the [[Chicago White Sox]]. Narron played in MLB, primarily as a [[catcher]], for three teams during 1979–87. He has served as manager for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] (2001–02) and the [[Cincinnati Reds]] (2005–07).

He was the third base coach for [[Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic]]. Narron was also a coach for Team Israel, under manager [[Ian Kinsler]], when it competed in the [[2023 World Baseball Classic]].

==Early years==
Narron was born in [[Goldsboro, North Carolina]]. He is a [[Christian Zionist]].<ref>Jonathan Mark (September 14, 2016). [http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/the-greatest-jewish-team-ever/ "The Greatest Jewish Team — Ever,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''Jewish Week''.</ref> His father John was employed as a salesman and floor layer for the Isaacs-Kahn Furniture Company in Goldsboro.<ref name=autogenerated6>[http://jpupdates.com/2015/08/19/brewers-coach-joins-israels-staff-for-world-baseball-classic/ "Brewers Coach Joins Israel’s Staff for World Baseball Classic,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302123228/http://jpupdates.com/2015/08/19/brewers-coach-joins-israels-staff-for-world-baseball-classic/ |date=March 2, 2017 }} JPUpdates, August 19, 2015/</ref> He is a nephew of former major league catcher and longtime coach [[Sam Narron (catcher)|Sam Narron]].<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/15869/|title=Jerry Narron - Stats - The Baseball Cube|website=The Baseball Cube}}</ref>

Through his childhood he played baseball at the Wayne County Boys Club. He attended [[Goldsboro High School]], where he played baseball, basketball, and football, and graduated in 1974. He went to college at [[East Carolina University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerry Narron #36|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=mil&coachorstaffid=119655|work=Roster|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated5>{{Cite web|url=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=mil&coachorstaffid=119655|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112072041/http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=mil&coachorstaffid=119655|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2011|title=Manager and Coaches<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>

==Playing career==
He was drafted out of high school when he was 18 years old by the [[New York Yankees]] in the sixth round of the [[1974 Major League Baseball Draft]].<ref name=autogenerated3>[http://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Aces-hire-Jerry-Narron-as-new-manager-408658205.html "Aces hire Jerry Narron as new manager,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] kolotv.com, December 29, 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brewcrewball.com/2014/1/15/5311008/today-in-brewer-history-happy-birthday-jerry-narron|title=Happy birthday, Jerry Narron|first=Kyle|last=Lobner|date=January 15, 2014|website=Brew Crew Ball}}</ref> He played alongside brother [[Johnny Narron|Johnny]] for the [[Johnson City Cardinals]] in the Rookie [[Appalachian League]] during his first professional season in 1974, batting .301/.415/.487 with 15 doubles (3rd in the league), 7 home runs (10th), and 49 RBIs (6th).<ref name=autogenerated2 /> In 1977, playing for the [[West Haven Yankees]] of the AA [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]], he batted .299 (eighth in the league)/.376/.527(third) with 80 runs (sixth), 28 home runs (second) and 93 RBIs (third) in 438 at bats.<ref name=autogenerated2 /><ref>[http://www.thebaseballcube.com/seasons/review.asp?Y=1977&L=East&Page=Awards "1977 Eastern League - Season Review"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

He made his major league debut on April 13, 1979.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Narron played for the Yankees as the backup catcher to [[Thurman Munson]]. He was the Yankees' starting catcher the day after Munson's death in a plane crash in August 1979,<ref name="MunsonDeath"/><ref name="Strike">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/27/sports/baseball-ceremony-circus-act-and-even-some-fans-greet-game-s-return.html?pagewanted=print|title=Baseball; Ceremony, Circus Act And Even Some Fans Greet Game's Return|date=April 27, 1995|first=Murray|last=Chass|author-link=Murray Chass|newspaper=The New York Times|page=B11}}</ref> and remained in the dugout during the pregame ceremonies, leaving the catcher's position empty, out of respect for Munson.<ref name="MunsonDeath">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/08/02/2009-08-02_the_mourning_after_munsons_death.html?print=1&page=all|title=Jerry Narron recalls night he replaced Thurman Munson for Yankees|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=August 2, 2009|access-date=August 2, 2009|first=Sean|last=Brennan}}</ref>

In November 1979 Narron was traded by the Yankees to the [[Seattle Mariners]] with [[Juan Beniquez]], [[Rick Anderson (baseball, born 1953)|Rick Anderson]], and [[Jim Beattie (baseball)|Jim Beattie]] for [[Jim Lewis (1980s pitcher)|Jim Lewis]] and [[Ruppert Jones]].<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

He was released by the Mariners in March 1982, and signed two days later as a [[free agent]] by the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]].<ref name="autogenerated2"/> Playing for the [[Spokane Indians]] in the AAA [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL) in 1982, he batted .311/.381/.468 in 408 at bats.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> In 1983, playing for the [[Edmonton Trappers]] of the PCL, he batted .301/.377/.528 with 30 doubles (eighth in the league), 27 home runs (fourth) and 102 RBIs (fifth) in 539 at bats, while leading the league with 15 [[intentional walk]]s.<ref name=autogenerated2 /><ref>[http://www.thebaseballcube.com/seasons/review.asp?Y=1983&L=PCL&Page=Awards "1983 Pacific Coast League - Season Review"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  He was released by the Angels in April 1987, and signed later that month by the Seattle Mariners, who in turn released him the following November.<ref name=autogenerated4>[http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Jerry-Narron&Page=Tranx Jerry Narron Baseball Statistics [1974-1988&#93;<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  He retired as a player in 1989.

==Managing and coaching history==
===Minor and major leagues===
Narron was a manager in the [[Baltimore Orioles]] [[farm system]] from 1989 through 1992; of the Single–A [[Frederick Keys]] (1989), Double–A [[Hagerstown Suns]] (1990-91), and Triple–A [[Rochester Red Wings]] (1992), with a record of 291-269 (.520).<ref name=autogenerated5 /> He was then hired as a coach for the Orioles by skipper [[Johnny Oates]].

After two seasons in Baltimore, he moved with Oates to the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. Narron was third-base coach for the Rangers from 1995 until he was named interim manager on May 4, 2001, after the firing of manager Johnny Oates. He had the interim tag removed and managed the team during the 2002 season. He was replaced in Texas by [[Buck Showalter]] in December 2002.

Narron then served as bench coach for the [[Boston Red Sox]] during their 2003 run to the [[2003 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]]. He performed the same role for Cincinnati in 2004–05.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

Narron was named the Reds' interim manager on June 20, 2005. On September 29 of that year, his contract was extended to cover the 2006&nbsp;season with a mutual option for 2007. Narron was fired as manager of the Reds on July 1, 2007. The Reds named advance scout [[Pete Mackanin]] as the interim manager. Narron's record with the Reds was 157–179.

On February 25, 2008, Narron was named a [[scout (sports)|special assignments scout]] and front-office consultant with the Rangers.

[[File:Jerry Narron 2014 Milwaukee Brewers Bench Coach.jpg|thumb|Narron in 2014]]
Narron served as bench coach for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] from 2011 to 2015.<ref>[https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-212559650 "Jerry Narron named third manager in Aces history," <!-- Bot generated title -->] Pacific Coast League News, December 30, 2016.</ref>

Narron was hired to be the 2017 manager of the [[Reno Aces]] on December 30, 2016.<ref name="CPR">{{cite news|last1=Moffitt|first1=Bob|title=Reno Aces Hire Former Big-Leaguer As New Skipper|url=http://www.capradio.org/87732|access-date=31 December 2016|publisher=Capital Public Radio}}</ref>

After the first seven games of the 2017 season, Narron took over as interim bench coach of the major league [[Arizona Diamondbacks]], when bench coach [[Ron Gardenhire]] left the team on a leave of absence to have and recover from [[prostate cancer]] surgery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2017/04/09/ron-gardenhire-prostate-cancer-diamondbacks-twins/100267800/|title=As Diamondbacks go on without him, Ron Gardenhire readies for cancer fight|first=Bob|last=Nightengale|website=USA TODAY}}</ref> Narron got the job permanently after Gardenhire was hired to be the [[Detroit Tigers]]' manager. Narron stepped down from his position as bench coach of the Diamondbacks following the 2019 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/matt-herges-to-be-d-backs-pitching-coach|title=Herges named D-backs' pitching coach|website=[[MLB.com]]|author=Steve Gilbert|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=October 31, 2019}}</ref>

Narron was hired as bench coach for the Boston Red Sox on February 22, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2020/02/boston-red-sox-hire-jerry-narron-as-bench-coach.html |title=Boston Red Sox hire Jerry Narron as bench coach |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |website=masslive.com |date=February 22, 2020 |access-date=February 23, 2020}}</ref> In October 2020, the team declined to renew his contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/jerry-narron-craig-bjornson-won-t-return-as-red-sox-coaches |title=Narron, Bjornson out as Red Sox coaches |first=Ian |last=Browne |website=MLB.com |date=October 12, 2020 |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

On February 10, 2021, Narron was hired as a major league instructor for the [[Chicago White Sox]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30874754/chicago-white-sox-hire-jerry-narron-instructor-tony-la-russa-staff |title=Chicago White Sox hire Jerry Narron as instructor for Tony La Russa's staff |website=ESPN |date=February 10, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2021}}</ref> On November 2, 2022, Narron and the White Sox parted ways.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Menechino, Narron Among White Sox Coaches Not Returning|url=https://www.soxon35th.com/menechino-narron-among-white-sox-coaches-not-returning/|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=soxon35th.com|language=en}}</ref>

In November 2023, Narron was hired as the catching coach for the [[Los Angeles Angels]].<ref name="Levine">{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Matt |title=Angels continue to load up coaching staff under Ron Washington |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/news/angels-continue-to-load-up-coaching-staff-under-ron-washington-ml0802 |website=FanNation |language=en |date=22 November 2023}}</ref>

===Team Israel; World Baseball Classic===
Narron was the third base coach for [[Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic]] qualifier.<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet the Baptist Baseball Lifer Who Will Coach Israel's National Team|url=http://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Meet-the-Baptist-baseball-lifer-who-will-coach-Israels-national-team-412673#article=10363RDU0QThCRTY0MzEzOEMzNzc5MjQ4OTE1QjE2RUJERjQ=|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.jta.org/2015/08/18/arts-entertainment/meet-the-baptist-baseball-lifer-who-will-coach-israels-team "Meet the Baptist baseball lifer who will coach Israel’s team,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] Jewish Telegraphic Agency, August 18, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.baseball.org.il/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=380%3Ateam-israel-announces-coaching-staff-for-world-baseball-classic&catid=22%3Anews-english&Itemid=992&lang=en "Team Israel Announces Coaching Staff for World Baseball Classic,"] baseball.org.il.</ref> Narron, whose daughter Callie lives in the [[Arnona]] neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel, with her husband and two children, said: "I love the game, I love the Jewish people and I love Israel".<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated6 /><ref>[https://kindredgrace.com/its-not-a-small-world/ "It’s Not a Small World: Lessons from the Ballpark,"] Callie Mitchell.</ref><ref>Ken Rosenthal (April 29, 2012). [http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/baltimore-orioles-hot-start-al-east-yankees-rays-notes-042912 "OK for O's fans to think postseason?",<!-- Bot generated title -->] Fox Sports.</ref>

Narron was again a coach for Team Israel, under manager [[Ian Kinsler]], when it competed in the [[2023 World Baseball Classic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-mlb-all-stars-ausmus-youkilis-to-coach-team-israel-in-world-baseball-classic/|title=Former MLB all-stars Ausmus, Youkilis to coach Team Israel in World Baseball Classic|first=Jacob|last=Gurvis|website=The Times of Israel}}</ref>

===Managerial records===

{| class="wikitable" Style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team!!rowspan="2"|From!!rowspan="2"|To!!colspan="4"|Regular season record!!colspan="4"|Post–season record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}!!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}!!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}!!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}!!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}!!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}!!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}!!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]||[[2001 Texas Rangers season|2001]]||[[2002 Texas Rangers season|2002]]
|296|||{{WinLossPct|134|162}}
|colspan="4"| —
|-
|[[Cincinnati Reds]]||[[2005 Cincinnati Reds season|2005]]||[[2007 Cincinnati Reds season|2007]]
|337|||{{WinLossPct|157|179}}
|colspan="4"| —
|-
! colspan="3"| Total
! 632
! {{WinLossPct|291|341}}
! 0
! {{WinLossPct|0|0}}
|-
! colspan="11"| Reference:<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerry Narron Managerial Record|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/narroje01.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports-Reference.com|access-date=October 29, 2017}}</ref>
|}

==Personal life==
Narron is married to Donna Narron.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> He has five children and two stepchildren: Connor, Cara, Clare, Caitlyn, Callie, Chelsy, Coco and Hunter. His son Connor was the fourth-ranked prospect for the high school class of 2010 by ESPN's Perfect Game. The Orioles selected Connor in the fifth round of the [[2010 Major League Baseball draft|2010 MLB draft]]; he played in [[Minor League Baseball]] during the 2010 to 2014 seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/connor-narron-592583?stats=career-r-hitting-minors&year=2019 |title=Connor Narron Stats, Fantasy & News |website=[[MLB.com]] |access-date=February 23, 2020}}</ref> Narron's brother [[Johnny Narron|Johnny]] was the hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2012 to 2014.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> Narron is the nephew of former major league catcher and coach [[Sam Narron (catcher)|Sam W. Narron]] and cousin of pitcher [[Sam Narron (pitcher)|Sam F. Narron]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baseballbiography.com/jerry-narron |title=Jerry Narron |access-date=2006-03-27 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Narron is known for writing out lineup cards using a distinct form of [[calligraphy]], and for rendering the names of players from Japan, Korea and Taiwan in their native scripts on the lineup cards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://medium.com/@cmoyer/bench-coach-jerry-narrons-call-to-the-pen-9a7f8c8de1cf|title=Jerry Narron's call to the pen|last=Moyer|first=Caitlin|date=June 28, 2015|accessdate=April 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/117854158.html|title=Narron's handwriting is on the wall|work=The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|date=March 12, 2011|accessdate=April 6, 2022|last=Stark|first=Corie}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/06/28/new-red-sox-bench-coach-jerry-narrons-writing-on-dugout-wall-unmistakable/|work=The Boston Herald|last=Keegan|first=Tom|date=June 28, 2020|accessdate=April 6, 2022|title=New Red Sox coach Jerry Narron's writing on the dugout wall unmistakable}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=119655|espn=455|br=n/narroje01|fangraphs=1009453|brm=narron001jer|retro=N/Pnarrj001}}
{{Baseball-reference manager|narroje01}}
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{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sports}}}}
{{succession box|title=[[Frederick Keys|Frederick Keys manager]]|before= franchise created|years=1989|after=[[Wally Moon]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Baltimore Orioles|Baltimore Orioles Bench Coach]]|before=|years=1993|after=[[Don Buford]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Baltimore Orioles|Baltimore Orioles Third Base Coach]]|years=1994|before=[[Mike Ferraro]]|after=[[Steve Boros]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Boston Red Sox]] [[Bench Coach]]|years=2003<br>2020|before=[[Mike Stanley]]<br>[[Ron Roenicke]]|after=[[Brad Mills (infielder)|Brad Mills]]<br>[[Will Venable]]}}  
{{succession box|title=[[Arizona Diamondbacks]] [[Bench Coach]]|years=2017 (interim)|before=[[Ron Gardenhire]]|after=[[Ron Gardenhire]]}}    
{{s-end}}

{{Los Angeles Angels roster navbox}}
{{Frederick Keys managers}}
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{{Israel roster 2023 World Baseball Classic}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narron, Jerry}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks coaches]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles coaches]]
[[Category:Baseball coaches from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Baseball players from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox coaches]]
[[Category:Calgary Cannons players]]
[[Category:California Angels players]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox coaches]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds coaches]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds managers]]
[[Category:East Carolina Pirates baseball players]]
[[Category:Edmonton Trappers players]]
[[Category:Fort Lauderdale Yankees players]]
[[Category:Johnson City Yankees players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball bench coaches]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball third base coaches]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers coaches]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Goldsboro, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Reno Aces players]]
[[Category:Rochester Red Wings managers]]
[[Category:Rochester Red Wings players]]
[[Category:Seattle Mariners players]]
[[Category:Spokane Indians players]]
[[Category:Tacoma Yankees players]]
[[Category:Texas Rangers managers]]
[[Category:West Haven Yankees players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]