By Logan Barer
The Kansas City Royals announced that Ned Yost will be retiring following their last game of the season Sunday. He will retire as the all-time winningest manager in Royals history.
Yost, 64, has a career 1201-1338 record with the Brewers and Royals. He served as Brewers manager from 2003-2008 where he had a 457-502 record. After taking 2009 off, he took over the Royals in 2010 and has since accumulated a 744-836 record.
Taking over the rebuilding Royals 35 games into the season, he inherited a 12-23 team that would finish the year 67-95. After a 71-win 2011 and a 72-win 2012, the Royals started seeing success after getting better players, winning 86 games in 2013. They would then make it to the World Series in 2014 after winning 89 regular season games, but lost to the Giants. They made it to the 2015 World Series as well, this time having won 95 regular season games, and this time winning – Against the Mets.
“With the development of our young players and our returning veterans, I feel and hope the worst is behind us in this rebuilding phase of our organization,” Yost said. “My plan all along was to get us through the rough times then turn it over to a new manager to bring us the rest of the way.”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here as your manager and will never forget the good and the hard times we had together as an organization and a fan base. I will never forget the fact that you fans supported us through it all. Kansas City will always have a special place in my heart, and I look forward to rooting the Royals on to their next World Series championship very soon.”
Yost is the all-time winningest manager of the Royals and the first manager to ever lead the Royals to consecutive World Series appearances. He will finish 32nd all-time in games managed with 2,544, three ahead of Earl Weaver. He will also finish 45th all-time, entering his final week with 1,201. His .710 playoff winning percentage (22-9) is the best among managers having played 20 playoff games.
