Jim Leyland 'humbled and proud' but uncertain about what hat he'll wear into Hall of Fame

Nashville, Tenn. — It still haunts him. Even on the day he was formally announced as the newest member of baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Oct. 14, 2013. The Tigers were four outs away from taking a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series in Boston. The Red Sox loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with left-handed hitting David Ortiz coming up.

“I had (lefty Phil) Coke warming with (Joaquin) Benoit,” Leyland said during his press conference Monday afternoon at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. “Coke was pretty good against Ortiz, but he hadn’t pitched much lately. I was afraid he might be a little bit wild.

“I ended up going with Benoit, who was my best pitcher.”

You know the rest. Benoit left a changeup over the plate and Ortiz sent it flying, along with left fielder Torii Hunter, into the bullpen in right-center. The Tigers never recovered.

“He threw the right pitch,” Leyland said. “He just didn’t locate the right pitch. That’s one I still toss and turn a little bit about. Mike Napoli (right-handed hitter) was on deck. I’m not sure today if I made the right decision or not. I think I did because I went to my best relief pitcher.

“But it could be a question.”

What's not in question is Leyland's Hall-of-Fame worthiness. A managerial career that spanned 22 seasons, 18th most wins all-time, three pennants, one World Series and he garnered 15 of the 16 votes cast by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

"When I first got hired in Pittsburgh, the headline in the paper was, 'Jim Who?'" Leyland said. "It was Jim Who when I got here and I'm still here. At least people know me a little better today."

Leyland said he’d received 294 texts since the announcement was made. And among those in attendance Monday were Hall of Famers Joe Torre, Ted Simmons, Jim Thome, Tony LaRussa and Alan Trammell. As well as former Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski and front office executive David Chadd — both now with the Phillies — and Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch and front office executives Sam Menzin and Scott Bream.

“I was excited to be nominated,” Leyland said, after donning his Hall of Fame jersey and cap. “And I’m ecstatic to be elected.”

He started his press conference the way he had so many of his pregame pressers during his managing career, with a joke. He repeated his story from Sunday night. He’d all but given up hope of getting the cherished call from the Hall of Fame and gone up to his bed to clear his head. A few minutes later, as his wife Katie and son Patrick were coming up the steps, the phone finally rang.

“They heard a lady’s voice on the other end,” Leyland said. “My wife said, ‘Who is that?!’ And I said, ‘It’s Jake from State Farm.’”

He pointed out later, “You know, I was signed by the Tigers (as a player) in 1963. I ended up getting to the Tigers in 2006. It took me a helluva long time.”

Leyland, though, said he wasn’t sure what logo, if any, would be on his plaque in Cooperstown. He won 700 games with the Tigers, but he also won 851 games with the Pirates and a World Series title in 1997 with the Florida Marlins.

“I’m going to discuss that with the committee and take their advice on that,” he said. “I managed several teams and I don’t want to disrespect any team I managed. I’m hoping the Hall will help me along with that. Possibly I’ll go with no logo. That's a bridge we'll cross later.

“The one thing I won’t do, I won’t show disrespect to any team I managed.”

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He came out of retirement in 2017 to manage in the World Baseball Classic and ended up writing a fitting epilogue to his brilliant, 22-year career, leading Team USA to its first WBC championship.

“That was probably the best-worst job I ever had,” Leyland said. “You are asking players to ramp up early in spring training when maybe they aren’t ready. You are dealing with different team’s players, so you are paranoid about getting somebody hurt. It’s a very tough job.”

And it ended up being one of his most rewarding.

“Winning that tournament for the first time for the United States, what a proud moment,” he said. “For a bunch of guys on different teams that competed against each other during the regular season, to get together and become a team in two weeks — I’ve never seen a team that got that close together in that short of a period of time.

“They were hungry and they meant business. They wanted to show the world where the baseball belongs.”

Leyland used the words “humbled” and “thankful” throughout the 25-minute session. Even a full day after getting the news, he seemed to be having difficult believing he’s going to be inducted into Hall of Fame.

“My career has always been what it is,” he said. “I’m smart enough to know that it’s all about the players. You try to be there for them. You try to handle them the right way and give them the respect they deserve. But you also have to show leadership.

“Contrary to what many people believe, I believe young people and young baseball players, no matter how talented they are, there can be a slight bit of insecurity inside. Am I good enough to be here? Do I really belong here? Can I stay here? It takes someone to show leadership to get them over that hump.”

He seemed to be trying to push himself over that same hump Monday.

“I’m proud to be here,” he said. “To end up in Cooperstown after starting out as a not very good player and a minor league manager — it’s unbelievable. I never had any thought of going to Cooperstown, unless my son was playing in the Field of Dreams game (which he did when he was 12 years old).

“I guess I’m bragging on myself, but it’s a remarkable accomplishment and I’m very proud of it and I’m very humbled by it.”

About those 294 texts. Leyland, as a general rule, doesn't text. But he did his best to acknowledge each and every one -- those from the superstars and especially from those whose careers fell short.

"You know, some of the players I got texts from have been big-leaguers, have been MVPs, they have had great careers, maybe a world champion, maybe a batting title," he said. "So when that career's over, they made money, they had a successful, great career. Certainly you hate to see the end come for anybody. But when you're telling a 18-, 19-year-old kid it's over, that's a little tougher than people think.

"So I have appreciated everything I've gotten, from Justin Verlanders, to the Barry Bonds to, I could go on and on. But also some Mark Wagners and some minor league guys that people might not know about today, that means something special, too."

Leyland will be inducted on July 21, 2024.

Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com

@cmccosky