ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) — Citing a desire to spend more time with his family, Texas Rangers first base coach Ed Napoleon abruptly retired today.
The 62-year-old Napoleon had been a member of the Rangers’ coaching staff since 1995. No replacement has been named and bench coach Bucky Dent will serve as the interim first base coach.
“I want to thank (general manager) Doug Melvin, (manager) Johnny Oates, the players and everyone in the Texas Rangers organization for an outstanding 5 1/2 years,” Napoleon said. “The people here made it even more difficult to retire at this time. However, it is very important for me to be home in Florida and this is the right decision for me and my family.”
Although Napoleon worked for Melvin, it once was the other way around.
“Ed Napoleon will be greatly missed by the Rangers organization,” Melvin said. “Nap has had a major impact on a number of people in his career. If it wasn’t for him, I’m not sure I would be in professional baseball. He was my first manager in 1972 and helped me get a chance with the Yankees three years later.”
Napoleon has spent the last 45 years in baseball, the first 15 as a minor league manager and the last 30 as a manager or coach. He has been a coach with Cleveland (1983-85), Kansas City (1987-88), Houston (1989-90), the Yankees (1992-93) and Texas.
Story #2:
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers coach Ed Napoleon, who has spent 45 years in professional baseball, announced his immediate retirement Monday to spend more time with his family.
Napoleon, 62, was in his sixth season with the Rangers, serving as first-base and outfield coach for manager Johnny Oates.
Rangers bench coach Bucky Dent will serve as interim first-base coach. Napoleon’s departure is the first change in Oates’ staff since he became the Texas manager in October 1994.
“It was probably tougher for Nap than for me because I think he’s doing the right thing,” Oates said.
Napoleon had already left The Ballpark in Arlington before Monday night’s game against Seattle. Rangers officials, who refused to elaborate on Napoleon’s reasons for retiring, described the coach as very emotional.
“The people here made it even more difficult to retire at this time. However, it is very important for me to be home in Florida, and this is the right decision for me and my family,” Napoleon said in a statement.
Napoleon was a minor league player from 1956-70, and spent the last 30 years as a major league coach and minor league manager and coach. His 14-year major league coaching career includes stints with Cleveland (1983-85), Kansas City (1987-88), Houston (1989-90), the New York Yankees (1992-93) and Texas (1995-2000).
Napoleon was in uniform for Sunday’s game, but had missed games Friday and Saturday after asking Oates for a couple of days off to be with his family.