Pedro Grifol couldn’t ask for a tougher assignment in his managerial debut.
Grifol will skipper for the first time against the defending World Series champion Astros when his White Sox open the season in Houston on Thursday.
The former Royals’ bench coach will become the 15th manager to make his debut against the reigning champs.
History is not Grifol’s side here. First-day freshman managers are just 3-11 when starting against the previous year’s World Series winners.
The only skippers finding success here are the Phillies’ Pat Moran, who debuted with a 3-0 win over the Boston Braves in 1915, Philadelphia’s Mayo Smith, who started with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in 1955 and the Yankees’ Lou Piniella, who opened with a 4-2 triumph of the Royals since 1985.
Since Piniella’s win managers debuting against the champs have lost three straight: Milwaukee’s Phil Garner vs. the Twins in 1992, the LA Angels’ Mike Scioscia vs. the Yankees in 2000 and Arizona’s Chip Hale vs. the Giants in 2015.
Here’s the complete list:
MANAGERIAL DEBUT VS. DEFENDING WORLD SERIES CHAMPION
1) 1908–Cincinnati’s John Ganzel vs. Cubs (Loss 6-5 at home)
2) 1909–St. Louis’ Roger Bresnahan vs. Cubs (Loss 3-1 away)
3) 1915–Philadelphia’s (N) Pat Moran vs. Braves (Win 3-0 away)
4) 1930–New York’s (A) Bob Shawkey vs. A’s (Loss 6-2 away)
5) 1934–Philadelphia’s (N) Jimmie Wilson vs. Giants (Loss 6-1 away)
6) 1948–Washington’s Joe Kuhel vs. Yankees (Loss 12-4 at home)
7) 1955–Philadelphia’s Mayo Smith vs. Giants (Win 4-2 at home)
8) 1961–San Francisco’s Alvin Dark vs. Pittsburgh (Loss 8-7 at home)
9) 1963–Kansas City’s Eddie Lopat vs. Yankees (Loss 8-2 at home)
10) 1966–Houston’s Grady Hatton vs. Dodgers (Loss 3-2 away)
11) 1986–NY Yankees’ Lou Piniella vs. Royals (Win 4-2 at home)
12) 1992–Milwaukee’s Phil Garner vs. Twins (Loss 4-2 at home)
13) 2000–LA Angels’ Mike Scioscia vs. Yankees (Loss 3-2 at home)
14) 2015–Arizona’s Chip Hale vs. Giants (Loss 5-4 at home)