Mario Nunes

On Sunday 5/12, prior to the game vs. the Miami Banditos, the Washington Admirals will hold a ceremony inducting former manger Mario Nunes as the newest 4 Star Admiral.  In addition to throwing out the first pitch, Nunes will hang around to sign autographs for both fans and players -- including members of the opposing Banditos -- and will spend the 7th inning in the broadcasting booth.  Here are the highlights of Nunes' bio...

1. Whenever the Hall of Fame starts inducting managers in addition to players, there's no doubt that Nunes will be the first inducted.  In 1972, the Admirals went 80-82 and missed the playoffs.  That offseason, they hired the 46-year-old Nunes, who led the team to the playoffs in each of his first 9 seasons with the team.

2. Nunes won 4 World Championships, the most all time: 1974, 1975, 1977, and 1978,  In retrospect, he cites the 1976 team which lost to the playoffs and thus denied the Admirals 5 *straight* world championships as his most heart breaking team.  Behind Nunes, only 2 managers have even 2 World Championships: Dave Olsen, who led Washington D.C. to Series titles in 1983 and 1984, and Billy Martin, present manager of the Omaha Wolverines.

3. Nunes ranks first among real managers in career winning percentage at .579.  (If you check the record book, it lists R. M first at .586, but this is a bookkepping error), and also first in games over .500 with 382.  Still, he's only 4th on the all time wins list with a record of 1,486-1,024.

4. Nunes' Admirals teams won at least 100 games 4 times, and at least 110 games twice.  His 1978 team that went 113-49 (setting a record) is widely regarded as the greatest EWB in all of history.  Nunes' worst seasons as an Admirals manger were his last two, when he wen 89-73 (third) in 1982 and then 88-74 (second) in 1983, missing the playoffs both years despite fairly impressive records.

5. After that 1983 season, Nunes felt burnt out, and left his spot at manager to become the Admirals G.M. for a season, 1984.  Nunes knew, though, that Admirals owner Tom Tiehen had plans for his young son to eventually become the G.M. for the organization, and so feeling that his future was limited he left the team prior to the 1985 season to take a manager's job with perrenial doormat Portland.  Under Nunes' tenure, Portland went from 68-94 in 1985 (Nunes' worst season ever) to 80-82 in 1986, to 82-80 in 1987 (Portland's first winning season, and only their second ever, besides 1990).  During this time, he nurtured the careers of 2 time MVP Mike Robinson, All Star Keith Whitfield, and Gibson Award winner Geoff McKnight, among others.  The period is often referred to as the "Portland Renaissance," although the truth is that this was really the *first* time Portland had any success during their history.  Despite having the team on an upward trajectory, Portland let Nunes go prior to the 1988 season as a cost-saving measure.  Many insiders cite this as a big factor behind why they weren't able to sign Robinson after the season ended.

6. After the 1987 season, Nunes signed a deal with the Washington D.C. Diplomats.  The Diplomats had gone 77-85 in 1987, finishing 4th in their division.  In 1988, under Nunes for the first time, they roared to 88-74, capturing their division.  They ended up losing a heartbreaking Wildcard Series to the Cleveland Rockers, the eventual World Champions.  After the season Nunes retired, still a relatively young man at 61.

7. After retiring, Nunes spent 1989 as a studio analyst for ESPN's fledgling Baseball Tonight program.  Many fans found him to have a wooden delivery, and to add no real insight in his analysis.  Think Rick Sutcliffe, or Harold Reynolds in his early days.  Unfortunately, this further cemented Nunes' reputation as being not the real force behind the Admirals dynasty; fans heaped more praise on Admirals ownership and the players themselves from that era.  For years prior to this, scouts had rated Nunes as not one of best managers in the league.  Now, a number of fans agreed.  In Nunes' defense though: look at his record.

8. Nunes originally had an unpleasant break from Washington, given that he felt his years at the GM option were limited.  However, there is some talk that the relation has improved recently.  There have even been rumors that GM Justin T has tried to talk Nunes out of retirement.  But, it's widely regarded as a pipe dream that Nunes would actually leave retirement to take another managerial job, even though he's only 64.

9. Nunes, born in Cuba, makes a winter home in Southern Florida.  A lifelong Republican ever since fleeing the island once Castro took over, there are rumors he will seek a Congressional Seat in Florida in the 1992 election.