Bochy carving out quite a career

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The Astros belted three home runs and took advantage of three San Diego errors to rout the Padres 10-2.

Welcome to the big-league managing fraternity, Bruce Bochy.

"They wanted me fired that day," Bochy said. "My first game. My first loss. I felt, 'Geez, I better have some thick skin as manager.' "

That was 1995. Bochy was the National League's youngest manager at 40. Now he's the majors' longest-tenured, approaching his 20th consecutive season at the helm and tops among active managers in career wins, thanks to the exits of Jim Leyland and Dusty Baker.

And Bochy's resume includes a line that's rare for any manager: never been fired.

"Sometimes I wonder why, because I've had some tough years," said Bochy, who has been running the Giants since 2007. "I guess I've been blessed."

Bochy's longevity stems from strong relationships with players and bosses and a lot of good baseball along the way. His 1,530 wins are 21st all time, more than Hall of Famers Earl Weaver (1,480) and Whitey Herzog (1,281) and just behind Hall of Famers Dick Williams (1,571) and Tommy Lasorda (1,599), whom Bochy is on pace to pass next season.

Which invites the question: How much longer and how many more wins would it take for Bochy to reach the Hall of Fame?

The 58-year-old, who evolved from backup catcher to manager of two World Series champions, is signed through 2016, with his three-year extension kicking in next season. He'll be 61 at the end of the contract.

Bruce Bochy, the National League's youngest manager when his career began, is now one of the elder statesmen among major-league skippers. Bruce Bochy, the National League's youngest manager when his career began, is now one of the elder statesmen among major-league skippers. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Bochy carving out quite a career 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Another three years beyond that probably gets him to 2,000 wins, the magic number for Cooperstown. Seven of 10 managers with 2,000 wins are in the Hall of Fame, and the other three will be inducted in July.

Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre, who are 3, 4 and 5 on the all-time wins list, attended a Monday news conference at the winter meetings, in which the expansion era committee announced they'll be in the 2014 induction class, having been voted in unanimously.

Elsewhere at the winter meetings, Bochy watched the news conference on television.

Asked about his Hall of Fame chances, Bochy said, "I don't ever think about it. It's too humbling to think about. When you think of the Hall of Fame, you think of Willie Mays and great players like that. You don't look at yourself like that.

"I feel fortunate that I've been doing what I love for as long as I've been doing it. Of course, moving up to San Francisco and getting the resources from Brian (Sabean) and ownership to help us win a couple of world championships, I know how lucky I am."

While Bochy is the longest-tenured manager, Sabean is the longest-tenured general manager, approaching his 18th season, all with the Giants.

"Overnight, he's the dean," said Sabean, who became a close friend of Bochy's after hiring him over candidates Manny Acta, Bud Black and Ron Wotus. "I can't speak for him as far as how long he wants to manage, but I don't think he has to worry about a job with or without the Giants."

According to Jack McKeon, Bochy's managing career is just getting started. McKeon was the second-oldest manager in history - at 80, he took over the 2011 Marlins. Now he's eyeing Connie Mack, who managed until age 88.

"I'm just in between jobs," McKeon said. "I'm as sharp at 83 as I was at 53, maybe sharper. (Bochy) has got a long way to go."

McKeon gave Bochy his first managing job, with the Class A Spokane Indians in 1989. Bochy last played in the majors in 1987, and he was a player-coach for Triple-A Las Vegas in 1988. McKeon, the Padres' GM, along with farm director Tom Romenesko figured managing was Bochy's calling.

"He was the perfect guy to have on your ballclub. Great personality, a clubhouse leader even though he wasn't playing," McKeon said. "He wasn't in position to be the No. 1 catcher, and he never bitched or complained. He accepted the role and remained dedicated."

Bochy won three league championships in four minor-league seasons, and he served as the Padres' third-base coach two years before becoming their manager in 1995. The Padres won the NL West in 1996 and reached the World Series in 1998. His final two seasons in San Diego, his teams were division champs.

Under CEO Sandy Alderson, the Padres wouldn't offer Bochy an extension of his contract, which was to expire after the 2007 season. Alderson permitted Bochy to interview elsewhere, and the Giants offered three years, giving him a chance to usher out the Barry Bonds era and usher in the Tim Lincecum era.

Bochy has more wins (579) and games (1,134) in the Giants' West Coast history than all but Roger Craig (586/1,152), whom Bochy should pass on both fronts in April, and Baker (840/1,556).

Now Bochy is the fourth-oldest manager on the big-league beat behind Terry Collins (64), Ron Washington (61) and Joe Maddon (59), but no one comes close in service time or victories. Mike Scioscia is runner-up in both, trailing by five years and 297 wins.

"Two things," Bochy said. "One, it tells me I'm getting old. Two, I don't know where the years have gone. They've flown by. I guess that's a good thing. It means you're having fun."

How much longer?

"You hear the adage, 'If you think about when you'll retire, you probably should,' " said Bochy, the only active manager to lead his teams to three World Series. "That thought never crosses my mind because I love what I do and I can't wait for spring training. Until that goes away, I'll hopefully have an opportunity to manage."

Along with the 1,530 wins come 1,530 losses. A .500 record. Just two managers among the top 10 in wins have losing records: Mack and Bucky Harris. Bochy's record was sub-.500 before he joined the Giants, and he pushed 10 games above .500 in 2012, but last season he went 76-86.

Bochy's postseason record, which doesn't count on his career mark, is 30-25 (22-9 with the Giants).

His longevity hit him when he heard who would replace Leyland in Detroit: Brad Ausmus, the Padres' catcher in Bochy's managing debut.

"A reminder of how old I'm getting," Bochy said.

Or how accomplished he is.

"He might be the best tactician in the game," Ausmus said. "You think of (Bochy) as a manager, you think he's pretty darn close to the Hall of Fame."

For now, Bochy seems perfectly fine beginning his three-year extension, which he signed in March.

"Three years is a long time," Bochy said. "We'll see where we're at, myself and more so what their thinking is. Obviously, I'm where I want to be. This is where I would love to finish my career."