Manager of the Cincinnati Reds, Former
Pro Baseball Player
Jerome Austin Narron (born January 15, 1956 in
Goldsboro, North Carolina) is a former catcher in Major League
Baseball and the current manager of the Cincinnati Reds, having
been named to that position on an interim basis on June 20,
2005. On September 29 of that year, his contract was extended
to cover the 2006 season with mutual option for 2007. He was
drafted out of high school in the sixth round by the New York
Yankees in 1974 and played alongside brother Johnny Narron
in Johnson City, Tennessee during his first professional season.
Narron played for the Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and California
Angels before retiring as a player in 1989. He then began coaching
for the Baltimore Orioles organization until 1995 when he was
hired as a coach for the Texas Rangers by Johnny Oates and
GM Doug Melvin.
On June 28, 2006, Narron's contract was extended to cover the 2008 season.
Coaching History
Narron was third-base coach for the Texas Rangers in 1995 and remained there
until he was named interim manager May 4, 2001 after the firing of manager Johnny
Oates. He was replaced in Texas by Buck Showalter in 2002. Narron then served
as bench coach for the Boston Red Sox during their 2003 run to the ALCS.
Trivia
Narron also coaches girl's varsity basketball
at Rosewood High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
In 1979, Narron caught the Yankees' first
game following the death of beloved Yankee catcher Thurman
Munson.
He is the nephew of former major league catcher
Sam Narron.
His brother Johnny Narron is currently a coach
in the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system.
Narron wears the number 41 with the Reds to
honor his five children, 4 daughters and 1 son, the youngest
of the five.
