All for the Magic of Michael

July 18, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

Leyland headlines Hirschbecks’ guest list

POLAND

Jim Leyland spent 11 of his 22 seasons as a Major League Baseball manager with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Perrysburg native likes life in western Pennsylvania so much that he continues to reside in the area. Instead of the high-profile existence of his previous job, Leyland now quietly goes about a behind-the-scenes approach to being a good citizen.

“Jimmy has been in Pittsburgh now for 30 years,” said Lanny Frattare, the former Pirates play-by-play radio announcer. “He’s never left Pittsburgh.”

Leyland and Frattare were among the guests on Sunday at The Lake Club at the second annual Magic of Michael Foundation fund-raising dinner sponsored by Poland’s Hirschbeck family.

Michael Hirschbeck, son of Major League Baseball umpire John Hirschbeck, died in 2014 from Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), the same disease that took the life of his brother John in 1993 at age 8. ALD is a rare degenerative disease that attacks the nervous system.

It shouldn’t be surprising that Leyland, now a consultant for the Detroit Tigers, made the short trip here to lend support.

“In my opinion, there’s no one that’s ever worn a uniform for Pittsburgh that’s done more for Pittsburgh than Jimmy,” Frattare said. “Much of what he’s done, he didn’t want people to know about. He has been totally submerged in the Pittsburgh community.”

Of the baseball community, Leyland said, “We’re a big family.

“It’s not true that the umpires are our enemies,” said the former manager who also led the Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers. “They’re our friends. That’s what this is about.

“John called and asked me if I would be willing to come up, and I said ‘absolutely.’ I’m proud and happy to be here.”

Leyland retired following the 2013 season after spending two seasons with the Marlins, one with the Rockies and eight with the Tigers.

Before that, Leyland led the Pirates to winning the National League East Division in 1990, ’91 and ’92. In the postseason, the Pirates lost to the Cincinnati Reds in 1990 and the Atlanta Braves the next two seasons.

After leaving the Pirates, the Marlins won the 1997 World Series in seven games against the Cleveland Indians, winning game seven in extra innings after Jose Mesa’s blown save in the ninth inning.

The Tigers won two American League pennants under his guidance, losing in the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and the San Francisco Giants in 2012.

Leyland enjoyed a reputation as a fair manager with players, along with being considered among the best strategists in the game. Catcher Mike “Spanky” LaValliere, a member of the Pirates for parts of seven seasons, has nothing but praise for Leyland.

“Whether you were the best player on the team or the number 25 guy, he made you feel important each and every game,” LaValliere said. “You knew he was going to give you the best chance to personally succeed, which was going to help the club.

“The way everything was run, you always felt you were going to be a key part of it every game.”

Also in attendance were retired umpires Steve Palermo, Larry Young, Tim McClelland and Rick Reed as well as retired players with Pennsylvania roots (Sean Casey and Lynn Jones).

McClelland was in the wedding party when John and Denise Hirschbeck were married.

Leyland’s well-tanned look reflects someone that’s enjoying being out of the high-pressured lifestyle of baseball. He keeps busy as a special assistant to Tigers general manager Al Avila and as an assistant to Commissioner Rob Manfred.

“You miss the competition, and you miss the players,” Leyland said, “but I don’t miss all the travel and everything. I had enough.”

The Leyland-Hirschbeck relationship dates to 1976 when Hirschbeck began his professional career as an umpire in the Class A Florida State League and Leyland was a manager. There has always been a strong relationship between the two.

“Right after we found out about [John’s illness], my brother Mark was still umpiring in the National League,” Hirschbeck said. “We took the two boys down to see Mark. Jim found out about it, and he paraded all the superstars through the umpires’ locker room, bringing them signed balls and bats.

“When everyone got done, he came through and was the last one. He kind of gave the boys and hug and gave John a glove he had since he was in the minor leagues. We still have it as a prized possession.”

Umpires and managers can get along, especially when it’s about something bigger than baseball.