The oldest manager in MLB history was Connie Mack, who was 87 years and 283 days old when he managed his last game for the Philadelphia Athletics on October 1, 1950.

Mack managed the A’s for an astounding 50 seasons, from 1901 through 1950, leading them to nine American League pennants and five World Series championships along the way.

Even with all those World Series rings, though, Mack’s overall records with the A’s was 3582-3814, leaving him with a .484 winning percentage.

Before taking over the helm with the Athletics, Mack also spent three seasons as a player-manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 1894 through 1896. His managerial record with the National League Bucs was 149-134 (.527).

In all, Mack played in 11 major league seasons from 1886-1896, split between the Washington Nationals, the Buffalo Bisons, and the Pirates.

As a player, Mack was primarily a catcher but also appeared at first base, second base, shortstop, and in all three outfield positions.

Oldest American League Manager

Mack was the oldest American League manager ever, easily outdistancing Chuck Dressen, who was 71 years and 237 days old when he managed his final game for the 1966 Detroit Tigers.

With his first game back at the helm for the Chicago White Sox, though, Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa claimed second spot on the AL list — he was 76 years and 179 days old on Opening Day 2021.

Oldest National League Manager

The oldest man to ever manage a game in the National League was Jack McKeon, who was 80 years and 309 days old when he finished the season as the Florida Marlins’ skipper in 2011.

McKeon had managed the Fish to a World Series title in 2003 before departing the team in 2005. The Marlins brought him back in an emergency(ish) capacity in ’11 after firing manager Edwin Rodriguez after 71 games.

Before McKeon, the oldest NL manager was Casey Stengel, who finished his fourth season with the expansion New York Mets at 74 years and 359 days old in 1965.

Nearly 20 years removed from the dugout, McKeon seems an unlikely candidate to topple Mack as the oldest manager in MLB history.

Oldest MLB Manager in 2022

The oldest MLB manager to start the 2022 season is Tony La Russa of the Chicago White Sox. (Buck Showalter is the oldest manager in the National League in 2022.)

La Russa will be 77 years old for most of the campaign before celebrating his 78th birthday on October 4, 2022.

Does La Russa have any chance of overtaking Connie Mack for the title of “oldest manager in MLB history”?

Seems like a longshot, for sure, but the next decade will tell the tale.

(Wondering who the oldest player in MLB history was? We have the answer, right here.)