Former Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel Suffers Stroke

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suffered a stroke Saturday while undergoing a medical procedure at a Florida hospital, the team confirmed on social media.

According to the Phillies, doctors removed a blood clot from Manuel immediately following the stroke.

The team did not disclose the medical procedure.

"The next 24 hours will be crucial to his recovery, and Charlie's family asks that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers at this time," the team wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Manuel, 79, was the Phillies’ manager from 2004-13, leading them to the 2008 World Series title when the team beat the Tampa Bay Rays. The winningest manager in team history, Manuel led the Phils to first-place finishes in the National League East division from 2007-11.

He was in the final year of his contract when the team fired him in 2013, ESPN reported.

"I never quit nothing and I didn't resign," Manuel said at the time.

Manuel returned to the Phillies in August 2019 as their hitting coach, replacing John Mallee for the remainder of the season.

During his playing career, Manuel spent parts of six seasons playing for the Minnesota Twins (1969-72) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1974-75). He hit .198 batter with four home runs and 43 RBI in the majors. Manuel then played from 1976-81 in Japanese baseball, winning the Pacific League's Most Valuable Player Award in 1979 with the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

In 2014, Manuel was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame.