Chicago Cubs Tap Maddon ’76

After nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Joe Maddon ’76 became manager of the Chicago Cubs in November.

The skipper agreed to a five-year deal with the Cubs, who are trying to improve upon a 73-89 record in 2014 and have not recorded a winning season since 2009.

Maddon led the Rays to the World Series in 2008, winning American League Manager of the Year in 2008 and 2011. The Hazleton, Pa., native spent 12 years at the minor league level as a manager and instructor before being promoted to the major league staff of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as a bullpen coach in 1994. He became first-base coach in 1995 and bench coach in 1996 and was in the bullpen for the Angels’ World Series championship in 2002.

Maddon played catcher at Lafayette from 1973 to 1975 under head coach Norm Gigon before signing as a free agent with the California Angels. Originally recruited for the football team, he played only his first year. In his final game, he completed 14 of 17 passes for four touchdowns in a win over Lehigh.

A 2009 Maroon Club Hall of Fame inductee, Maddon received an honorary degree from Lafayette in 2010.