Former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is getting his first World Series ring in 35 years. Gibbons, 59, played eight games on the New York Mets World Series Champion team in 1986, was a bullpen catcher for them in the postseason, and got a World Series ring with them but never played a game in the majors again.
Now, Gibbons, who is a scout for the Atlanta Braves, will be getting another World Series ring, according to former Toronto Sun reporter Bob Elliott on Twitter.
Congrats to former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, who will get a World Series ring from the Atlanta Braves. Jonathan Schuerholz and Gibbons scouted the Astros leading up to the Braves meeting Houston in the World Series @Braves @BlueJays @astros
— bob elliott (@elliottbaseball) December 21, 2021
Gibbons scouted the Houston Astros for the Braves before the 2021 World Series and the Astros were vanquished in the World Series by the Braves in six games.
Former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons: World Champion again
When former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons last got a World Series ring, it was a weird time for him. He only played parts of two MLB seasons, but he last played in 1986 with the New York Mets. He played four more seasons in the minor leagues, but never made it back to the majors before retiring after the 1990 season.
Gibbons ended up joining the Mets minor league system as a coach and minor league manager before jumping to the Blue Jays as a bullpen catcher and, later, first base coach. He was hired as the Blue Jays manager when they fired Carlos Tosca as manager in 2004. Since the Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993, it had been a tumultuous time for Jays managers.
From 1997 until Gibbons was hired in 2004, the Jays went through six managers, none lasting more than two seasons. However, Gibbons lasted until June 2008. After becoming the bench coach for the Royals and managing in the minors for the Padres, Gibbons was rehired by the Jays as their manager for the 2013 season.
He managed the team through the 2018 season before Charlie Montoyo replaced him. Gibbons had a record of 793-789 between the two stints, making it to the playoffs twice in 2015 and 2016.