Marcel Lachemann

Marcel Ernest Lachemann

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.
• School University of Southern California
• High School Susan Miller Dorsey High School
• Debut June 4, 1969
• Final Game April 25, 1971
• Born June 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, CA USA

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Biographical Information

The brother of Rene Lachemann and Bill Lachemann, Marcel Lachemann attended Susan Miller Dorsey High School where he got several offers from major league scouts but he turned them down and went to the University of Southern California, where he won the 1961 College World Series. While with USC, he hurt his arm and began throwing sidearm.

He was signed by the Kansas City Athletics in February 1963. He was sent to the Daytona Beach Islanders, in the Florida State League. He was more of a swingman, starting 9 games in 36 total appearances. It was the only year when he was used significantly as a starting pitcher. His ERA was 4.15. His control was off a bit, allowing 78 walks in 115 innings, but he was hard to hit: in 115 innings, he allowed 100 hits, the best ratio on the team.

Lachemann played for the Lewiston Broncs in 1964, in the Northwest League. Among regular pitchers, his 2.81 ERA in 48 innings was the team’s best. He cut down on his walk total (18). In 26 games (one start), his record was 3-4. He moved up to the AA Birmingham Barons in 1965, in the Southern League. He led the team with 58 appearances (second in the league to Andrew Dustal) but also in losses (11). His ERA was 3.32 in 95 innings. He kept moving up the ladder in 1966 with the Vancouver Mounties, in the Pacific Coast League. Again, he was his team's most-used reliever, with 53 games. In 97 innings, his ERA was 4.18, allowing 89 hits and 53 walks. He tied Bobby Tiefenauer for 5th in the 1966 PCL in games pitched.

In 1967, he was back to AA in Birmingham but struggled. In 35 games, his ERA was 4.57 in a pitcher-friendly era (3.02 league ERA). In 63 innings, he allowed 62 hits and 29 walks. He began 1968 with Birmingham, where he completely dominated. In 22 games covering 45 innings, his ERA was 0.80. He was promoted to Vancouver, where his ERA was 2.73 in 14 games (33 innings).

The Iowa Oaks, based in Des Moines, Iowa were the A’s new affiliate in 1969 and that's where Lachemann began that season. He was the team's best reliever. In 20 games covering 51 innings, his ERA was 2.47. His 5 saves remained a team best at the end of the season. In June, after six and half years in the minors, he was called up by the now Oakland A's. In his first game on June 4th, he allowed two runs to the Baltimore Orioles. Then, he pitched nine straight games when he did npt allow an earned run, lowering his ERA to 1.15. During that stretch, he won his first two decisions and would have been credited with two unofficial "holds" (the statistic did not yet exist). On August 6th, his ERA was still a solid 2.05. After allowing two runs two days later, he was sent down to the minors. He was back in Oakland a month later. One very bad outing in mid-September hurt his final stats (five earned runs in two thirds of an inning). His final record with Oakland was 4-1 in 28 games with a 3.95 ERA. From 1969-1972, his brother Rene would be his teammate with Iowa.

Lachemann began 1970 with Iowa as the team’s #1 reliever. After 11 games, over which he was involved in nine decisions (3-2 record with 4 saves) with a 2.45 ERA, Lachemann was called up by the A’s in May. He became part of a very solid group of relievers, led by Jim "Mudcat" Grant, along with Paul Lindblad and Bob Locker (the whole relief group would show a 2.55 ERA). As for Lachemann, he pitched in 41 games, splitting his six decisions to go with 3 saves, with a nice 2.78 ERA.

He began 1971 with Oakland at last, but Lachemann couldn't enjoy the moment very long. He pitched only one game before being sent down to AAA, never to be back in the big leagues again (as a player). He was Iowa's closer in 1971, leading the team in games (43) and saves (11), while showing a team-best 3.04 ERA. He was 9th in the 1971 American Association in pitching appearances and tied Dennis Higgins and Aurelio Monteagudo for second in saves, 7 back of Garland Shifflett.

It was back to Iowa in 1972. For the first time since 1967, he struggled, allowing 81 hits in 72 innings that led to a 4.88 ERA (6-7, 5 Sv). The A's released him in January 1973. In February, the Montreal Expos organization signed him to be a player-coach with their AA affiliate the Quebec Carnavals, in the Eastern League. It was the beginning of a way longer career in the coaching ranks, a path he had envisioned before he even reached the majors. His main duties were as a coach, but he was still asked to pitch in 25 games, including one start. He was hit harder than ever, allowing 61 hits in 40 innings for a 4.28 ERA. He went 2-3 with 2 saves.

Lachemann remained in the organization two more seasons as a pitching coach in 1974 and 1975 with the West Palm Beach Expos. It looked like a move down but Lachemann had asked himself to be sent elsewhere as he found the setup in Quebec hard for the whole family. He saw some action in West Palm Beach in 1974, pitching 5 games in relief. After 1975, farm director Mel Didier left the Expos and his successor, Kevin McHale, asked him to go back to Quebec City. Lachemann declined and then joined his alma matter USC as an assistant coach in 1976, a position he would hold until 1981. In the meantime, he also managed in the collegiate Alaska Baseball League in 1976 and 1977, leading the Anchorage Glacier Pilots to the circuit championship.

In 1982, he joined the California Angels organization as a roving pitching coach for two seasons. He then became the Angels' pitching coach from 1984 to 1992. In 1993, he became the Florida Marlins' first-ever pitching coach, under the managership of his brother, Rene Lachemann. He remained in that position until May 1994, leaving the Marlins to become the Angels manager. In 1995, he led them to a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the top spot in the AL West, but lost the one-game playoff due to the pitching of Randy Johnson. He resigned in May 1996 but remained on the coaching staff as the pitching coach until 1998. After a year off, he was back as a pitching coach, this time with the Colorado Rockies, a position he held for two seasons in 2000 and 2001. He remained in the organization until the end of 2011, at what time he had become a special assistant to the GM. After the 2011 season, he resigned, citing differences in philosophies. Within weeks, he was hired by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as a special assistant to GM Jerry DiPoto.

Marcel Lachemann was also involved internationally. He coached for Team USA in the 1999 Pan American Games and 2006 World Baseball Classic. He remained with them for the 2007 Baseball World Cup. They won Gold, their first Gold in a Baseball World Cup in which Cuba participated. He was pitching coach with Team USA for the 2008 Olympics, when they won Bronze. He coached for the USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and was Team USA's bullpen coach in the 2013 World Baseball Classic

His two brothers, Bill and Rene also made a career in baseball. His son Bret, played in the Angels’ organization and later managed at the high school level.

Preceded by Buck Rodgers

California Angels Manager 1994-1996

Succeeded by John McNamara

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1994	California Angels	American League	31-44	4th	California Angels		replaced Buck Rodgers (16-24) on May 18
1995	California Angels	American League	78-67	2nd	California Angels
1996	California Angels	American League	52-59	--	California Angels		replaced by John McNamara on August 6

Related Sites

• BR Manager page