Terry Collins is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager who had a long and successful career in the sport. Collins was born in Midland, Michigan in 1949 and grew up playing baseball. He attended Eastern Michigan University, where he played college baseball and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971.
Collins played in the minor leagues for several years before making his MLB debut with the Pirates in 1975. He played for the Pirates, Dodgers, and Angels over the course of his career, primarily as a middle infielder. Collins was known for his defensive skills and his ability to play multiple positions.
After retiring as a player, Collins began his coaching career in the minor leagues. He worked his way up through the ranks and eventually became a coach for the Houston Astros in 1993. The following year, he was named the manager of the Astros, making him one of the few managers in MLB history to go directly from coaching in the minors to managing at the major league level.
Collins managed the Astros for three seasons before being fired in 1996. He then spent several years as a coach for the Angels and the Mets before being named the manager of the Anaheim Angels in 1997. Collins led the Angels to a winning record in his first season as manager, but was fired after the team struggled in his second season.
After leaving the Angels, Collins spent several years as a coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Dodgers before being named the manager of the Orix Buffaloes in Japan in 2007. He spent two seasons managing in Japan before returning to the United States to become the minor league field coordinator for the Mets.
In 2010, Collins was named the manager of the Mets, a position he held for seven seasons. During his tenure with the Mets, Collins led the team to two playoff appearances and a National League pennant in 2015. He was known for his fiery personality and his ability to motivate his players.
After leaving the Mets in 2017, Collins took a job as a special assistant to the general manager for the team. He has also worked as a commentator for MLB Network and has been involved in various charitable organizations.
Overall, Terry Collins had a long and successful career in baseball as both a player and a manager. He was known for his defensive skills as a player and his ability to motivate his players as a manager. While he had some ups and downs during his managerial career, he is widely respected in the baseball community and has left a lasting impact on the sport.
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