Ned Yost will receive the American Baseball Coaches Association Honor Award for 2015, it was announced on Wednesday. Yost is manager of the Kansas City Royals, who reached the World Series last year.
The Honor Award is presented annually to individuals involved in baseball, who have distinguished themselves and are recognized for achievements in their profession. It was previously announced that MLB Commissioner-elect Robert Manfred will also receive the Honor Award. Both Yost and Manfred will be recognized and have the opportunity to speak during the Honors Luncheon at the 71st annual ABCA Convention on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015
Yost was named the 16th full-time manager in Kansas City Royals history on May 13, 2010 and, five seasons later, led the team to its first playoff appearance in 29 years. The Royals went 89-73 in the 2014 regular season, finishing second in the AL Central and clinching a Wild Card berth.
In the 2014 playoffs, Kansas City won every game en route to the World Series to become the first team in history to win its first eight playoff games. The Royals beat Oakland in the Wild Card round before sweeping the Angels in the American League Division Series and sweeping the Orioles in the ALCS. They reached game seven of the 2014 World Series, losing a 3-2 heartbreaker to the San Fransisco Giants on the road in the final game.
Yost was named manager of the Royals during the 2010 season and led the team to a 55-72 record the rest of the way. The team improved its winning percentage every season thereafter, going 86-76 during the 2013 campaign with an AL-best 43-27 record after the All-Star break. That marked the Royals' first winning season in 10 years.
Yost managed the Milwaukee Brewers from 2003 through 2008. After going 68-94 in 2003, Yost steadily increased the club's win total and led it to a 83-79 record and a second-place finish in the NL Central in 2007. It was Milwaukee's first winning season since 1992.
Prior to the Brewers, Yost spent 12 seasons on the Major League staff of the Atlanta Braves under Hall of Famer Bobby Cox from 1991 through 2002. The Braves won their division in each of Yost's seasons except the strike-shortened 1994 campaign. The Braves won five NL Pennants and the 1995 World Series in Yosts's tenure.
A catcher, Yost played for parts of six seasons in the Majors with the Brewers (1980-83), Rangers (1984) and Expos (1985). He reached the 1982 World Series with the Brewers, walking in his only plate appearance. Before playing pro baseball, Yost played for Chabot College in Hayward, California.
Yost and his wife, Deborah, have four children: a daughter, Jenny, and three sons, Ned IV, Josh and Andrew.
The Honor Award has been presented annually at the ABCA Convention for over 40 years. Some of the past recipients include George H.W. Bush, Bobby Brown, Dick Enberg, Gene Autry, Lou Gehrig, Ray Kroc, John Grisham, Dennis Hastert, Nolan Ryan, Drayton McLane, Andy MacPhail, Michael Josephson, Cal Ripken, Jr., Tony Gwynn, Sparky Anderson, Sandy Alderson, Mike Scioscia and Dave Winfield.