Perrotto: Gene Lamont Wants More Than Sentimental Journey

PITTSBURGH – Gene Lamont feels like he is finally home again.

Lamont was in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ dugout on Monday night as a consultant to manager Don Kelly. It was the first time Lamont had worn a Pirates uniform since he was fired at the end of the 2000 season, his final game coinciding with the last baseball game played at Three Rivers Stadium.

One of baseball’s good guys, Lamont isn’t usually a reflective sort. However, he got sentimental when asked about returning to the Pirates almost 25 years after the franchise let him go.

“I played a little bit in the big leagues (as a catcher with the Detroit Tigers), but the Pirates are really the first organization I think about, because this is where I came in ’86 in a real bad situation,” Lamont said before the Pirates lost 7-1 to the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.

“I love the city. The ballpark is beautiful. I told somebody that I have a spade at home from when they first started digging to open this stadium, but I got fired, and I guess they asked me not to attend the (first game at PNC Park).”

It’s great to know that Lamont’s droll sense of humor is intact. The 78-year-old might need it as the Pirates are 15-33 and are 13 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs in the National League Central standings.

Lamont served as a Pirates coach under Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland from 1986-91 then again in 1996 following a four-year stint as the Chicago White Sox’s manager. Lamont then replaced Leyland before the 1997 season and compiled a 295-352 record during his four-year stint.

The Pirates were coming off a 105-loss season when Lamont joined the organization. The franchise was in worse shape than its current tattered state. Not by much, but it was.

“Jim just set the tone on who was going to run the thing,” Lamont said of Leyland’s rookie season in ‘86. “Because he was a young manager, he had to show some of the older players, ‘here’s how we’re going to do it.’ I think you’ve got to give some of the credit to (then-general manager) Syd Thrift, who made some really, really good trades that got us going.”

Thrift once famously said, “It ain’t easy raising the dead,” when asked about turning the Pirates around. Thrift’s rebuilding eventually helped lead the Pirates to three straight National League East titles from 1990-92.

The Pirates haven’t won their division in the ensuing 33 seasons. Current GM Ben Cherington is in his sixth season of trying to resurrect the Pirates, and they’re not close to contending.

Time will tell if Kelly becomes the next Leyland – Kelly played for Leyland with the Tigers — but Lamont wouldn’t give up the retired life in Siesta Key, Fla., for just anybody.

“It’s more just being with Donnie,” Lamont said of his role. “Maybe there are some decisions during the game that he’ll wonder about. Do I have all the answers? I have the answers, but they’re not always right. I’ll give Donnie my opinion and hopefully it’ll help and we’ll win some ballgames.”

The Pirates need all the help they can get, and Kelly is certain Lamont will be an asset. Kelly was a utility player for the Tigers when Lamont was on their coaching staff a decade ago.

“Just a phenomenal baseball guy,” Kelly said. “Taught me a lot as a player and looking forward to having him around, teaching the staff and the players what he knows.”

Reds manager Terry Francona did a great job of summing up Lamont.

“I don’t know if Gene can open a computer, but I know he has an advanced degree in baseball,” Francona said with a smile.

For the Pirates’ sake, it would help if Lamont knew how to raise the dead.