Bob Skinner checks out

Bob Skinner, tiring of the front office’s on-again, off-again discipline – or total lack of discipline, period – of iconoclastic and often-rebellious first baseman Dick Allen, quits 57 years ago today as the Philadelphia Phillies’ manager.‍

Dick Allen, left, with George Myatt (UPI photo)

Skinner is 92-123 in parts of two seasons managing the Phillies after replacing Gene Mauch midway through the 1968 season and before leaving third-base coach George Myatt to finish out the 1969 season.

Myatt previously is 1-0 as the Phillies’ interim manager in 1968, bridging the gap between Mauch and Skinner.

Myatt does not fare well as Skinner’s replacement, winning only 19 of 54 games to finish the 1969 season.

After the 1969 season, the Phillies trade Allen to St. Louis and hire Frank Lucchesi to manage the team – leaving Myatt to return to coaching third base before the Phillies fire both he and Lucchesi midway through the 1972 season.

A few years later, Allen in 1975 returns to a hero’s welcome in championship-starved Philadelphia and, a year later, the future Hall of Famer helps the Phillies reach the 1976 National League Championship Series.

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