12/24/2004 1:08 PM ET
Oates loses fight with cancer
Associated Press
Johnny Oates came out to the stadium for the 2003 Rangers Hall of Fame ceremony. (LM Otero/AP)
RICHMOND, Va. -- Johnny Oates, who managed the Texas Rangers to their first three postseason appearances, died early Friday. He was 58.
Oates was diagnosed with a brain tumor three years ago. His death was confirmed by John Blake, a former Rangers spokesman who worked for the organization when Oates coached in the '90s.
Oates also managed the Baltimore Orioles from 1991-94.
He spent six seasons with the Rangers, guiding them to the playoffs in 1996, '98 and '99, and shared the American League Manager of the Year award with New York's Joe Torre in 1996.
Oates resigned in 2001 after the Rangers lost 17 of their first 28 games despite the addition of $252 million free agent shortstop Alex Rodriguez. He compiled a regular season record of 797-746 and got his only postseason victory in 10 tries when the Rangers made their playoff debut, winning 6-2 at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 1, 1996.
Texas lost the next three games and was swept by the Yankees in 1998 and '99.
Just over six months after leaving the Rangers, Oates was considering a return to managing when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain tumor.
The tumor was removed in surgery in November 2001, and a wafer that delivered time-released chemotherapy was put in its place. But the tumor returned in April 2003.
Throughout his illness, Oates remained an upbeat and deeply spiritual man, thankful for the warning that he would likely die from the disease, but celebrating the chance to be with his wife, Gloria, of nearly 40 years, their three children and grandchildren.
"When you look at it, it's a blessing," he said in an April 2003 interview.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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