Lee Elia, a prominent figure in Major League Baseball, passed away on July 9 at 87. Elia made his mark as a manager, particularly noted for a passionate postgame rant during his tenure with the Chicago Cubs. His comments were provocative, calling out fans for their criticism while demonstrating fierce loyalty to his players. His approach was unique as most managers refrained from publicly criticizing their fanbase. Elia's legacy includes inspiring current managers to protect their players, marking a shift in managerial conduct in baseball history.
"I'll tell you one f***ing thing. I hope we get f***ing hotter than shit, just to stuff it up to those 3,000 f***ing people who show up ever f***ing day," Elia said about the Cubs. "Because if there's a real Chicago f***ing fan, they can kiss my f***ing a**, run downtown, and twin it!"
Elia was known as a passionate coach throughout his career as a manager. He spent time with the Cubs, Phillies, and Braves as a member of the coaching staff.
Elia's rant is one of the greatest moments in MLB history. Before then, teams were very cautious when it came to calling out their fanbases for booing players amid poor performances.
Managers around the league take a page out of Elia's book and do the same with their lineups, including former MLB manager Dave Martinez.
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