Managers Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs and Jeff Banister of the Texas Rangers have been named the Manager of the Year award winners for the NL and AL for the 2015 season. The Baseball Writers' Association of America announced the winners on Tuesday, with Maddon and Banister winning the awards after leading their teams to the postseason.
Maddon won the award for the third time in his career after previously winning twice when he was in Tampa Bay, while Banister won the award in his first season as manager for the Rangers. Banister won over AJ Hinch of the Astros and Paul Molitor of the Twins with 17 first place votes and 112 points. Maddon won for the Cubs over Mike Matheny of the Cardinals and Terry Collins of the Mets with 18 first-place votes for 124 points.
Maddon won the award after leading the Cubs to 97 wins this season and a playoff run that ended in the National League Championship Series. Many in the media and around baseball felt the Cubs had talent this season, but that it would take another year or two before the team would make the playoffs. Clearly the team beat those expectations and a lot of the credit goes to Maddon, who handled a roster of veterans and young players, including rookie of the year winner Kris Bryant.
Matheny came in second place for the Cardinals with nine first place votes and 87 points after leading St. Louis to the most wins in the National League, while Terry Collins had three first place votes and 49 points. Banister beat out AJ Hinch of the Houston Astros, who had 82 points, and Paul Molitor of the Twins, who earned 33 points.
The Cubs and Rangers both made the playoffs after missing out the previous season and the clubs were ranked one and two in win increases from 2014 to 2015. The Cubs improved 24 wins from last year, while the Rangers were 21 games better than the previous season.