Charlie Manuel

I like Charlie Manuel. Welcome to Andy Locke Likes: Phillies Week! All this week I will be chronicling the top five things I like about your World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies. To kick things off, I am starting with the man who is the glue that holds the Phillies together and who kept them grounded on their way to the championship. And that man is none other than Uncle Charlie.

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Damn near run out of town a few years back, Charlie Manuel has persevered through it all and come out as one of the most beloved skippers to ever don the red pinstripes. He may not be the most eloquent of speakers at press conferences or in interiews, but none of that matters. What matters is whether or not he has the ability to lead a squad of talented, young, hot shot ball players. Can he inspire them to perform beyond their best? Will he push them to the point of breaking, but support them along the way? Is he a champion? With Charlie Manuel you can answer yes to all of those questions.

In a city like Philadelphia, where sport teams are judged by a simple measuring stick--did you win a championship or not--Charlie Manuel has become an icon, achieving what few managers/head coaches in this city have before him. (It's Philly, afterall--we're not really known for our extensive trophy collection.) It's pretty safe to say this oft-bumbling Virginian will forever be revered as a favorite son of the City of Brotherly Love. And if winning the World Series wasn't enough, Charlie will have his very own bobble-head night in a few weeks.