Jim Leyland! Hall of Fame MLB Coach on Coaching Bonds, Cabrera, Verlander, & World Series Teams

Jim Leyland is a name etched in baseball history—Hall of Fame manager, World Series champion, and the ultimate baseball lifer. In this episode, we sit down with Leyland for a no-BS, deeply authentic conversation spanning six decades of baseball memories.

From coaching Barry Bonds in his rookie season to guiding Miguel Cabrera through historic moments, Leyland pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to manage greatness. He shares the inside story of Edgar Renteria’s game-winning hit in the 1997 World Series, the behind-the-scenes decisions on Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya, and how “tough love” became his signature style. He even opens up about the moment he nearly gave up on the World Baseball Classic—before leading Team USA to gold.

For sports fans who appreciate grit, truth, and the game behind the game, this is a masterclass in leadership, storytelling, and what it means to live baseball.

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⏰ TIMESTAMPS

(00:00:00) – Why this episode hits close to home for Justin

(00:01:27) – Leyland’s 11 years in the minors and what it taught him

(00:03:18) – Promoting Jack Morris and the power of tough love

(00:07:03) – Managing a young Barry Bonds and the early Pirates

(00:13:43) – Building trust with GMs like Dave Dombrowski

(00:17:36) – Behind the scenes of the 1997 Marlins championship

(00:23:06) – What it’s really like in Game 7 of a World Series

(00:28:48) – Edgar Renteria’s game-winning strategy

(00:30:30) – Why Leyland trusted young arms like Verlander & Zumaya

(00:37:15) – Zumaya vs Jeter and the myth of 103 mph

(00:41:13) – The culture shift with the 2006 Tigers

(00:49:04) – Comparing Bonds and Cabrera: lefty vs. righty greatness

(00:56:39) – Why Leyland almost said no to managing Team USA

(01:01:07) – Leyland’s advice to new Pirates manager Don Kelly

(01:04:48) – The game he still thinks about when he can’t sleep

(01:05:55) – What it felt like to get “The Call” to the Hall of Fame

💡 KEY TOPICS

📌 Barry Bonds rookie season & managing his evolution

📌 Edgar Renteria’s Game 7 heroics and psychological strategy

📌 Justin Verlander’s rise & managing with instinct vs pitch counts

📌 1997 Marlins World Series journey and building team culture

📌 Leyland’s relationship with Dave Dombrowski & old-school GMing

📌 Behind Team USA’s WBC championship in 2017

📌 Comparing Bonds and Cabrera’s hitting genius

📌 What separates great managers: honesty, instinct, and player relationships

⚾️ About Jim Leyland:

Jim Leyland is a Hall of Fame MLB manager known for his no-nonsense leadership and ability to win across eras. He managed the Pirates, Marlins, Rockies, and Tigers—winning the 1997 World Series with Florida and earning AL pennants in Detroit. He also led Team USA to gold in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

🎙️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:

The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As veteran broadcasters, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

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