John Stearns' seasons changed from playing in the majors to coaching, managing and scouting

Originally published March 20, 2013

John Stearns' Harrisburg Senators didn't get the win this night in 2009. They also didn't lose - the game got suspended in a tie after nine innings when rains came.

Stearns, though, saw the game, and his team's effort, as an omen for the rest of the year, according to The Harrisburg Patriot-News.

"It's a sign of the season changing," Stearns told The Patriot-News afterward. "We've turned a corner, and I think we can be a pretty good team from here until the end of the season."

Stearns spoke in his second year as manager for the club, after a two-decade-long coaching and managerial career. That career came after a playing career that itself lasted more than a decade, including 11 seasons with time in the bigs.

Stearns' career began in 1973, taken by the Phillies in the first round of the 1973 draft, out of the University of Colorado.

Stearns started at AA Reading, making AAA Toledo in 1974. That September, he also made Philadelphia for a game.

Stearns was then traded to the Mets, returning to the majors for 59 games in 1975. Stearns would end up playing in Queens each year thereafter though the end of his big league career in 1984.

From 1977 to 1979, the catcher Stearns got into more than 130 games each season. In August 1978, Stearns' manager Joe Torre told The Associated Press he saw a player who was more focused.

"He's relaxed and it's made him a better player," Torre told The AP. "Now when he doesn't hit, it doesn't affect his catching, which is what I like."

From 1980 to 1982, Stearns got into 80 or more games each year. Along the way, Stearns was selected for four All-Star teams, 1977, 1979, 1980 and 1982.

He played is final major league game in 1984. By 1989, Stearns had started his coaching career, serving as bullpen coach for the Yankees in the Bronx.

Stearns moved to the Blue Jays in 1990, serving as manager at AA Knoxville, staying there for 1991. By 1996, Stearns was back in the majors, as first base coach for the Orioles. In 2000, he was bench coach for the Mets, moving to third base coach for 2001.

In July 2001, the Mets were falling behind. But Stearns told The New York Times the team had a chance.

"We think we're close to winning some games," Stearns told The Times. "We're in every game. There's a lot of coaching left to do. We're not out of this. We feel we can win 20 of the next 25 games."

Stearns went on to be a scout and minor league manager for the Mets. He moved to the Nationals and AA Harrisburg in 2006, then to AAA Columbus in 2007 as manager. He's last credited with serving as manager at Harrisburg in 2009.

• Reading Eagle, Associated Press, Aug. 2, 1978: Stearns Gets Excited, Part 2
• New York Times, July 26, 2001: Mets Win; Please Restrain Your Excitement 
• Harrisburg Patriot-News, June 13, 2009: Senators, R-Phils suspended after nine innings