5. Eddie Sawyer (1948 – 1952, 1958 – 1960)
Eddie Sawyer became manager in 1948 at the age of 37. He led a young team featuring Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Del Ennis, Granny Hamner as well as veterans Jim Konstanty and Dick Sisler to a .526 winning percentage in 1949.
The following season, the team known as the “Whiz Kids” won 91 games to earn their first National League championship since 1915. Unfortunately, the team got swept in the World Series by the mighty New York Yankees.
Philadelphia won 87 games in the last season in Sawyer’s first tenure. After Sawyer returned in 1958 during a down period in team history, the team won only 94 of 225 games. Sawyer managed just one game in 1960 before being replaced by Gene Mauch.