CLEVELAND, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Eric Wedge became the youngest manager in the major leagues Tuesday when the Cleveland Indians signed him to a three-year contract.
Wedge, 34, managed Cleveland's Class AAA affiliate in Buffalo for the past two seasons. He will turn 35 on Jan. 27, youngest Indians skipper since Lou Boudreau was named manager in 1942 at the age of 24.
"Age has never really been a factor. Respect has nothing to do with age," Wedge said. "I've always felt beyond my years."
When Wedge guides the Indians on Opening Day, he will become the youngest major league manager since Bobby Valentine debuted for the Texas Rangers at 35 years and five days on May 17, 1985.
Tony La Russa was 34 and Buck Showalter and Jeff Torborg both were 35 when they began their major league managerial career.
Wedge was the surprise choice over Joel Skinner, who started last season as the Indians' third base coach and took over as interim manager for the final 76 games after Charlie Manuel was fired.
Wedge said that Skinner has agreed to remain with the Indians as third base coach.
Skinner and Fredi Gonzalez, manager of the Atlanta Braves' Class AAA affiliate in Richmond, were the only other candidates formally interviewed by General Manager Mark Shapiro.
Anaheim Angels pitching coach Bud Black was believed to be the top choice of Shapiro, but Black took his name out of consideration
last week.
When Shapiro was the Indians' farm director, he gave Wedge his first managerial job at Columbus, Ga., of the Class A Atlantic League. Wedge made a steady climb through the minor league system and led the Bisons to an 89-57 record this season.
"Anytime you hire a minor league manager, you think of him as a potential major league manager," Shapiro said. "There are guys that separate themselves. From Day One, he separated himself as a leader and a manager."
Wedge's five-year record as minor league manager was 391-315. The Bisons won 91 games in 2001 and was named Triple A Manager of the Year by Baseball America.
"The last few years at Triple A has been invaluable," Wedge said. "I've always been confident in a leadership role."
In Cleveland, Wedge will be in charge of a young team in the process of rebuilding. Pitchers Bartolo Colon and Chuck Finley were traded last season, joining a list of departees over the last few years that included Manny Ramirez, Juan Gonzalez, Roberto Alomar and Kenny Lofton. Star first baseman Jim Thome
filed for free agency on Monday.
"I'm not going to put limitations. We're going to be an exciting team," Wedge said. "We have to move in the right direction."
A former catcher, Wedge played in just 39 major league games in a career cut short by knee problems. He hit .233 with five homers and 12 RBI. He also helped Wichita State win the College World Series in 1989.
