Chicago Cubs: Five-hundred games in, Joe Maddon has been a franchise changer

The first chance at glory

In 2006, the Tampa Bay Rays officially made Joe Maddon the fourth manager in team history. He would ultimately find success, putting his name on the map officially.

In Maddon’s first season, he finished 61-101. Not hard pressed to understand considering he had the likes of Toby Hall, Damon Hollins, and Travis Lee on his roster. Surprisingly, the pitching staff included Scott Kazmir and James Shields, two guys who would find success over the course of their careers.

Two short seasons later, however, and Joe Maddon would make the Rays do a complete 180. In 2008, the team went 97-65, winning their first American League Pennant in team history. They would lose to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.

From then on, the Rays would be on a winning path for the next five seasons, including four seasons of 90+ wins. 2014 was the final year in Tampa Bay for Maddon, as the following season, Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, and front-office guru Theo Epstein, made him the 57th man to take on the job of managing the Cubs.