Jim Leyland, having spent 11 years managing the Pittsburgh Pirates and two managing the Florida Marlins, winning a World Series in the process, quit after just one season guiding the Colorado Rockies in 1999. The Rockies were 72-90 and finished last in the National League Western Division and Leyland had had enough — of managing the Rockies and managing, in general.
“I left $4 million on the table,” said Leyland. “I couldn’t manage in that ball park. I admit it. I did a bad job. I could have gone back there and taken the money but it wasn’t right.