June 18, 1963 - The floundering Detroit Tigers dismissed manager Bob Scheffing (pictured) and his coaching staff today and named Charlie Dressen the new manager. The 64-year-old Dressen, who formerly managed at Cincinnati, Brooklyn, Washington, and Milwaukee, thus became the Tigers’ ninth manager in 12 years. “I want my players to run like hell and slide like hell,” said Dressen as he headed into a meeting with his new coaches. “I’ve got to get a little pep in them.” “I felt a complete change was needed,” said Jim Campbell, Tigers general manager. “We just needed a completely different atmosphere.” Dressen had been a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers since being dropped by Milwaukee in 1961. “I think we can move up,” said Dressen today. “In spring training, they looked like a first-division club. I think they can still finish there.” Earlier this month, Scheffing said the main reasons for the Tigers’ difficulties this year were the slumps of Norm Cash and Rocky Colavito. “Everything happens for a reason,” said Scheffing today. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I wasn’t surprised. You’re never surprised when you’re managing.”
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