‘Always a step ahead,’ longtime Tigers coach Gene Lamont back in baseball at 78

Longtime Tigers coach Gene Lamont back in baseball at 78

Gene Lamont was out golfing with his good friend and fellow baseball lifer Jim Leyland last month when word started getting out that Don Kelly, their former utility player from their days with the Tigers, was being named manager of…

‘Always a step ahead,’ longtime Tigers coach Gene Lamont back in baseball at 78

PITTSBURGH ― Gene Lamont was out golfing with his good friend and fellow baseball lifer Jim Leyland last month when word started getting out that Don Kelly, their former utility player from their days with the Tigers, was being named manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lamont said to Leyland: “You know, Donnie needs to hire me, or somebody like me.” Turns out, Kelly was on the same page. When Leyland called Kelly later that day to suggest that La…