Ralph Houk the legendary former manager of baseball teams the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers died on Wednesday afternoon. The "Major", as he was nicknamed, was 90.

Houk served as an Army Ranger in World War II, and was commissioned as a lieutenant before his promotion to major. He was a combat veteran of several notable campaigns,including the Battle of Bastogne and Battle of the Bulge,and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Houk, after an undistinguished career as a reserve catcher with the Yankees, succeeded Casey Stengel as manager of the Bronx Bombers in 1961.

The 1961 team, generally considered as one of the most dominating in history, featured the Maris-Mantle home run race, along with Whitey Ford's 25-4 won-loss record. Houk brought a different approach to the clubhouse, adopting a "player's manager" mindset, as opposed to Stengel's often over-bearing, sometimes intimidating and often sarcastic (albeit successful) style. Houk was especially effective in his handling of Mickey Mantle, designating Mantle as team captain and nursing the superstar through periods of injury. Indeed, Mantle's last great seasons were under Houk's tutelage, and after Houk moved to the front office following the 1963 season, Mantle's play steadily declined for the remaining 5 years of his career. Houk moved into the Yankees' front office as general manager following the 1963 season. As a general manager, Houk wasn't as successful, although a number of factors contributed; The adoption of the initial major league draft of prospects, deterioration of the farm system, new ownership, and the hesitancy or reluctance of the organization (along with the entire American League) to recognize and incorporate young black ballplayers, unlike the rival National League, which already featured the first wave of black superstars (Aaron,Mays,F.Robinson,Banks,Clemente,etc.) The Yankees, after a season with Yogi Berra at the helm, then a disastrous stint under Johnny Keane, returned Houk to the bench after a disastrous 4-20 start to the 1966 season. Lee MacPhail eventually replaced Houk that year as general manager for the Yankees, to begin a much less successful term for the 1966 season. Their talent and farm system both depleted, the Yankees finished in last place for the first time since 1912.

Houk remained as skipper of the Yankees through the 1973 season, his only under new owner George Steinbrenner. Nevertheless, Houk's significance can't be dismissed, as he managed an aging, increasingly less talented team to it's last championships (61-62) in what is almost accepted as the greatest dynasty in professional sports history. From 1949 to 1964, the Yankees won 9 championships in 16 seasons, including an unprecedented 5 consecutive (1949-1953.)

After leaving the Yankee organization, Houk had semi-successful stints as manager of the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, arriving at both stops amid restructuring and rebuilding. He led neither to post season play, although establishing solid foundations, notably with Detroit, which led to a world championship in 1984, using a nucleus of young stars (Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell, Jack Morris) that began under Houk. He also was the first major league manager for Bosox standouts Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Bruce Hurst and Marty Barrett.

His final record, over 20 years with the Yankees (1961–63, 1966–73), Tigers (1974–78) and Red Sox (1981–84) was 1,619 wins and 1,531 losses (.514), plus eight wins and eight losses in the World Series. Houk served as special assistant to the Minnesota Twins from 1987-1989, giving him one last World Series triumph in 1987.