Charles Fuqua Manuel Jr. (born January 4, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager.

On August 13, 2019, Manuel replaced John Mallee as hitting coach for the Phillies for the remainder of the season.

His first love was basketball and he had received scholarship offers in that sport, but his plans and his life would dramatically change just before his high school graduation.

In April 1963, Manuel's father died by suicide due to being severely ill with diabetes and heart problems.

Leaving behind a suicide note, he asked that Charlie – who was already married with a child – take care of his mother and siblings.

[2][3] He turned down his basketball scholarship offers, and an academic scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania,[4] to consider offers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and New York Yankees, ultimately signing with the Twins out of high school in 1963 for $30,000 ($300,000 in current dollar terms).

[7] Manuel played from 1969 to 1972 with the Minnesota Twins and in 1974 and 1975 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, primarily as a pinch-hitter and left fielder.

Wildly popular for his tenacious style of play and his power-hitting abilities, Manuel was dubbed "Aka-Oni" (The Red Devil) by fans and teammates.

Playing for the Pacific League's Kintetsu Buffaloes, Manuel hit 25 home runs in the first eight weeks of the 1979 season.

[11] Manuel was discharged from the hospital after six weeks and immediately began playing again, against the advice of doctors and worried family.

He was considered one of the best imported baseball players to Japan in those days, along with brothers Leron and Leon Lee and Randy Bass.

Ultimately, injuries, including his beaning in Japan, cut Manuel's playing days short.

[15] The 2000 season had a 44–42 start, but Manuel's squad caught fire after the All Star break and went 46–30 the rest of the way to finish 90–72.

After the departures of Manny Ramírez and Sandy Alomar Jr., the Indians signed Ellis Burks and former MVP Juan González, who helped the team win the Central division with a 91–71 record.

Second-year slugger Ryan Howard hit a franchise-record 58 home runs, second baseman Chase Utley was named a starter in the 2006 MLB All-Star Game, and rookie pitcher Cole Hamels showed progress and the potential to one day become the club's ace.

They began the season with a 3–9 record and during the Phillies' post-game press conference following the team's 8–1 loss to the New York Mets on April 17, 2007, Philadelphia radio personality Howard Eskin repeatedly questioned Manuel why he did not challenge his players.

Eskin, a controversial afternoon drive host on local sports-talk station WIP-610, had criticized Manuel since the manager's hiring three years earlier.

In a dramatic finale to the season, the Phillies captured the National League East title from the collapsing Mets, but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Colorado Rockies.

On October 21, 2009, Manuel became the first manager in franchise history to lead the Phillies to two consecutive World Series appearances.

[28] The Phillies became the third NL team in history to play in the postseason in four consecutive seasons, joining the Braves (1991–1995, excluding 1994) and the New York Giants (1921–24).

[30] In November, the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh named Manuel the recipient of its Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award.

In September 2011, Manuel again led the Phillies to the NL East title, their fifth consecutive in as many years, and quickest post-season clinch ever: at game #150.

[35] Reaction around the league and from the Phillies fan base mostly consisted of sadness and gratitude to Manuel for his tenure.

"[38] Manuel received praise from the media for his class in handling the situation,[39] and sportswriters mostly exonerated him of the blame for the Phillies' performance, focusing on his not having had better players.

[18] Of the six managers to have lasted for twelve seasons in the position in Major League Baseball, Manuel is the only one to have won 1,000 games.

The 75-year old Manuel held that position for the remainder of the 2019 season before returning to his advisory role at the conclusion of the campaign.

[43][44] Manuel has survived a heart attack, quadruple bypass surgery, a blocked and infected colon, and kidney cancer.

The following day, he tweeted a message of gratitude for all those supporting him, and for the efforts of Lakeland (FL) Regional Health medical staff.