Steve Mandl has produced major leaguers Manny Ramirez and Alex Arias, he’s turned George Washington into a national powerhouse, winning 26 divisions in 27 years in addition to more than 900 victories.
But now, the legendary baseball coach is drawing headlines for off-the-field issues: illegal recruiting. The PSAL suspended Mandl for one year effective immediately on Wednesday after a thorough investigation found recruiting allegations were substantiated.
Mandl was floored by the news, which he called “shocking.” He received a letter informing him of the punishment that, he said, was related to one current player he declined to name. That player, however, is thought to be outfielder Fernelys Sanchez, sources said. Lehman coach Adam Droz filed a complaint last year when Sanchez was made eligible.
“I don’t know what they’re talking about, there’s nothing to say,” Mandl told The Post. “They came up here and talked to me about some stuff, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
Mandl later added: “It’s like you get caught speeding and then get a letter saying you’re going to jail for six years.”
There isn’t a known replacement at the moment for the George Washington coach because, Mandl said, he plans on coaching this season after filing his appeal.
George Washington has made a habit in recent years of inheriting new players from PSAL programs via safety transfers. Mandl has always said players come to him, not the other way around.
“I’d rather have the kid as a freshman or sophomore who know what I’m about. I don’t particularly like transfers,” said Mandl, a star left-hander in his day who graduated from John Dewey HS in Brooklyn and had tryouts with the Mets and Yankees before fracturing his kneecap.
Two years ago, Manhattan Center southpaw Nestor Bautista told his coach Edgar Leon he was mugged outside of school and soon landed at George Washington. Walton ace Jose Cruz told The Post he was jumped near The Bronx school and that’s why he transferred as well, moving in with his uncle, Marcos Aquino, to Washington Heights.
Walton coach Jason Norman said Cruz told him he wanted to transfer during his junior year and when Cruz wasn’t cleared to play for George Washington – his safety transfer was denied because there was no proof he was in danger at Walton, Norman said – he unsuccessfully attempted to return to The Bronx school.
“It’s about time the PSAL puts its foot down on this type of thing, and it doesn’t just relate to Steve,” Norman said. “There’s a lot of it going on. It never ends. Steve is the one paying the price.”
Norman Thomas righthander Jariel Cedeno received a safety transfer last year and picked up three wins for GW. Last year, Droz filed the said complaint with the PSAL as per Sanchez. Cruz and Bautista said they were never contacted by any coaches or players about transferring to George Washington.
Cruz, in fact, played summer ball with Mandl with the now defunct New York Nine and said if Mandl had recruited him, he would’ve ended up at George Washington a long time ago.
“We are all sad,” he said. “We don’t know what to do.”
But Leon, the Manhattan Center coach, feels it was a long time coming.
“My reaction is finally someone has taken the bull by the horns because we were under the impression – me and a few other coaches – that Mandl was the Gotti of baseball coaches,” Leon said. “I am happily surprised that somebody had the guts to step up to him and say what he was doing is wrong.”
Mandl’s biggest on-the-field rival, Norman Thomas coach Nerva Jean Pierre, didn’t share the sentiment. He said Mandl advised Cedeno to remain at Norman Thomas and was deeply saddened by the news.
“Most of the kids want to play for him regardless,” Jean Pierre said. “Steve doesn’t recruit kids; they recruit him. Kids want to go there because of the name, the program. The guy’s a tremendous coach. It’s his life. Baseball is his first, second and third love.”
Unless the league’s ruling is overturned, it will now be a long-distance relationship.