Cleveland Indians

Hargrove worked as first base coach for Cleveland before being promoted to manager in 1991 to replace John McNamara, who was fired 77 games into the season. The Indians finished with 105 losses, most in team history while finishing in last place in the division. For the rest of Hargrove's tenure, they would finish above last place. The next two Cleveland teams finished with 76 wins each, but the talent would rise to cultivation soon enough. The 1994 team was 66–47 and fighting for a potential playoff spot before the August strike killed the season.

He led his team to five consecutive AL Central Division titles in 1995–99 (being the first and so far only Cleveland manager to reach the postseason in five straight years), and World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997.

The 1995 Indians won 100 games in the 144 game season (shortened due to the late start by the 1994 strike), becoming the first American League team to win 100 games in fewer than 154 games, comprised by a confident team led by Albert Belle (2nd in MVP voting) Jose Mesa (1.13 ERA), Kenny Lofton (54 stolen bases), Manny Ramirez (.308), Jim Thome, among others.^[3] They made their first playoff appearance since 1954. They won the 1995 American League Division Series in a three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox for their first postseason series victory since 1948 and then won the 1995 American League Championship Series over the Seattle Mariners for their first pennant since 1954. They played the Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series and lost in six games, as a team that hit .291 in the regular season hit .179 in the Series against Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. The 1996 team won 99 games, making it the first time Cleveland had back-to-back 90-win seasons since the 1950-1955 seasons. Despite having eleven more wins than the Wild Card Baltimore Orioles, they lost in four games in the 1996 American League Division Series.

The 1997 team won 86 games, which was good enough to win the AL Central. They beat the defending world champion New York Yankees in a tight five game series before facing the Orioles, who had the best record in the AL. The series was a tight affair that saw five games be decided by one run (the biggest margin was three, in Game 1) while Cleveland won two of the games in extra innings. They won the series in six games despite being outscored 19–18. In the 1997 World Series, they faced the Florida Marlins, a team in their fifth season of play. The Indians won Games 2, 4, and 6 and were two outs from winning the Series in Game 7 before José Mesa allowed the tying run to score in the 9th inning. Charles Nagy would give up the winning run in the 11th, as Cleveland lost the series despite outscoring the Marlins 44-37.

On June 20, 1998, Hargrove, who had been wearing #21 to that point, switched to #30 to accommodate the Indians retiring #21 in honor of Bob Lemon. In the 1998 American League Championship Series, the Indians led the series by winning two of the first three against the New York Yankees. However, they were outscored by a margin of 18-8 in the next three games to lose the series, which was the last ALCS appearance for Cleveland until 2007.

A managing error by Hargrove on July 22, 1999, led to the first Indians pitcher to bat in an American League park since 1977, as Manny Ramirez was penciled in at the designated hitter position while Alex Ramirez was listed at right field, but somehow Manny entered the game at right field, thereby nullifying the DH when the opposing manager noticed. Charles Nagy had to bat and pitch at the DH spot (7th) in the eventual loss.^[4] The Indians lost in the 1999 American League Division Series after winning the first two games over Boston (in their third matchup in the last five years), as their starting pitching faltered, seeing their Game 3 starter leave after four innings and their Game 4 starter have to start on three days rest. In Game 4, Cleveland lost 23–7 and then lost 12–8 in Game 5 in Cleveland. He was fired on October 15, 1999, by general manager John Hart depsite being under contract for 2000 with an option for 2001.^[5] The decision was made not due to the collapse in the series but rather one done over internal discussions internally past week, citing a need for a new atmosphere. Hargrove felt that the team lacked a true ace in pitching, while Hart felt that the team they had assembled on budget was a quality one; private sources felt Hargrove had lost the clubhouse, and he admitted that he may have been thought of as a distant manager. He was the longest tenured Indian manager since Lou Boudreau (1942–1950), and his 721–591 record was second best in club history.

Baltimore Orioles

On November 3, 1999, the Baltimore Orioles signed him to manage the club on a three-year contract.^[6] Hargrove was the second manager hired after the Orioles had fired Davey Johnson in 1997 (who Hargrove had faced in the 1996 ALDS and 1997 ALCS, winning the latter). He proved to be the second of seven managers that led Baltimore to a fifteen year drought from the postseason, with Hargrove finishing in fourth place in four seasons from 2000 to 2003. On October 29, 2003, he was let go by the Orioles.^[7]

During an exhibition series between players from the US and Japan, Hargrove infamously stated that future MLB All Star and Gold Glove fielder Ichiro Suzuki, whom he would later manage, would be easy to defend on grass.^[8]

Seattle Mariners

On October 20, 2004, Hargrove was hired to manage the Seattle Mariners and turn around the team after its worst season since 1983. He agreed to a three-year deal through the 2007 season.

On April 13, 2005, he won his 1,000th game as manager, leading the Mariners to a win over the Kansas City Royals.^[9] Despite having star Ichiro Suzuki, the Mariners lost 93 games that year and finished 4th. The next year saw marginal improvement but another 4th place finish. In 402 total games, Hargrove won 190 while losing 212 while becoming the second manager of an eventual nine Mariner manager carousel from 2002 to 2021 that failed to reach the postseason.

On July 1, 2007, Hargrove resigned his position as manager of the Mariners, saying in a prepared statement that his "passion has begun to fade" and it would not be "fair to myself or the team" to continue. The departure was unusual, since the Mariners had been playing quite well at the time. Hargrove became the first big league manager since at least 1900 to depart while on a winning streak of more than seven games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.^[10] Sources indicated that differences between Hargrove and Mariners superstar Ichiro Suzuki were the actual reason for the departure. Despite officially having resigned, Hargrove was paid for the remainder of his contract, and Ichiro signed a contract extension only weeks after Hargrove left.^[11] Hargrove flatly stated that it was not a rift with Ichiro that caused him to leave, saying that it was his loss of passion for the position of manager that made him resign.^[12] He attempted to apply for the Indians job in 2009, but he did not get an interview.^[13]

Hargrove holds a career major league managerial record of 1,188–1,173.