PITTSBURGH -- Lloyd McClendon, lacking experience but not self-confidence, was hired Monday as the Pittsburgh Pirates stayed within their organization for their new manager despite a 93-loss season.

McClendon, 41, has no major league or minor league managing experience, except for the fall instructional leagues. He was the Pirates' hitting coach the last four seasons under just-fired manager Gene Lamont.

	Lloyd McClendon was the top choice for some Pirates players, including Kevin Young.

"We got the guy we felt would get us winning the fastest," owner Kevin McClatchy said.

Although the other 10 candidates interviewed were more experienced, McClendon convinced McClatchy and general manager Cam Bonifay he has the leadership skills to turn around a low-budget team that has lost for eight consecutive seasons.

"We've got to regain our dignity, we've got to regain our pride, and we're going to start doing that right away," McClendon said. "There are guys out there a lot smarter than I am, and nobody has reinvented the wheel yet."

McClendon, who also interviewed with the Philadelphia Phillies, was given a three-year contract at about $500,000 a season.

"Mac was always an aggressive guy and a good guy," said Jim Leyland, his former Pirates manager. "He's a class act and is very sure of himself. He's like any other manager; if his players do well, he'll do well."

McClendon, who hit .244 in an eight-year major league career, becomes the fifth black manager in the majors, joining the Giants' Dusty Baker, the Cubs' Don Baylor, the White Sox's Jerry Manuel and the Brewers' Davey Lopes. Expos manager Felipe Alou is of Hispanic descent.

McClendon also is the first black man to manage or coach a major pro sports franchise in Pittsburgh.

"I've given it a lot of thought and it is a historic day for Pittsburgh," McClendon said. "But, to paraphrase Dr. (Martin Luther) King, I hope they will judge me on the content of my character and not the color of my skin. I hope they look at me not as a black manager, but as a good manager."

Some players criticized Lamont for a lax attitude in the clubhouse and a lack of motivation as the Pirates lost more than 90 games twice in the last three seasons. McClendon defended Lamont, but also said:

"That time is over, there will be no more excuses. We've got to go out and do it the way it is supposed to be done. You will either be in with me or be out, and if you're out, I'll show you where the door is."

McClendon was enthusiastically supported for the job by some Pirates players, including first baseman Kevin Young, and he talked to about 15 of them before his hiring was announced.

"It's nice to have players back me, but I don't care whether they like me as long as they respect me," McClendon said.

McClendon will meet with what he called his "core players" during spring training "to set the parameters we're going to live by, so we go out every day prepared to win."

McClendon played in the majors for the Reds (1987-88), the Cubs (1989-90) and the Pirates (1990-94), hitting 35 homers with 154 RBI in 570 games. He was a valuable bench player as the Pirates won division championships from 1990-92, batting .625 (10-of-16) in 11 playoff games.

"I've been here in Pittsburgh when we've won and I've been here when we lost," he said. "I'm a fiery, competitive person, and anybody who knows me knows I wasn't afraid to fight. You have to learn how to win with dignity and lose with honor, but if some other teams cross that white line. ..."

Despite McClendon's obvious enthusiasm and confidence, his hiring may not please some fans unhappy the Pirates have again hired from within, as they did by promoting Lamont in 1997.

The Pirates also must sell tickets as they move into PNC Park next season, and McClendon is not a big name in baseball.

"For the fans, I can't say they won't be disappointed at times, but they will never be embarrassed," said McClendon, who cites Pete Rose, Andre Dawson, Tony Perez, Ryne Sandberg, Leyland, Don Zimmer and Willie Stargell as his greatest baseball influences.

Among those also interviewed by the Pirates were former Arizona manager Buck Showalter, bench coaches Ron Wotus of San Francisco, Grady Little of Cleveland and Ken Macha of Oakland and two of their own coaches, Tommy Sandt and Trent Jewett.