This cynical proverb has been attributed by
Bartlett's to former Brooklyn Dodger manager Leo Durocher, who wrote a
book using it as the title. Back in the 1940s Leo was sitting on the bench
before a game with the New York Giants and saw opposing manager Mel Ott
across the field. "Look at Ott," he said to a group of sportswriters.
"He's such a nice guy and they"ll finish last for him." One of the writers
probably coined the phrase nice guys finish last from this remark, but the
credit for it still goes to Leo The Lip. It is one of several baseball
expressions that have become proverbial outside the sport.