CHICAGO (Ticker) -- One year after guiding the Chicago Cubs to their first postseason appearance in nine years, manager Jim Riggleman was fired by the team.

Riggleman, who had a contract through the 2000 season and was offered another job in the organization, was relieved of his duties by general manager Ed Lynch after the Cubs struggled through a 67-95 campaign. It was the Cubs' most losses in a season since they finished 64-98 in 1980.

The 46-year-old Riggleman was third in the National League Manager of the Year voting in 1998 but could never get Chicago on track this season.

Riggleman compiled a 374-419 record in five seasons as the helm of the Cubs and was just the second Chicago manager since 1960 to record 300 victories with the team. He was the first manager since Leo Durocher to post two winning seasons with the club.

"I love what I'm doing," Riggleman said following Sunday's season finale in St. Louis. "I don't think anybody can enjoy managing as much as I do. Like I've said in the past, it's not the cure for cancer, it's not the way to world peace, it's baseball. It's not a life-and-death thing."

Including his two-year stint as manager of the San Diego Padres, Riggleman has a career record of 486-598.

Also let go by the team were pitching coach Marty DeMeritt, third base coach Tom Gamboa and first base coach Dan Radison.

Riggleman played eight seasons (1974-81) in the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals farm systems before entering the coaching ranks. He managed in the minors from 1982-92, totaling a 558-554 record.