Andy MacPhail

Summary

Andrew Bowen MacPhail (born April 5, 1953) is an American baseball executive. He has previously served as general manager for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs, and as president for the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies.

Andy MacPhail
Born (1953-04-05) April 5, 1953 (age 71)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materDickinson College
OccupationTeam president

MacPhail is the son of Lee MacPhail and the grandson of Larry MacPhail, both of whom were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame for their careers as executives in MLB.

Career edit

MacPhail began his career as a baseball executive with the Chicago Cubs' Rookie-level Minor League Baseball affiliate in 1976. After a year in the role, he became an assistant in the Cubs' parks operations department, and was promoted to assistant director of player development. He joined the front office of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball as their assistant director of scouting in 1981, and then was promoted to assistant to the general manager in 1982. He was hired as the Minnesota Twins' vice president of player development in 1984,[1] and then as the Twins' general manager in 1985. As the Twins' general manager, he hired Tom Kelly to serve as the team's field manager, and traded for Jeff Reardon, Dan Gladden, Joe Niekro, and Dan Schatzeder.[2] Under MacPhail, the Twins won the 1987 World Series and 1991 World Series championships. The 1991 Twins rebounded from a last place finish after MacPhail signed Jack Morris in the offseason.[1] MacPhail won Sporting News' Executive of the Year Award in 1991.[3]

At the end of the 1994 season, the Cubs hired MacPhail as their president and chief executive officer.[4] MacPhail demoted Larry Himes, the Cubs' general manager,[1] and hired Ed Lynch to fill the role.[5] The Cubs reached the playoffs when they won the National League wild card spot in 1998. They won the National League Central division in 2003.[6] MacPhail served with the Cubs until the end of the 2006 season, when he stepped down and was succeeded by John McDonough.[7]

Peter Angelos, the owner of the Baltimore Orioles, hired MacPhail as the team's president of baseball operations on June 20, 2007.[3] Before the 2008 season, MacPhail traded Érik Bédard for a package that included Adam Jones and Chris Tillman. He acquired J. J. Hardy after the 2010 season and Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter at the trade deadline in 2011. He also hired Buck Showalter as manager during the 2010 season.[6] MacPhail's contract expired at the end of the 2011 season, following the Orioles' 14th consecutive losing season, and he opted to leave the team.[8] Many of the players acquired by MacPhail, as well as Showalter, helped the Orioles reach the postseason after MacPhail's departure.[6]

On June 29, 2015, the Philadelphia Phillies hired MacPhail as a special assistant to Pat Gillick, the team's president. MacPhail succeeded Gillick as president at the end of the 2015 season.[9] On December 11, 2020, he was succeeded by David Dombrowski.[10]

Personal edit

MacPhail is the youngest of four sons born to Lee MacPhail, who served as president of the American League.[11][12] He is the grandson of Larry MacPhail, who with Lee forms the only father-and-son members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Andy's uncle, Bill MacPhail (Lee MacPhail's brother), was president of CBS Sports and later was president of CNN Sports.[11]

MacPhail graduated with a degree in American studies from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1977,[2] where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.[13] He played college baseball as an outfielder for Dickinson at the Division III level.[11][14]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Team President Andy Macphail Steps Into The Lineup With A Reputation As Baseball's Best Young Executive". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "The Times-News - Google News Archive Search". The Times-News. Retrieved June 30, 2015 – via Google News Archive Search.
  3. ^ a b "MacPhail joins Orioles front office". Baltimore Orioles. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  4. ^ "Cubs, Twins to Feel Macphail's Effects".
  5. ^ Frey, Jennifer (October 11, 1994). "BASEBALL; Lynch 'Flattered' to Become Cubs' G.M." The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c Chicago Tribune (October 11, 2014). "Orioles' success part of Andy MacPhail legacy". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  7. ^ Chicago Tribune (June 16, 2015). "John McDonough's success started on the North Side". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  8. ^ "Andy MacPhail opts not to return to Orioles". tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  9. ^ Santoliquito, Joseph (June 29, 2015). "Phillies Hire Andy MacPhail". CBS Local. CBS Local Media. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  10. ^ Passan, Jeff (December 10, 2020). "Sources: Philadelphia Phillies finalizing deal to make Dave Dombrowski president of baseball operations". ESPN. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "Master of the Trade".
  12. ^ Goldstein, Richard (November 9, 2012). "Lee MacPhail, Executive Who Led American League, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  13. ^ "Prominent Alumni". Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  14. ^ Major League Genes Archived June 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

  • Andy MacPhail at Baseball America Executive Database

Preceded by Minnesota Twins General Manager
1985–1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chicago Cubs General Manager
2000–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chicago Cubs President and CEO
1994–2006
Succeeded by
John McDonough (interim)
Preceded by
new position
Baltimore Orioles President of Baseball Operations
2007–2011
Succeeded by