Lee MacPhail
Encyclopedia
Leland Stanford MacPhail, Jr. (born October 25, 1917 in Nashville
, Tennessee
) is an American
retired front-office executive in Major League Baseball
. MacPhail was a baseball executive for 45 years, serving as the director of player personnel for the New York Yankees
, the president and general manager
of the Baltimore Orioles
, chief aide to Commissioner of Baseball
William Eckert
, executive vice president and general manager of the Yankees, and president of the American League
.
He is the son of Larry MacPhail
, legendary front office executive with the Cincinnati Reds
, Brooklyn Dodgers
and the Yankees. His brother Bill MacPhail
was president of CBS Sports
and later was president of CNN Sports, brought on by Ted Turner
to create the department upon the network's launch. Lee MacPhail's son Andy
was general manager of the Minnesota Twins
from 1986–1994 and president/CEO of the Chicago Cubs
from 1994–2006, and served as the president/baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles from 2007–2011. In addition, grandson Lee MacPhail IV is active in baseball as the Orioles' director of professional scouting.
championships from 1949 to 1958. He then moved to the Baltimore Orioles front office as general manager and, later, club president. At the time of his departure from Baltimore, MacPhail and his successor, Harry Dalton
, were beginning negotiations with the Reds for a blockbuster trade that would bring Frank Robinson
to Baltimore; Robinson would lead the Orioles to the 1966
world championship and win the American League Triple Crown
and Most Valuable Player award.
After a brief term as top aide to the new commissioner, Eckert, in 1965–66, MacPhail served as the Yankees' general manager from October 14, 1966 to 1974, a rebuilding phase of the Yanks marked by the promotion of Bobby Murcer
and Thurman Munson
to the club, but no pennants or postseason appearances. MacPhail was elected American League President from 1974 to 1984. During his tenure, he oversaw expansion to the Toronto Blue Jays
and the Seattle Mariners
and was credited with bringing an end to the 1981 baseball strike
when he stepped in for the owners to handle stalled negotiations.
MacPhail also played a major role in the 1983 Pine Tar Game, where a home run was taken away from Kansas City Royals
slugger George Brett
.
, joining his father
, who had been elected in 1978
, as the only father and son members. With the death of Phil Rizzuto
on August 14, 2007, he is now the oldest living Hall of Fame member.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retired front-office executive in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. MacPhail was a baseball executive for 45 years, serving as the director of player personnel for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, the president and general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, chief aide to Commissioner of Baseball
Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
William Eckert
William Eckert
William Dole "Spike" Eckert was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force, and later the fourth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1968.-Before baseball:...
, executive vice president and general manager of the Yankees, and president of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
He is the son of Larry MacPhail
Larry MacPhail
Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail, Sr. was an American lawyer, and an executive and innovator in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
, legendary front office executive with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and the Yankees. His brother Bill MacPhail
Bill MacPhail
William "Bill" Curtis MacPhail was a pioneer television sports executive.-Early career:MacPhail worked his way up in the front office of several minor league teams...
was president of CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
and later was president of CNN Sports, brought on by Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
to create the department upon the network's launch. Lee MacPhail's son Andy
Andy MacPhail
Andy MacPhail is the former president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles. He was the president/CEO of the National League Chicago Cubs from September 9, 1994 until October 1, 2006...
was general manager of the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from 1986–1994 and president/CEO of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
from 1994–2006, and served as the president/baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles from 2007–2011. In addition, grandson Lee MacPhail IV is active in baseball as the Orioles' director of professional scouting.
Baseball front office
Lee MacPhail entered baseball in his father's Brooklyn Dodger organization, then joined the Yankees when Larry MacPhail became a co-owner of the Bombers in . The younger MacPhail rose through the Yankees system, eventually becoming farm system director in the late 1940s and contributing to the organization's seven World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championships from 1949 to 1958. He then moved to the Baltimore Orioles front office as general manager and, later, club president. At the time of his departure from Baltimore, MacPhail and his successor, Harry Dalton
Harry Dalton
Harry I. Dalton was an American front-office executive in Major League Baseball. He served as general manager of three American League teams, the Baltimore Orioles , California Angels and Milwaukee Brewers , and was a principal architect of the Orioles' dynasty of 1966–1974 as well as the only AL...
, were beginning negotiations with the Reds for a blockbuster trade that would bring Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
to Baltimore; Robinson would lead the Orioles to the 1966
1966 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing first in the American League with a record of 97 wins and 63 losses, nine games ahead of the runner-up Minnesota Twins. It was their first AL pennant since 1944, when the club was known as the St. Louis Browns. The Orioles swept the NL...
world championship and win the American League Triple Crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
and Most Valuable Player award.
After a brief term as top aide to the new commissioner, Eckert, in 1965–66, MacPhail served as the Yankees' general manager from October 14, 1966 to 1974, a rebuilding phase of the Yanks marked by the promotion of Bobby Murcer
Bobby Murcer
Bobby Ray Murcer was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for 17 seasons between 1965 and 1983, mostly with the New York Yankees, whom he later rejoined as a longtime broadcaster...
and Thurman Munson
Thurman Munson
Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
to the club, but no pennants or postseason appearances. MacPhail was elected American League President from 1974 to 1984. During his tenure, he oversaw expansion to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
and was credited with bringing an end to the 1981 baseball strike
1981 baseball strike
The 1981 Major League Baseball strike was the fifth work stoppage in Major League Baseball since the 1972 Major League Baseball strike. The strike began on June 12 and forced the cancellation of 713 games in the middle of the regular season.An estimated $146 million was lost in player salaries,...
when he stepped in for the owners to handle stalled negotiations.
MacPhail also played a major role in the 1983 Pine Tar Game, where a home run was taken away from Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
slugger George Brett
George Brett (baseball)
George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...
.
Baseball Hall of Fame
He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 19981998 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
, joining his father
Larry MacPhail
Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail, Sr. was an American lawyer, and an executive and innovator in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
, who had been elected in 1978
1978 in baseball
-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Indios de Mayagüez *College World Series: USC*Japan Series: Yakult Swallows over Hankyu Braves *Little League World Series: Pin-Kuang, Pin-Tung, Taiwan-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player...
, as the only father and son members. With the death of Phil Rizzuto
Phil Rizzuto
Philip Francis Rizzuto , nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
on August 14, 2007, he is now the oldest living Hall of Fame member.