Stan Kasten
Encyclopedia
Stan Kasten is the former President of the Washington Nationals
and a founding partner of FanDriveMedia. He became president of the Nationals after the ownership group led by Theodore N. Lerner was approved as the teams principal owner by Major League Baseball
.
. It started in 1979, when at age 27, he became the youngest General Manager in the National Basketball Association
for the Atlanta Hawks
. He held this position until 1990. He became the Hawks' President in 1986. During his lengthy tenure in the Hawks front office, Kasten became the first (and so far only) NBA executive to win back-to-back NBA Executive of the Year awards, accomplishing this feat in 1986 & 1987. He was also able to build Atlanta into a perennial playoff contender. Lead by the Hall of Fame play of superstar Dominique Wilkins
, Kasten's Hawks achieved four straight 50-win seasons ( 1986 to 1989), and set franchise records in attendance. In the 1990s, he guided Atlanta to a stretch of 7 consecutive playoff appearances, including three 50-win seasons during the decade.
Kasten would also become President of the Atlanta Braves
in 1986. From 1987 to 2003, the Braves won more games than any other team in Major League Baseball. As president of the Braves, Kasten, delegated all of the baseball decisions to Atlanta GM John Schuerholz
who put together strong, talented teams that consistently competed for a world championship. Their teams, led by the strong managing of Bobby Cox
, were centered around a powerful pitching staff which featured Greg Maddux
, Tom Glavine
, Steve Avery
, and John Smoltz
. They also featured All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones
, who is regarded as one of the best hitters in Braves history, as well as one of the best switch-hitters and third basemen ever. From 1991 to 2003, the Braves won 12 straight division titles, 5 National League pennants, and the World Series
championship in 1995 (The 1994 season
was omitted due to the season being wiped out by the player's strike). In 1999, when the National Hockey League
would award the city of Atlanta with an expansion team, Kasten became the president of the Atlanta Thrashers
, as well as Chairman of the newly built Philips Arena
.
Kasten held all these positions until 2003, when he stepped down.
Kasten took over as President of the Washington Nationals in 2006 under the Lerner Family ownership group.
It was reported on September 23, 2010 that Kasten would step down as Nationals team president.
while living in John Jay Hall. He is also a graduate of New York University
. He also attended Ner Israel Rabbinical College for high school for a short period. He is a graduate of the Yeshiva University High School for Boys
Class of 1969.
Stan Kasten is married to wife Helen Weisz Kasten, and has four children: Alana Kasten Sonenshine, Corey (Reuven) Kasten, Sherry Kasten Marks and Jay Kasten.
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
and a founding partner of FanDriveMedia. He became president of the Nationals after the ownership group led by Theodore N. Lerner was approved as the teams principal owner by 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...
.
Biography
Prior to becoming the Nationals' President, Kasten was a longtime fixture in Atlanta professional sports primarily due to his association with Ted TurnerTed 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...
. It started in 1979, when at age 27, he became the youngest General Manager in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
for the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. He held this position until 1990. He became the Hawks' President in 1986. During his lengthy tenure in the Hawks front office, Kasten became the first (and so far only) NBA executive to win back-to-back NBA Executive of the Year awards, accomplishing this feat in 1986 & 1987. He was also able to build Atlanta into a perennial playoff contender. Lead by the Hall of Fame play of superstar Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
, Kasten's Hawks achieved four straight 50-win seasons ( 1986 to 1989), and set franchise records in attendance. In the 1990s, he guided Atlanta to a stretch of 7 consecutive playoff appearances, including three 50-win seasons during the decade.
Kasten would also become President of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 1986. From 1987 to 2003, the Braves won more games than any other team in Major League Baseball. As president of the Braves, Kasten, delegated all of the baseball decisions to Atlanta GM John Schuerholz
John Schuerholz
John Schuerholz is the President of the Atlanta Braves of the National League. Before joining Atlanta, he spent twenty-two years with the Kansas City Royals organization, including nine as the club's General Manager. Among the teams he has built are the 1985 Royals and 1995 Braves, both world...
who put together strong, talented teams that consistently competed for a world championship. Their teams, led by the strong managing of Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
, were centered around a powerful pitching staff which featured Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
, Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine
Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...
, Steve Avery
Steve Avery
Steven Thomas Avery is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was a young star with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1990s.-Young Gun:...
, and John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
. They also featured All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
, who is regarded as one of the best hitters in Braves history, as well as one of the best switch-hitters and third basemen ever. From 1991 to 2003, the Braves won 12 straight division titles, 5 National League pennants, and the World Series
World 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...
championship in 1995 (The 1994 season
1994 Major League Baseball season
The 1994 Major League Baseball season ended with the infamous players strike ending the season on August 11, 1994.-Strike:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ended prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason was played...
was omitted due to the season being wiped out by the player's strike). In 1999, when the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
would award the city of Atlanta with an expansion team, Kasten became the president of the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
, as well as Chairman of the newly built Philips Arena
Philips Arena
Philips Arena is an indoor arena in Atlanta, Georgia.Completed in 1999 to replace The Omni, at a cost of $213.5 million, it is home to the Atlanta Hawks, of the National Basketball Association, and the Atlanta Dream, of the Women's National Basketball Association...
.
Kasten held all these positions until 2003, when he stepped down.
Kasten took over as President of the Washington Nationals in 2006 under the Lerner Family ownership group.
It was reported on September 23, 2010 that Kasten would step down as Nationals team president.
Personal life
Kasten graduated from Columbia Law SchoolColumbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
while living in John Jay Hall. He is also a graduate of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He also attended Ner Israel Rabbinical College for high school for a short period. He is a graduate of the Yeshiva University High School for Boys
Yeshiva University High School for Boys
Yeshiva University High School for Boys offers college preparatory curricula and Jewish studies programs leading to an academic diploma endorsed by the New York State Board of Regents. Affiliated with Yeshiva University, the school is located in Washington Heights, in the New York City borough of...
Class of 1969.
Stan Kasten is married to wife Helen Weisz Kasten, and has four children: Alana Kasten Sonenshine, Corey (Reuven) Kasten, Sherry Kasten Marks and Jay Kasten.
External links
- Q&A with Stan Kasten
- http://nationals.scout.com/2/643142.html Stan Kasten Q&A Scout.com