Wid Matthews
Encyclopedia
Wid Curry Matthews was an American
outfielder
, scout and front office executive in Major League Baseball
. Matthews served as general manager
of the Chicago Cubs
for seven full seasons and became one of the first front-office employees in the history of the New York Mets
in 1961, the year before they began play in the National League
. A native of Raleigh, Illinois
, Matthews stood 5'8½" (174 cm) tall and weighed 155 pounds (70 kg) in his playing days. He threw and batted left-handed.
After playing in the three highest classification minor leagues
— the American Association
and the International
and Pacific Coast
leagues — Matthews made the major leagues for 2½ seasons (1923 through midseason 1925) for the Philadelphia Athletics
and the Washington Senators
, batting
.284 with one home run
and 39 runs batted in in 192 games played. He did not appear in the 1924 World Series
, won by the Senators in seven games.
Matthews' career as a scout and general manager began in , when he joined the St. Louis Cardinals
, the pioneers of the MLB farm system. Seven years later
, he moved with Redbird GM Branch Rickey
to the Brooklyn Dodgers
, where he served as the Dodgers' director of Midwest scouting through the 1949
season.
On February 14, 1950, he became Director of Player Personnel (de facto general manager) of the Cubs. The Cubs were beginning a long skein of losing seasons, finishing in the NL's second division for 20 consecutive years (1947–66), and compiling an over-.500 record only in 1963. During his seven seasons (1950–56) as top baseball official in the Chicago front office, Matthews was able to break the baseball color line
for the franchise, signing Ernie Banks
as the team's first African-American player. However, plagued by a poor farm system and not aggressive enough in the signing of other black and Latin
talent, the Cubs could not escape the NL's second division during Matthews' reign.
After his dismissal by the Cubs, Matthews joined the front office of the Milwaukee Braves
, then one of the National League's dominant teams. He held the identical title he did with Chicago, but in his new post he served as assistant GM to John Quinn
, the Braves' incumbent general manager. In January of 1961
, Matthews became a scout for the Mets, newly admitted to the National League as a 1962 expansion team. He was promoted, along with Johnny Murphy
, to the post of top aide to club president George Weiss
in November of that year.
Matthews resigned as the Mets' director of player personnel during the 1964
season. His last job in baseball was as a scout for the Los Angeles/California Angels
. He died in a West Hollywood, California
, hotel at the age of 68 during the Angels' end-of-year organizational meetings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, scout and 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...
. Matthews served as 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 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...
for seven full seasons and became one of the first front-office employees in the history of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in 1961, the year before they began play in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. A native of Raleigh, Illinois
Raleigh, Illinois
Raleigh is a village in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 330 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Raleigh is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
, Matthews stood 5'8½" (174 cm) tall and weighed 155 pounds (70 kg) in his playing days. He threw and batted left-handed.
After playing in the three highest classification minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
— the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
and the International
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and Pacific Coast
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
leagues — Matthews made the major leagues for 2½ seasons (1923 through midseason 1925) for the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and the Washington Senators
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...
, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.284 with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 39 runs batted in in 192 games played. He did not appear in the 1924 World Series
1924 World Series
In the 1924 World Series, the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants in seven games. The Giants became the first team to play in four consecutive World Series, winning in 1921–1922 and losing in 1923–1924. Their long-time manager, John McGraw, made his ninth and final World Series appearance...
, won by the Senators in seven games.
Matthews' career as a scout and general manager began in , when he joined the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, the pioneers of the MLB farm system. Seven years later
1943 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals *All-Star Game, July 13 at Shibe Park: American League, 5-3-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Homestead Grays over Birmingham Black Barons...
, he moved with Redbird GM Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
to the 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...
, where he served as the Dodgers' director of Midwest scouting through the 1949
1949 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 12 at Ebbets Field: American League, 11-7-Caribbean leagues:*Cuba - Almendares Scorpions*Panama - Spur Cola*Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Indians...
season.
On February 14, 1950, he became Director of Player Personnel (de facto general manager) of the Cubs. The Cubs were beginning a long skein of losing seasons, finishing in the NL's second division for 20 consecutive years (1947–66), and compiling an over-.500 record only in 1963. During his seven seasons (1950–56) as top baseball official in the Chicago front office, Matthews was able to break the baseball color line
Baseball color line
The color line in American baseball excluded players of black African descent from Organized Baseball, or the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues, until Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization for the 1946 season...
for the franchise, signing Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks
Ernest "Ernie" Banks , nicknamed "Mr. Cub", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman. He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.-High school years:Banks was a letterman and standout in football,...
as the team's first African-American player. However, plagued by a poor farm system and not aggressive enough in the signing of other black and Latin
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
talent, the Cubs could not escape the NL's second division during Matthews' reign.
After his dismissal by the Cubs, Matthews joined the front office of the Milwaukee 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....
, then one of the National League's dominant teams. He held the identical title he did with Chicago, but in his new post he served as assistant GM to John Quinn
John Quinn (baseball executive)
John Jacob Quinn was an American executive in Major League Baseball and a member of one of the game's most celebrated multi-generational families....
, the Braves' incumbent general manager. In January of 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
, Matthews became a scout for the Mets, newly admitted to the National League as a 1962 expansion team. He was promoted, along with Johnny Murphy
Johnny Murphy
John Joseph Murphy was an All-Star American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who later became a front office executive in the game.-Formative relief pitcher:...
, to the post of top aide to club president George Weiss
George Weiss (baseball)
George Martin Weiss was an American baseball executive. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.Weiss was one of Major League Baseball's most successful farm system directors and general managers...
in November of that year.
Matthews resigned as the Mets' director of player personnel during the 1964
1964 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 7 at Shea Stadium: National League, 7–4; Johnny Callison, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Minnesota...
season. His last job in baseball was as a scout for the Los Angeles/California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. He died in a West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
, hotel at the age of 68 during the Angels' end-of-year organizational meetings.