83 replies to this topic

[RShack]

"Summarizing Branch Rickey as a general manager is like summarizing Isaac Newton as scientist.  Where do you begin?"

 

With the apple?  Just like with Adam and Eve?  

Did Branch Rickey have an apple?  Or grow one?  Or trade for one?

[DJ MC]

Another bonus: Calvin Griffith

 

After more than half a century, many writers have a tendency to wax nostalgic on these owner-operators.  In fact, these men, who had no outside source of income, often ran their clubs on a shoestring budget and spent much less on scouting and minor league operations than the wealthier franchises.  By the early 1950s some of these teams were spectacularly unsuccessful.  Somewhat astonishingly, Griffith proved an exception—at least for a while.

[RShack]

Another bonus: Calvin Griffith

 

Hurray for the owner-GM's who made their living that way...

 

Whatever Griffith did right, Veeck did it better... I just wonder how they're gonna summarize Veeck in just a short piece...

[DJ MC]

Honorable Mention: Gabe Paul

 

His four years in charge of the Yankees (1973-77) constitute one of the more impressive runs a GM has ever had, a period we discuss in our book.  Balancing that, Paul had 18 other years running teams without winning a pennant.  In the end, he just missed making our list.