Theo Epstein
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| Theo Epstein | |
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| Born | December 29, 1973 New York City, New York |
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| Education | Yale University University of San Diego School of Law |
| Occupation | Executive Vice President/General Manager of the Boston Red Sox |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Whitney (m. 2007–present) |
| Children | Jack Epstein (b. 2007) |
| Parents | Leslie Epstein, Ilene Epstein |
Theo Nathan Epstein (born December 29, 1973 in New York City) is the Executive Vice President/General Manager of the Boston Red Sox. On November 25, 2002, the Red Sox made him the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball by hiring him at the age of 28. In 2004, he engineered the first World Series championship by the Red Sox in 86 years and a second in the 2007 season. Epstein resigned in October 2005, but was rehired as GM and Executive Vice President on January 24, 2006.
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[edit] Early life and family
He was raised just one mile from Fenway Park in Brookline, where he attended Brookline High School (a 1991 graduate),[1] and never played baseball for the Warriors, but dreamed of working for the Red Sox. Epstein has a fraternal twin brother, Paul Epstein; together they founded a charity, "Foundation to be Named Later."[2] Epstein's grandfather Philip G. Epstein and great-uncle Julius J. Epstein won Academy Awards for the screenplay of Casablanca, while his father, the novelist Leslie Epstein, is the head of the Creative Writing Program at Boston University. Epstein's brother-in-law is the actor Dan Futterman, who appeared in the television series Judging Amy as Judge Amy Gray's brother Vincent. Futterman, who also wrote the award-winning screenplay for the film Capote, is married to Epstein's sister, Anya Epstein, a writer for the television series Homicide: Life on the Streets and Tell Me You Love Me. On January 1, 2007, Epstein married Marie Whitney, a volunteer at Horizons for Homeless Children. An early report on the marriage from Boston Globe sportswriter Gordon Edes reported the site of the wedding was Nathan's Famous hot dog stand at Coney Island. Edes later published a correction, noting that he had fallen for a prank by Theo's father, Leslie. The site and actual date of the wedding was never released, but the Boston Herald later published a story claiming the wedding took place on Red Sox owner John Henry's yacht in Saint Thomas.[3][4] On December 12, 2007, Epstein's wife gave birth to the couple's first child, Jack, in Boston, Massachusetts.[5]
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[edit] Early career and education
Epstein attended Yale University where he lived at Jonathan Edwards College and served as sports editor of the Yale Daily News, and graduated in 1995 with a degree in American Studies. Eventually he took a job in the PR department of the San Diego Padres; soon Epstein would become the team's Director of Baseball Operations. While working for the Padres, he studied full-time at the University of San Diego School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree and passed the California bar exam in 1999. Epstein is not, and has never been, a member of the State Bar of California.[6]
[edit] Red Sox
Larry Lucchino became President and CEO of the Red Sox on November 25, 2002 and hired Epstein to work underneath him. At the end of the 2002 season, Lucchino appointed Epstein to replace interim GM Mike Port. On October 31, 2005, Epstein rejected a three-year, $1.5 million per year contract for personal reasons, and walked away from his position. According to The Boston Globe, "This is a job you have to give your whole heart and soul to," he said. "In the end, after a long period of reflection about myself and the program, I decided I could no longer put my whole heart and soul into it." The night he resigned from the Red Sox, Epstein left Fenway Park wearing a gorilla suit in an attempt to avoid reporters. It was Halloween, and he may have decided that was the best way to leave the office without attracting press attention. A witness reported a gorilla was driving a Volvo similar to Epstein's that night. The suit was loaned to him and was later auctioned off for $11,000. The money rasied was given to The Jimmy Fund and Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later.[7] Epstein remained in contact with the team's front office, and on January 19, 2006, Epstein and Red Sox management announced he would return. Five days later, the team announced that he would re-assume the title of General Manager and add the title of Executive Vice President. Partly because Epstein grew up a short distance from Fenway Park, and partly because he constructed the team that brought Boston a World Series championship for the first time in eighty-six years, Epstein remains wildly popular among members of Red Sox Nation. In 2007 Epstein helped the Red Sox win their second World Series in 4 years. In November 2008, Epstein announced at the annual General Manager meeting that he had signed a new contract with the Red Sox, but would not disclose the terms of the new deal.[8]
[edit] Mitchell Report
In December 2007, Epstein was mentioned in the Mitchell Report regarding a November 2006 email exchange he had with Red Sox scout Marc DelPiano on the possible acquisition of then free agent closer Eric Gagné. In the email, Epstein asks DelPiano: "Have you done any digging on Gagne? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medical?" DelPiano replied that "steroids IS the issue" with Gagné, questioned his "poise and commitment" and expressed questions about his durability "without steroid help".[9] Despite the reservations expressed by Delpiano, Epstein traded pitcher Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre to the Texas Rangers for Gagné on July 31, 2007.[10] Their fears would be confirmed as Gagné allowed 14 earned runs in 14 innings (a 9.00 ERA) with three blown saves and an opponent batting average of over .350.
[edit] Musical career
On May 25, 2006, Epstein made an appearance on stage with Pearl Jam at TD Banknorth Garden playing rhythm guitar on the concert's penultimate song, Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World." In January 2007, Epstein joined ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons's band the Hot Stove All-Stars to play at the Hot Stove Cool Music benefit concert held at the Paradise club in Boston. The event raised over $200,000 for the Jimmy Fund and Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later. The event also featured former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Beggy, Carol; and Shanahan, Mark. "Monet goes to Vegas; Kerry goes out on the town", The Boston Globe, November 6, 2003. Accessed February 17, 2008.
- ^ Foundation to be Named Later Founders
- ^ Gordon Edes (2007-01-31). "Hitch was in his plan: Epstein took a wife, left media in dark". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/01/31/hitch_was_in_his_plan/. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ Gordon Edes (2007-01-31). "A frank explanation". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/01/to_be_frank.html. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ Mark Shanahan (2007-12-12). "Epstein's wife gives birth to baby boy". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/12/12/epsteins_wife_gives_birth_to_baby_boy/. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ State Bar of California "Attorney Search". Accessed April 3, 2009.
- ^ http://wbztv.com/sports/Theo.Epstein.Gorilla.2.575502.html
- ^ "Epstein says he, Red Sox agreed to new deal 'few weeks ago'". ESPN. 2008-11-04. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3681360. Retrieved on 2008-11-04.
- ^ "Mitchell Report p 219, 224" (PDF). http://assets.espn.go.com/media/pdf/071213/mitchell_report.pdf.
- ^ "Red Sox upgrade bullpen with Gagne deal". ESPN. 2007-07-31. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2955966. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
- ^ "Rocking music and baseball talk fan the flames of Hot Stove". Boston Globe. 2008-01-08. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/01/08/rocking_music_and_baseball_talk_fan_the_flames_of_hot_stove/. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
[edit] External links
- Theo Epstein at the Internet Movie Database
- Theo Walks Away From Sox
- Theo Epstein News Video Clips
- Theo's Statement of Resignation
- Sox Make An Executive Revision, article discussing Epstein's rehiring, from The Boston Globe, January 25, 2006.
- Theo Epstein bio/profile
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mike Port (Interim) |
Red Sox General Manager November 25, 2002 - October 31, 2005 |
Succeeded by Ben Cherington & Jed Hoyer (Interim) |
| Preceded by Ben Cherington & Jed Hoyer (Interim) |
Red Sox General Manager January 25, 2006 - |
Succeeded by incumbent |
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