Lee MacPhail

Leland Stanford MacPhail, Jr. (October 25, 1917 – November 8, 2012) was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and was an American 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 was the son of Larry MacPhail, 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 a scout for the Orioles.

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 1945. 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 Series 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, serving 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.

Later life

MacPhail lived in Delray Beach, Florida, where he died Thursday night November 8, 2012 at his home. He was 95. At time of his death he was the oldest living Hall of Famer.

Honors and awards

Baseball Hall of Fame

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998, joining his father, who had been elected in 1978, as the only father and son members.

Lee MacPhail MVP Award

The American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award is named for Lee MacPhail.

External links

• Lee MacPhail at the Baseball Hall of Fame