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Dave Dombrowski

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Dave Dombrowski
Dombrowski in 2015
Born: (1956-07-27) July 27, 1956 (age 67)
Chicago, Illinois
Teams
Career highlights and awards

David Dombrowski (born July 27, 1956) is an American baseball executive who served as the President of Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2015 to 2019. Dombrowski also previously served as the general manager of the Montreal Expos, and the general manager and president of the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers.

Career

Chicago White Sox

Dombrowski began his career with the Chicago White Sox in 1978, as an administrative assistant in their minor league organization.[1] He moved up the ladder to assistant general manager to Roland Hemond by his late 20s, but was purged during Ken Harrelson's one-year reign in 1986 as the White Sox front-office boss.

Montreal Expos

Dombrowski joined the Montreal Expos front office as director of player development for the 1987 season under Bill Stoneman, and on July 5, 1988, he became, at age 31, Montreal's general manager—the youngest in MLB at the time.[2]

Dombrowski built up the Expos farm system during his term. He drafted, among others, Rondell White and Cliff Floyd. The team enjoyed .500 or better seasons in 1988–90 but struggled on the field in 1991. Concurrently, the National League expanded to 14 teams, with two new franchises to begin play in 1993. One of those teams, the Florida Marlins, recruited Dombrowski to become its first general manager; he was appointed on September 19, 1991.

Florida Marlins

Dombrowski spent more than a decade in Miami, working under owners H. Wayne Huizenga and John W. Henry. In 1996, he hired Jim Leyland to manage the team; they had previously worked together for the White Sox in the early 1980s, with Dombrowski as assistant general manager and Leyland as third base coach.[3] Although Dombrowski built a sound minor league system, the Marlins achieved their first great success—the NL pennant and 1997 World Series title—with a team composed of many high-salaried players signed as free agents. The following year, Dombrowski presided over Huizenga's mandated fire sale of those veteran players, and the Marlins failed to reach a .500 winning percentage in each of Dombrowski's final four years with the franchise. In November 2001, Dombrowski left Florida to become the president of the Detroit Tigers.[4] Nevertheless, after Henry sold the club in early 2002, the Marlins managed to rebuild behind a nucleus of young players, and the following season, with a roster consisting chiefly of players Dombrowski had acquired,[5] the team won the 2003 World Series.

Detroit Tigers

Dombrowski watches a West Michigan Whitecaps game at Fifth Third Ballpark, 2010

For the 2002 season, his first with the Tigers after being hired by owner Mike Ilitch, Dombrowski was to serve as president and chief executive officer of the rebuilding Tigers. Incumbent general manager Randy Smith would continue in his role, reporting to Dombrowski. However, when Detroit lost its first six games in 2002, Dombrowski quickly fired both Smith and manager Phil Garner.[6] Dombrowski assumed the general manager's role himself, becoming the first person to serve as both president and GM for the Tigers since Jim Campbell held both titles from 1978 to 1983.[7]

In 2003, the Tigers lost an American League-record 119 games, one fewer loss than the modern MLB record set by the 1962 New York Mets. The manager was Alan Trammell, who was the 1984 World Series MVP. Three years later, the 2006 Tigers, led by manager Jim Leyland, won their first AL pennant since their championship season of 1984. Along the way, they won the AL wild card, defeated the favored New York Yankees in four games in the 2006 American League Division Series (ALDS), then swept the Oakland Athletics in the 2006 American League Championship Series (ALCS). In the 2006 World Series, they were defeated in five games by the St. Louis Cardinals. Dombrowski was subsequently named Executive of the Year by Baseball America.[8]

In addition to bringing Leyland out of semi-retirement,[9] Dombrowski presided over the acquisition and development of a corps of hard-throwing young pitchers, and signed free agents such as catcher Iván Rodríguez, left-handed pitcher Kenny Rogers, and outfielder Magglio Ordóñez.

In 2012, the Tigers reached their second World Series under Dombrowski's tenure by defeating the Oakland Athletics in five games in the 2012 ALDS and sweeping the New York Yankees in the 2012 ALCS. The Tigers were then swept by the San Francisco Giants in four straight games, losing the 2012 World Series.

On August 4, 2015, Dombrowski was released by the Tigers, and was replaced by his former assistant general manager Al Avila.[10] In fourteen years with Tigers organization, Dombrowski led the Tigers to five playoff appearances, four consecutive American League Central division titles, four American League Championship Series appearances, including three consecutive ALCS appearances from 2011 to 2013, and two AL pennants, in 2006 and 2012.[11] Prior to his hiring, the Tigers had missed the playoffs in fourteen consecutive seasons, and had just four playoff appearances in the 60 season stretch from 1946 to 2005.

Boston Red Sox

On August 18, 2015, Dombrowski was named the president of baseball operations of the Boston Red Sox.[12] At the announcement of his hiring, the Red Sox also announced that general manager Ben Cherington would step down. In September, Dombrowski filled Cherington's post with senior vice president Mike Hazen.[13] Dombrowski made his first significant trade for the Red Sox in November, when he acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres for four prospects.[14] He also signed high-profile free agent pitcher David Price to a seven-year, $217 million contract.

In Dombrowski's first full season with the team, the 2016 Red Sox won 93 regular-season games and the American League East division title, but were swept in the 2016 American League Division Series by the eventual AL champions, the Cleveland Indians. In mid-October, Hazen resigned from the Red Sox to take an expanded role as executive vice president and general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Dombrowski chose not to appoint a successor, assuming general manager responsibilities without the added title, and promoting other Red Sox executives to key supporting positions, including former MLB general managers Frank Wren and Allard Baird.[15]

Prior to the 2017 season, Dombrowski acquired starting pitcher Chris Sale from the White Sox, in exchange for four prospects including Yoan Moncada.[16] The 2017 Red Sox won their division again, but lost the 2017 American League Division Series to the eventual World Series champions, the Houston Astros. In October, Dombrowski fired John Farrell, who had served five years as Boston's manager.[17] Later that month, Dombrowski hired Alex Cora, then bench coach of the Astros, to be the next Red Sox manager.[18]

The 2018 Red Sox won their division for the third consecutive season; the team recorded 108 wins, the most in franchise history. The team went on to win the 2018 World Series, with a pitching staff led by players that Dombrowski had acquired—including Kimbrel, Price, and Sale—along with designated hitter J. D. Martinez, whom Dombrowski had acquired in February 2018.[19] It was Dombrowski's first championship since he was general manager of the Marlins in 1997, and he was later named Executive of the Year by Baseball America, the second time he won the award.[8]

Dombrowski was fired by the Red Sox early on September 9, 2019, just 10 months after winning the 2018 World Series, following a 10–5 loss to the New York Yankees, which dropped Boston's record for the season to 76–67.[20][21] During his time as general manager, the Red Sox were accused of participating in sign stealing during the 2017 regular season games against the Yankees and throughout the 2018 season.[22][23] However, he was later cleared of any wrongdoing during the 2018 Red Sox season following an MLB investigation in February 2020.[24][25]

Record as general manager

Dombrowski's title with Boston was President of Baseball Operations. During the 2016 season, Mike Hazen served as the team's general manager. The position remained vacant, with Dombrowski the de facto general manager, from October 2016 through his dismissal in September 2019. The below table includes Boston's record during the time Dombrowski oversaw their baseball operations.

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Win % Finish Result
MON 1988 41 40 .506 3rd in NL East -
MON 1989 81 81 .500 4th in NL East -
MON 1990 85 77 .525 3rd in NL East -
MON 1991 64 81 .441 Left midseason -
MON Total 271 279 .493
FLA 1993 64 98 .395 6th in NL East -
FLA 1994 51 64 .443 5th in NL East -
FLA 1995 67 76 .469 4th in NL East -
FLA 1996 80 82 .494 3rd in NL East -
FLA 1997 92 70 .568 2nd in NL East Defeated Cleveland Indians in 1997 World Series.
FLA 1998 54 108 .333 5th in NL East -
FLA 1999 64 98 .395 5th in NL East -
FLA 2000 79 82 .491 3rd in NL East -
FLA 2001 76 86 .469 4th in NL East -
FLA Total 627 764 .451 1 playoff appearance, 1 pennant and 1 World Series title
DET 2002 55 100 .355 5th in AL Central -
DET 2003 43 119 .265 5th in AL Central -
DET 2004 72 90 .444 4th in AL Central -
DET 2005 71 91 .438 4th in AL Central -
DET 2006 95 67 .586 2nd in AL Central Lost to St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 World Series.
DET 2007 88 74 .543 2nd in AL Central -
DET 2008 74 88 .457 5th in AL Central -
DET 2009 86 77 .528 2nd in AL Central -
DET 2010 81 81 .500 3rd in AL Central -
DET 2011 95 67 .586 1st in AL Central Lost to Texas Rangers in 2011 ALCS.
DET 2012 88 74 .543 1st in AL Central Lost to San Francisco Giants in 2012 World Series.
DET 2013 93 69 .574 1st in AL Central Lost to Boston Red Sox in 2013 ALCS.
DET 2014 90 72 .556 1st in AL Central Lost to Baltimore Orioles in 2014 ALDS.
DET 2015 51 54 .486 3rd in AL Central† Released on August 4
DET Total 1082 1123 .491 5 playoff appearances and 2 pennants
BOS 2015 26 18 .591 N/A‡ Hired on August 18
BOS 2016 93 69 .574 1st in AL East Lost to Cleveland Indians in 2016 ALDS.
BOS 2017 93 69 .574 1st in AL East Lost to Houston Astros in 2017 ALDS.
BOS 2018 108 54 .667 1st in AL East Defeated Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 World Series.
BOS 2019 76 67 .531 3rd in AL East† Released on September 9
BOS Total 396 277 .588 [26] 3 playoff appearances, 1 pennant and 1 World Series title
Total 2376 2443 .493 9 playoff appearances, 4 pennants and 2 World Series titles

† Reflects team's record and position in standings at the time Dombrowski was dismissed.
‡ Reflects team's record from when Dombrowski was hired through end of season.

Personal life

Dombrowski grew up in Palos Heights, Illinois, and graduated from Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois.[27][28]

Dombrowski briefly attended Cornell University, where he was a member of the Big Red football team. He later transferred to Western Michigan University, where he earned a degree in business administration in 1979.[1][29] Dombrowski would later be the recipient of Western Michigan University's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.[28][30]

Dombrowski is married to Karie Ross,[31] who worked as an ESPN reporter from 1988 to 1990. They met in 1992 while Dombrowski was serving as general manager of the Florida Marlins and Ross was a reporter at WTVJ in Miami.[32] The couple has two children.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b "David Dombrowski". mlb.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  2. ^ Lawson, Earl (July 23, 1988). "Los Angeles amazes Lasorda". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 4D. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  3. ^ "Dombrowski, Leyland dynamic duo for Tigers". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Dombrowski leaves Marlins to head Tigers," November 5, 2001, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/11/05/dombrowski_tigers_ap/#null Archived November 21, 2001, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ Jonah Keri writes, "Though [Dombrowski] left before the next championship, the 2003 World Series-winning Marlins also had Dombrowski's fingerprints all over them." See http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5191.
  6. ^ "Tigers Dismiss Garner And Smith," New York Times, April 9, 2002, https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/09/sports/baseball-tigers-dismiss-garner-and-smith.html.
  7. ^ "Winless Tigers Chop from Top," St. Petersburg Times, April 9, 2002, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0IlIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wnMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6563,4180053&hl=en.
  8. ^ a b Remillard, Calli (November 27, 2018). "Dave Dombrowski was named Executive of the Year". Boston.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  9. ^ Greenberg, Jon (June 23, 2006). "Tigers getting ferocious under Leyland". mlb.com. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  10. ^ Simon, Andrew (August 4, 2015). "Avila replaces Dombrowski as Tigers GM". MLB.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  11. ^ Jaffe, Jay (August 4, 2015). "Dave Dombrowski's departure marks the end of an era for Detroit Tigers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "Red Sox hire Dave Dombrowski; Ben Cherington stepping down as GM". USA Today. August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  13. ^ Pescaro, Mike (September 24, 2015). "Mike Hazen Named Red Sox General Manager". NECN. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  14. ^ "Padres trade Craig Kimbrel to Red Sox in exchange for 4 prospects". ESPN. November 13, 2015.
  15. ^ Lauber, Scott (October 25, 2016). "Dave Dombrowski: Red Sox won't hire a general manager". ESPN.
  16. ^ Scott Merkin (December 6, 2016). "Red Sox acquire Chris Sale in blockbuster trade with White Sox". MLB.com. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  17. ^ Browne, Ian (October 11, 2017). "Red Sox release manager John Farrell after five seasons". MLB.com. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  18. ^ Browne, Ian (October 22, 2017). "Sox finalize 3-year deal with Cora to manage". MLB.com. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  19. ^ "Red Sox officially sign J. D. Martinez to 5-year deal through 2022". ESPN.com. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  20. ^ "Red Sox fire president Dave Dombrowski less than a year after winning World Series". sports.yahoo.com. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  21. ^ Abraham, Pete (September 9, 2019). "Dave Dombrowski out as Red Sox president of baseball operations". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  22. ^ Perry, Dayn (January 15, 2020). "Alex Cora's managerial career, which started with historic success, appears to be over". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  23. ^ Billy Witz (September 15, 2017). "Manfred Fines Red Sox Over Stealing Signs and Issues Warning to All 30 Teams - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  24. ^ Smith, Christopher (February 18, 2020). "Boston Red Sox sign-stealing investigation: MLB will find Dave Dombrowski 'not involved' (report)". Masslive. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  25. ^ https://bosoxinjection.com/2020/02/19/red-sox-miss-dombrowski-roenicke/
  26. ^ @BillBallouTG (September 9, 2019). "Dombrowski "departs" with the best winning percentage of any Red Sox GM since the position was established in 1933. He was 396-277 (.588)" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "Turning in A+ work". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  28. ^ a b "tigers.com: Team". Detroit Tigers. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  29. ^ Fox Sports. "Detroit". FOX Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  30. ^ "Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients". wmich.edu. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  31. ^ a b Friedman, Michael (April 30, 2018). "Karie Ross Dombrowski Q&A Extra Credit". mikefriedman.oucreate.com. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  32. ^ Rohde, John (August 12, 2001). "South Florida cottons to Ross' spunk Ex-TV reporter is full-time mom with fond memories of Oklahoma". oklahoman.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.

Further reading


Sporting positions
Preceded by Montreal Expos general manager
1987–1991 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Franchise created
 Florida Marlins general manager
1991–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Florida Marlins president
2000–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Detroit Tigers president
2001–2015 		Succeeded by
Chris Granger
Preceded by Detroit Tigers general manager
2002–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Position established
 Boston Red Sox
president, baseball operations
2015–2019 		Succeeded by
Chaim Bloom
(as "chief baseball officer")
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