Theo Epstein

Theo Epstein

Epstein in 2010
Born Theo Nathaniel Epstein
(1973-12-29) December 29, 1973
New York City, New York
Alma mater Yale University
University of San Diego School of Law
Occupation President of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs
Spouse(s) Marie Whitney (m. 2007)
Children 2 (Jack and Andrew)
Parent(s) Leslie Epstein
Ilene Epstein

Theo Nathaniel Epstein (born December 29, 1973) is an American baseball executive and attorney currently serving as the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).

On November 25, 2002, Epstein became the youngest general manager (GM) in the history of MLB when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28. In 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series championship in 86 years and won another championship in 2007. Epstein resigned in October 2005, but was rehired as GM and executive vice president on January 24, 2006. On October 21, 2011 he resigned from his job in Boston to become president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, who in 2016, went on to win their first World Series championship in 108 years.

Early life and family

Epstein was born in New York City and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts.[1] He attended Brookline High School (a 1991 graduate),[2] and played baseball for the Brookline High School Warriors, but dreamed of working for the Red Sox. Epstein has a 60-second-older fraternal twin brother, Paul, who is a high school guidance counselor in Brookline, MA. The brothers are co-founders of The Foundation to be Named Later, established in 2005.[3]

Epstein's grandfather, Philip G. Epstein, and great-uncle, Julius J. Epstein – with Howard E. Koch – won Academy Awards for the screenplay of Casablanca,[3] while his father, novelist Leslie Epstein, heads the Creative Writing Program at Boston University.[4] Epstein's sister, Anya, was a screenwriter (Homicide: Life on the Street and Tell Me You Love Me).[5]

On January 12, 2007, Epstein, who is Jewish, married Marie Whitney, a Roman Catholic[6] and founder and creative director of Two Penny Blue.[7] [8]The couple have two boys, Jack and Andrew.[9]

An early report on the marriage from Boston Globe sportswriter Gordon Edes said 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.[10][11]

Early career and education

Epstein attended Yale University where he lived at Jonathan Edwards College. He served as sports editor of the Yale Daily News. During his time as an undergraduate, he wrote letters to several teams expressing interest in working for them. His letter to the Baltimore Orioles reached team executive Calvin Hill, a Yale alumnus and head of personnel, who invited him for an interview. Epstein interned for three consecutive summers for the Orioles.[12] He graduated in 1995 with a degree in American Studies. Eventually he was hired as the public relations assistant with the Orioles, then moved with Larry Lucchino to the San Diego Padres as director of player development. While working for the Padres, he also studied at the University of San Diego School of Law and earned a Juris Doctor degree at Lucchino's suggestion.[13] Epstein based his class selection on which professors seemed to be the most lenient with attendance policies given the Padres' often-late work hours. By doing so, Epstein was invited to take part in high-level negotiations and discussions by then-GM Kevin Towers since few in the Padres' small operations division had a legal background to understand contract language.[12] Epstein worked his way up to become the team's Director of Baseball Operations.[14]

Boston Red Sox

Epstein at the 2007 World Series victory parade

After leaving the position as the Padres' President, Lucchino became president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Red Sox on November 15, 2001[15] and hired Epstein to work under him. At the end of the 2002 season, Lucchino appointed Epstein to replace interim general manager (GM) Mike Port. Epstein is credited with initiating the trade of Nomar Garciaparra[14] and making key contract acquisitions including those of Kevin Millar and Curt Schilling during his first tenure as Red Sox GM.[14] The new players were regarded as instrumental in breaking the so-called "Curse of the Bambino" when the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. It was the Red Sox' first World Series championship since 1918, ending what remains the third longest championship drought in the history of any Major League team, after the Chicago White Sox (1917-2005) and the Chicago Cubs (1908–2016).[16][17]

On October 31, 2005, Epstein resigned, rejecting a three-year, $1.5-million-per-year contract for personal reasons. 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." Because it was Halloween the night he resigned from the Red Sox, Epstein left Fenway Park wearing a gorilla suit in an attempt to avoid reporters.[18] A witness reported spotting a person wearing a gorilla suit driving a Volvo similar to Epstein's that night. The suit was loaned to him and was later auctioned for $11,000. The money raised was given to The Jimmy Fund and the Foundation to be Named Later.[3]

Epstein remained in contact with the team's front office and on January 12, 2006, and he and Red Sox management announced his return. Six days later, the team announced that he would resume the title of general manager and add the title of executive vice president. In November 2007, Epstein announced, at the annual general manager meeting, that he had signed a new contract with the Red Sox but declined to disclose the terms of the deal.[19]

Mitchell Report

In December 2007, Epstein was mentioned in the Mitchell Report regarding a November 2006 email exchange he had had with Red Sox scout Marc DelPiano on the possible acquisition of closer Éric Gagné. In the email, Epstein asked DelPiano, "Have you done any digging on Gagné? 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."[20] Despite DelPiano's reservations about Gagné, Epstein traded Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltré to the Texas Rangers for Gagné on July 31, 2007.[21]

Chicago Cubs

On October 12, 2011, Epstein agreed to a five-year contract worth $18.5 million with the Chicago Cubs.[22] On October 19, 2011 it was reported that Epstein's official title with the Cubs would be President and that San Diego Padres general manager Jed Hoyer would take the GM position with the Cubs.[23]

Epstein talks to reporters before the 2016 NLCS Game 6

On October 23, 2011 he took out a full page ad in The Boston Globe, thanking Red Sox fans and the team's owners for their support.[24] Two days later, the Cubs officially introduced Epstein as president of baseball operations.[25] While the Red Sox were already a winning team when Epstein was hired in Boston, the Cubs were coming off a fifth place finish in the National League Central and had a depleted farm system.[26] The Cubs finished in last place in the National League Central for the first three years of Epstein's presidency, as the focus was to acquire young talent rather than maximize short-term competitiveness.[27] After a three-year top-to-bottom rebuild, the Cubs clinched a playoff berth in 2015; their first since 2008. They advanced to the National League Championship Series, where they were swept by the New York Mets.[28]

Epstein re-signed with the club on September 28, 2016 for a five-year contract estimated to be worth up to $50 million.[29] The Cubs finished the 2016 season with a 103-58 record, the best in the MLB and their best since the 1910 season. In the playoffs, they defeated the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS.[30] The Cubs proceeded to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2016 NLCS, winning their first pennant since the 1945 season and sending them to the World Series.[31] The Cubs then won their first World Series championship since 1908 when they defeated the Cleveland Indians in 7 games, breaking the so-called Curse of the Billy Goat.[32]

Charity

Epstein's "Hot Stove Cool Music" are biannual Boston and Chicago benefit concerts that have raised millions of dollars for the "disadvantaged youth and families" of Boston and Chicago. FTBNL co-founder Theo Epstein said in advance of the 2015 event, "We've collectively raised more than $6 million and look forward to increasing that total this year through another great night of music, baseball and giving back."[33]

Honors and awards

As a front office executive, Epstein is a three-time World Series Champion, winning twice with the Red Sox (2004, 2007), and once with the Cubs (2016)

In 2007, the United States Sports Academy named Epstein the recipient of its "Carl Maddox Sport Management Award."

In December 2008, Baseball America named Epstein its Baseball America Major League Executive of the Year.[34]

In September 2009, Epstein was named Sporting News Executive of the Decade.[35] At the same time, the Red Sox were named Sporting News Team of the Decade.

In December 2009, Sports Illustrated named him as number 3 on its list of the Top 10 GMs/Executives of the Decade (in all sports).[36]

Epstein was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year Award in November 2016.[37]

On November 2016, Theo won the Esurance MLB Award for Best Executive.[38]

References

  1. Jewish Jocks: An Unorthodox Hall of Fame, Google Books
  2. Beggy, Carol; Shanahan, Mark (November 6, 2003). "Monet goes to Vegas; Kerry goes out on the town". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 "Founders". Found 0, 2015.
  4. Brotman, Barbara. "The Natural: Baseball remains a literary hit in Theo Epstein's family". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  5. "Dinner & Discussion On The Film & TV Industries". columbia.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  6. "This day in Jewish history/Red Sox manager who removed 'curse of the Bambino' moves on", haaretz.com, October 21, 2013.
  7. "About Us". Two Penny Blue.
  8. "Meet Mrs. Epstein". FabWags.com. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  9. "Founders – Foundation To Be Named Later : FTBNL : Theo Epstein : Paul Epstein". Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  10. Edes, Gordon (January 31, 2007). "Hitch was in his plan: Epstein took a wife, left media in dark". Boston Globe. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  11. Edes, Gordon (January 31, 2007). "A frank explanation". Boston Globe. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  12. 1 2 Fox, Nathan, "Prospectus Q&A: Theo Epstein, Part I", baseballprospectus.com, February 9, 2004.
  13. Gopisetty, Smita, "For Epstein ’95, a dream fulfilled at 28", Yale Daily News, December 11, 2002.
  14. 1 2 3 Hohler, Bob, "Epstein was an old pro", boston.com/NESN, October 29, 2004.
  15. Shaughnessy, Dan, "Red Sox CEO Lucchino to leave at season’s end", Boston Globe, August 02, 2015. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  16. "White Sox History". Chicago White Sox.
  17. "Cubs Postseason Results". Chicago Cubs.
  18. Snyder, Matt. "Happy Anniversary: Theo Epstein resigns, wears gorilla suit". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  19. "Epstein says he, Red Sox agreed to new deal 'few weeks ago'". ESPN.go.com. November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
  20. "Mitchell Report, pp 219, 224" (PDF). Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  21. "Red Sox upgrade bullpen with Gagne deal". ESPN.go.com. July 31, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2008.
  22. Olney, Buster; Gordon Edes (October 12, 2011). "Theo Epstein, Cubs agree". ESPN. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  23. "Sources: Jed Hoyer, To Join Cubs as GM". Sports Illustrated. October 20, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  24. Jackson, Scott. "Epstein classy on the way out". Bleacher Bum Sports. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  25. "Cubs introduce Theo Epstein". espnchicago.com. ESPN. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  26. Paine, Neil. "Theo Epstein's Curse-Breakers". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  27. "Tom Ricketts Recalls Why He Hired Theo Epstein Originally: 'Living Year To Year Wasn't Going To Change The Prospects'". CBS Chicago. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  28. "Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs clinch first MLB playoff berth since 2008". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  29. Gonzales, Mark (September 28, 2016). "Cubs give Theo Epstein a five-year extension". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  30. Witz, Billy, "Cubs Oust Giants to Reach N.L.C.S., for Once on Good Side of a Big Rally", The New York Times, October 12, 2016.
  31. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/206880270/cubs-beats-dodgers-in-game-6-to-win-nl-pennant/
  32. Phillips, Steve. "Epstein proves to be the ultimate curse-buster". TSN.ca. TSN. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  33. Bloom, Barry M. "Theo Epstein's Hot Stove Cool Music Heats Up With Special Guest "Headliner To Be Named Later" at Wrigleyville's Metro July 9". mlb.com/news. MLB.com. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  34. Speier, Alex (December 22, 2008). "Setting Up Success: Epstein is our Major League Exec of the Year". Baseball America. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  35. Stone, Larry, "Ichiro on Sporting News All-Decade team. Who is the Player of the Decade?", The Seattle Times, September 24, 2009. The Seattle Times Co. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  36. The list's only other MLB GMs were Seattle and Philadelphia's Pat Gillick (No. 7) and Oakland's Billy Beane (No. 10). Friedman, Dick (December 22, 2009). "2000s: Top 10 GMs/Executives". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  37. "Cubs curse-killer Epstein voted top MLB executive". Yahoo! Sports. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  38. "Honor-bound: MLB Awards put cap on season".

Further reading

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
N/A
Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations
October 21, 2011 – present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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