| Haywood Sullivan | |
 | |
| Born | December 15, 1930 Donalsonville, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Died | February 12, 2003 Fort Myers, Florida |
| Nationality | United States |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Known for | Ownership of the Boston Red Sox |
Haywood Cooper Sullivan (December 15, 1930 — February 12, 2003) was an American catcher, manager, general manager and club owner in Major League Baseball. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Donalsonville is a city in Seminole County, Georgia, United States. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Fort Myers is the County seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The University of Florida ( Florida or UF) is a public land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant major Research The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in Cricket. In Baseball, the head coach of a team is called the manager (or more formally the field manager) this individual controls matters General Manager or GM for short is a descriptive term for certain executives in a Business operation From 1978 through 1993, he was a general partner in the Boston Red Sox, where he reportedly parlayed a $200,000 investment into a $33 million cash out. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions.
Born in Donalsonville, Georgia, and raised in Dothan, Alabama, Sullivan attended the University of Florida, where he was a football quarterback and a baseball standout. Donalsonville is a city in Seminole County, Georgia, United States. Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US The University of Florida ( Florida or UF) is a public land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant major Research American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. He signed with the Red Sox in 1952, but his career was derailed by military service and a severe back injury: Sullivan missed the entire 1958 season after surgery. Finally, in 1960, he made the big leagues as Boston's third-string catcher, then held on as a semi-regular with the Kansas City Athletics from 1961-63. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over New York Yankees (4-3 Bobby Richardson, The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. Overall, Sullivan (a right-handed hitter) batted . Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively 226 with 13 home runs in 312 games over all or parts of seven seasons.
In 1964, Sullivan was named manager of the Athletics' Birmingham Barons farm club in the AA Southern League. The Birmingham Barons are a Minor league baseball team based in Birmingham Alabama. In sports a farm team, feeder team or nursery club, generally refers to a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players with an The Southern League is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. His team just missed the pennant, by one game, earning him a promotion to the AAA Vancouver Mounties of the Pacific Coast League in 1965. The Vancouver Mounties were a high-level Minor league Baseball club based in Vancouver British Columbia. The Pacific Coast League (PCL is a Minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. But after only 25 games in Vancouver, Sullivan was hurriedly called up to manage the A's on May 16, 1965, succeeding Mel McGaha, with Kansas City lodged in last place. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Minnesota Twins (4-3 Sandy Koufax, MVP Fred Melvin McGaha ( September 26 1926 - February 3, 2002) pronounced "mc-gay-hay" was an American coach and They remained there under Sullivan, winning 54 and losing 82 (. 397).
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Front office and ownership career
At season's end, he was recruited by the Red Sox, who had reorganized their front office under new general manager Dick O'Connell. Richard Henry O'Connell (1914 — 2002 was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. As vice president, player personnel, Sullivan was positioned as the top "baseball man" in the organization, and from 1965-67 was instrumental in acquiring several players from the Athletics (such as Jose Santiago, John Wyatt, Jose Tartabull and Ken Harrelson) who would help lead Boston to its surprise 1967 American League pennant. Jose Rafael Santiago Alfonso (born August 15, 1940, in Juana Diaz Puerto Rico) is a former right-handed Pitcher in American John Franklin Wyatt jr ( April 19, 1935 – April 6, 1998) was a Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball José Milages Tartabull Guzman (born November 27, 1938) was an Major League Baseball Outfielder his career lasted nine years from 1962 Kenneth Smith Harrelson (born September 4, 1941 in Woodruff South Carolina) Nicknamed "The Hawk" due to his distinctive Champions Major League Baseball World Series: St Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox (4-3 Bob Gibson, MVP The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League ( AL) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in But O'Connell gradually assumed more power and took over most of Sullivan's responsibilities; during the early 1970s, Sullivan kept his title but in reality became the Red Sox' director of amateur scouting. "Talent scout" redirects here For talent scouting in the music industry see A&R Professional sports scouts are trained talent
Despite his decline in overall authority, Sullivan maintained very close personal ties with owner Tom Yawkey and his wife, Jean. Early life Yawkey was born Thomas Austin His grandfather owned a successful lumber and iron business and attempted to purchase the Detroit Tigers but died amid the negotiations Boston Red Sox Mrs Yawkey's husband Tom became owner and president of the Boston Red Sox in 1933. In 1977, a year after Tom Yawkey died of leukemia, the Red Sox were put up for sale. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Yankees over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2 Reggie Jackson, Leukemia or leukaemia (Greek leukos λευκός, "white" aima αίμα, "blood" is a Cancer of the Blood Sullivan — reportedly borrowing $100,000 and using his home as collateral — joined an ownership group organized by former Red Sox athletic trainer Edward "Buddy" LeRoux. An athletic trainer is a certified health care professional who practices in the field of athletic training Edward G "Buddy" LeRoux Jr (1930 &ndash January 7, 2008) was a club owner in American Major League Baseball. Because of Sullivan's close friendship with Jean Yawkey, the LeRoux offer was accepted, even though it was not the highest bid and the group did not have the financial resources of some of its rivals. The American League initially rejected the deal, but reconsidered when Mrs. Yawkey joined the group as a third general partner in 1978.
Before the sale was consummated, in October 1977, Mrs. Yawkey fired O'Connell and promoted Sullivan to general manager. Overall, his first off-season as GM of the Red Sox was highly successful. Still using the resources of the Yawkey fortune, and benefitting from the depth of the Red Sox farm system that he helped to build, he acquired players such as Mike Torrez, Jerry Remy, Dick Drago and Dennis Eckersley. In sports a farm team, feeder team or nursery club, generally refers to a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players with an Michael Augustine Torrez (born August 28 1946 in Topeka Kansas) is a former Pitcher in Major League Baseball. Richard Anthony (Dick Drago (born June 25 1945 in Toledo Ohio) is a retired American Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3 1954 nicknamed "Eck" is a former American Major League Baseball player Buoyed by the new additions to an already strong team, the Red Sox charged into first place in the 1978 AL East race. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Yankees over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2 Bucky Dent, MVP The American League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions Famously, the Red Sox would lose a 14½ game lead over the New York Yankees and a one-game playoff that season. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. Although manager Don Zimmer is usually cast as the chief culprit for the collapse, Sullivan contributed to the debacle by dealing away useful players such as Bernie Carbo, Ferguson Jenkins, Jim Willoughby and Reggie Cleveland, who were considered to be "clubhouse lawyers. Donald William Zimmer (born January 17, 1931 in Cincinnati Ohio) is a former Infielder, manager, and a coach in Major League Bernardo "Bernie" Carbo (born August 5, 1947 in Detroit Michigan) is a former Major League Baseball Right fielder / Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins CM (born December 13 1943 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada) is a right-handed former James Arthur (Jim Willoughby (born January 31, 1949 in Salinas California) is a former Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball Reginald Leslie Cleveland (born on May 23, 1948 in Swift Current Saskatchewan) is a former Major League Baseball Pitcher. " None of the players fetched comparable value, and the loss of pitching and bench strength was a critical factor in Boston's struggles.
Post-1978 decline and the 'Coup LeRoux'
Sullivan further endured the wrath of Red Sox Nation after the '78 season when he allowed legendary pitcher Luis Tiant to leave for the Yankees as a free agent and, as he had done with Jenkins and Carbo, dumped a clubhouse dissident, lefty pitcher Bill Lee, in a giveaway trade — in this case, to the Montreal Expos. Red Sox Nation refers to the fans of the Boston Red Sox. The phrase "Red Sox Nation" was first coined by Boston Globe Luis Tiant (/luˈis tiˈant/ born November 23, 1940 ? in Marianao, Cuba) (then part of Havana Province, born Luis Clemente Tiant In Professional sports a free agent is a team player whose contract with a team has expired and the player is able to sign a contract with another team if that player William Francis Lee III (born December 28, 1946) (nicknamed " Spaceman " is an American athlete and retired Major Franchise history Creation of the franchise In 1960 Montreal lost its International League team the Montreal Royals (an affiliate of In 1979 he raised eyebrows when he selected his son Marc Sullivan, who was not considered to have early-round talent, in the second round of baseball's amateur draft. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Baltimore Orioles (4-3 Willie Stargell, Marc Cooper Sullivan (born July 25, 1958 in Quincy Massachusetts) is a former Major League Baseball player In December 1980, Sullivan faced the imminent free agency of former All-Stars Rick Burleson, Carlton Fisk and Fred Lynn — Boston's starting shortstop, catcher and center fielder, and thus the "up the middle" core of the ballclub. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League Richard Paul Burleson (born April 29, 1951 in Lynwood California) nicknamed "Rooster" is a former Shortstop in Major League Carlton Ernest Fisk (born December 26 1947 in) is a former Major League Baseball Catcher who played for 24 years with the Boston Red Sox Frederic Michael "Fred" Lynn (born February 3 1952 in Chicago Illinois) is a former Center fielder in Major League Baseball Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and Third base. A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the Outfielder in Baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position Sullivan was able to trade Burleson for value (young third baseman Carney Lansford), but then failed to mail contract offers to Lynn and Fisk by MLB's mandated deadline, unintentionally speeding their free agency. A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in Baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of Carney Ray Lansford (born February 7, 1957 in San Jose California) is a former Third baseman in Major League Baseball who played Sullivan was forced to accept fifty cents on the dollar for Lynn in a trade to the Angels, and then lost future Hall of Famer Fisk outright when he was declared a free agent.
From then on, Sullivan's reputation in Boston was tarnished. He refused to enter the market for free agents, preferring to rely exclusively on player development, but the Boston farm system hit a dry spell and the Red Sox were ridiculed for stinginess and ineptitude. The contending Bosox of the late 1970s were reduced to also-rans.
Sullivan's legacy received another battering in 1983 when a long-simmering estrangement from LeRoux became embarrassingly public. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies (4-1 Rick Dempsey, On June 6, just prior to a ceremony celebrating the Red Sox' 1967 AL champions, and raising money to care for stricken outfielder Tony Conigliaro, LeRoux called a press conference to reveal that he and his limited partners had exercised a contract clause and taken control of the Red Sox. Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in Baseball farthest from the batter Anthony Richard Conigliaro ( January 7, 1945 - February 24, 1990) nicknamed "Tony C" and "Conig" was a Major He fired Sullivan on the spot, and restored O'Connell — who hadn't set foot in Fenway Park since his dismissal in 1977 — to the GM post. Boston called it "the Coup LeRoux. " Sullivan and Mrs. Yawkey then immediately called their own press conference to announce they had filed suit to prevent the takeover. A court granted them an injunction, and in a public 1984 trial that aired dirty laundry on both sides, Sullivan and Yawkey won the day again. LeRoux was bought out and Jean Yawkey became the majority general partner.
From GM to CEO/COO
But the damage had been done. Sullivan voluntarily gave up his general manager post to Lou Gorman in June 1984 and became the team's chief executive and chief operating officer. James G "Lou" Gorman is a former General manager of the Boston Red Sox. Gorman received credit for trades that helped the 1986 Red Sox win the AL championship, although Sullivan's determination to build from within helped to furnish the club with many of its key players. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Mets over Boston Red Sox (4-3 Ray Knight, MVP
During Sullivan's tenure as general manager and top executive, the Red Sox, with their history as the last "original" MLB team to break the color line, were again criticized for insensitivity and institutional racism. The baseball color line, sometimes called the " Gentleman's Agreement " was the policy unwritten for nearly its entire duration which excluded African (Moreover, the city of Boston itself was painted as racist after the violence surrounding its school desegregation of the 1970s and incidents such as the Charles Stuart affair in the late 1980s. Charles "Chuck" Stuart ( December 18, 1959 &ndash January 4, 1990) was a Boston man who murdered his pregnant wife and inflamed ) Fans and media noted the Red Sox' relative lack of African-American and Latin-American players. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa In a 1985 public relations disaster, the team was sued by former outfielder and coach Tommy Harper, an African-American. Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in Baseball farthest from the batter In Baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team Tommy Harper (born October 14, 1940 in Oak Grove Louisiana) is a former multi-position player in Major League Baseball who played with the Harper was fired as a minor league baserunning instructor after he complained to the media about the club's policy of allowing the all-white Elks Club of Winter Haven, Florida (where the team held spring training), to invite the team's white players and front-office personnel to its segregated facilities. Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the Regular season. Harper's complaint was upheld by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on July 1, 1986. When the Red Sox re-entered the free agent market late in the 1980s, they were able to sign All-Star catcher Tony Peña, but many nonwhite players ignored the Red Sox in free agency, or included them on their "no trade" lists. Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla, widely known as Tony Peña (born June 4 1957 in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic) is a former Major League Baseball This trend began to change when the Red Sox bid aggressively (but unsuccessfully) for Kirby Puckett after the 1991 season. Kirby Puckett (March 14 1960 – March 6 2006 was a Center fielder Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves (4-3 Jack Morris, MVP
After 1986 and LeRoux' exit, Sullivan and Mrs. Yawkey grew distant, and, although he still held a general partnership in the team and the titles of CEO/COO, by the late 1980s Sullivan was consistently outvoted 2-1 by Mrs. Yawkey's two general partnership shares. When she died in 1992, Sullivan and her representative, John Harrington, each vowed to buy the other out. John Harrington is the former CEO of the Boston Red Sox. Early life and career He graduated from Boston College in 1957 and received his MBA from In November 1993, Harrington made good his word, buying Sullivan's interest for a reported $33 million.
Life after baseball
Sullivan then retired to the Gulf Coast of Florida, where he invested successfully in real estate, his name occasionally popping up as a potential investor in another major league club. When he died in Fort Myers, Florida, in February 2003 after suffering a stroke at the age of 72, Boston baseball observers such as Peter Gammons took a fresh view of Sullivan's impact on the Red Sox and gave him renewed credit for building the team into contenders, and keeping them there, from 1966 forward. Fort Myers is the County seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain Peter Gammons (born April 9 1945) is an American sportswriter, media personality and National Baseball Hall of Fame honoree He was named to the team's Hall of Fame in 2004. The Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame was instituted in 1995 to recognize the careers of former Boston Red Sox players
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- The Deadball Era
References
- Bryant, Howard, Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston. Boston: The Beacon Press, 2002.
- Gammons, Peter, Beyond the Sixth Game. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin Co. , 1985.
- Spink, C. C. Johnson, editor, The 1965 Baseball Guide. St. Louis: The Sporting News, 1966.
- Stout, Glenn and Johnson, Richard A. , Red Sox Century. Boston and New York: Houghton-Mifflin Co. , 2000.
- Obituary, The Boston Globe, February 13, 2003.
| Preceded by Mel McGaha | Kansas City Athletics Manager 1965 | Succeeded by Alvin Dark |
| Preceded by Dick O'Connell | Red Sox General Manager 1977 - 1984 | Succeeded by Lou Gorman |
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