Theo Epstein

Theo Epstein
Epstein in 2010.
Chicago Cubs
President of Baseball Operations
Born: (1973-12-29) December 29, 1973 New York City, New York
Teams
As general manager Boston Red Sox (2002–2005, 2006–2011) As president Chicago Cubs (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
3x World Series champion (2004, 2007, 2016) Sporting News Executive of the Year (2016)

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

Epstein became the youngest general manager (GM) in the history of MLB, when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28 on November 25, 2002. In 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series championship in 86 years and won another championship in 2007.

On October 21, 2011, he resigned from his job in Boston to become President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs, who – in 2016 – won their first World Series championship in 108 years.

Early life

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 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.^[3] He graduated in 1995 with a degree in American Studies. Eventually he was hired as the public relations assistant with the Orioles.

San Diego Padres

Epstein 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.^[4] 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 studying law, 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.^[3] Epstein worked his way up to become the team's Director of Baseball Operations.^[5]

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^[6] 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^[5] and making key contract acquisitions including those of Kevin Millar and Curt Schilling during his first tenure as Red Sox GM.^[5] 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).^[7][8]

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.^[9] 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 (FTBNL).^[10]

Epstein remained in contact with the team's front office and on January 12, 2006, 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.^[11]

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."^[12] 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.^[13]

Chicago Cubs

On October 12, 2011, Epstein agreed to a five-year contract worth $18.5 million with the Chicago Cubs.^[14] 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.^[15]

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.^[16] Two days later, the Cubs officially introduced Epstein as president of baseball operations.^[17] 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.^[18] 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.^[19] 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.^[20]

Epstein re-signed with the club on September 28, 2016, with a five-year contract estimated to be worth up to $50 million.^[21] 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.^[22] The Cubs proceeded to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, winning their first pennant since the 1945 season and sending them to the World Series.^[23] 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".^[24]

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."^[25]

Honors and awards

As a front office executive, Epstein is a three-time World Series Champion, winning twice with the Red Sox (2004 and 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.^[26]

In September 2009, Epstein was named Sporting News Executive of the Decade.^[27] At the same time, the Red Sox were named Sporting News Team of the Decade.

In December 2009, Sports Illustrated named him (A) MLB's Best General Manager of the Decade and (B) number 3 on its list of the Top 10 GMs/Executives of the Decade (in all sports).^[28]

In November 2016, Epstein was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year.^[29]

Also in November 2016, Epstein won the Esurance MLB Award for Best Executive.^[30]

In March 2017, Epstein was announced as Yale's Class Day Speaker.^[31] Fortune Magazine also ranked Epstein #1 in their 2017 list of the "World's Greatest Leaders".^[32]

In April 2017, Time Magazine named Epstein one of the world's 100 most influential people.^[33]

Family

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.^[10]

Epstein's grandfather, Philip G. Epstein, and great-uncle, Julius J. Epstein – with Howard E. Koch – won Academy Awards for the screenplay of Casablanca,^[10] while his father, novelist Leslie Epstein, heads the Creative Writing Program at Boston University.^[34] His mother, Ilene (Gradman), opened a clothing store.^[35] Epstein's sister, Anya, was a screenwriter (Homicide: Life on the Street and Tell Me You Love Me).^[36]

On January 12, 2007, Epstein married Marie Whitney, who is the founder and creative director of Two Penny Blue.^[37][38][39] The couple have two boys, Jack and Andrew.^[40] 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.^[41][42]

References

Further reading

• Ruttman, Larry (2013). "Theo Epstein: The Youngest General Manager in Major League Baseball History". American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball. Lincoln, Nebraska and London, England: University of Nebraska Press. pp. 403–409. ISBN 978-0-8032-6475-5. 

External links

• Theo Epstein on IMDb
• 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.