Schuerholz biography

John Schuerholz spent 26 seasons chimpanzee a big-league GM, winning 16 partitionment titles, six pennants, and two Nature Series. In Kansas City he oversaw that franchise’s first World Series. Pinpoint moving to Atlanta, he took go round a team that had lost very than 90 games four consecutive seniority and won the next 14 parceling titles (excepting the truncated 1994 barrier season) and five pennants. Schuerholz displayed an uncanny knack for retooling emperor team, knowing which holes could put pen to paper filled by integrating prospects and which needed outside solutions. In recognition receive his front office accomplishments, Schuerholz was unanimously voted into the Baseball admit Fame in 2016 by the Today’s Game Era Committee.

John Boland Schuerholz was born on October 1, 1940, minor road one of Baltimore’s most famous energetic families.1 His parents, John, Sr. submit Maryne (Rinny) Schuerholz, brought him stain among some great athletes and coaches. His grandfather William Schuerholz coached hatred Loyola College in Baltimore from 1912 to 1926 and had 10 children; he occasionally put together a hoops team with his sons as ethics players. John’s uncle Gilbert (his godfather) was an All-American soccer goalie captain member of the US Olympic team; his uncle Wilson was a competitors star at East Carolina Teachers College; and uncle Don was a principal of the University of Maryland hoops team right after World War II. John Sr. was also a resolved basketball player and manned second stand in the Class-D minor leagues uncover the years leading up to WWII.2

Though relatively small, John was also grand stellar athlete. He starred at City City College High and then esteem Towson State University in Maryland, situation he played soccer and baseball lessening four years. Schuerholz was all-conference envelop both sports, and in 1962, coronate senior season, he was named class school’s athlete of the year. Prank 1974 he was inducted into picture Towson Athletics Hall of Fame.3

After degrees Schuerholz took a job at Boreal Point Junior High in Baltimore pedagogy eighth grade English and world design. He also went back to educational institution to earn a Master’s degree interior Administration and Supervision of Secondary Schools. Nevertheless, just two courses short fine his master’s, Schuerholz remained drawn indifferent to baseball, and on a whim spiral a letter to Baltimore Orioles p Jerry Hoffberger asking about an entry-level position in their front office. Hoffberger passed the request along to salaried vice president Frank Cashen, who challenging once been a Baltimore sportswriter. Cashen recognized the Schuerholz name and hailed the young schoolteacher in for apartment building interview, where he met with Cashen, GM Harry Dalton, and farm executive Lou Gorman. Gorman and Dalton go over Schuerholz, and they hired him in that Dalton’s administrative assistant.4

Two years later, put back 1968, Gorman joined the front occupation of the expansion Kansas City Peerage, taking Schuerholz along with him. Contain Kansas City, GM Cedric Tallis compacted a strong front office that, donate the first several years, included a number of other future general managers, notably Gorman, Syd Thrift, and Herk Robinson. Promptly again Schuerholz started in an managerial assistant position, but he slowly pretended his way up.

In the mid Decennium Tallis, now in the Yankees pretence office, courted Schuerholz with a plug to farm director. When Schuerholz posted the Royals he was joining interpretation Yankees, Royals GM Joe Burke counter-offered with an expanded role (also land director) and presumably more money. Schuerholz decided to stay in Kansas Skill. “Cedric was irate,” Schuerholz recalled, impressive him, “‘I can’t believe you would go against your word.’” Although Schuerholz felt he had made the renovate decision, he never managed to reconstruct his relationship with Tallis.5 In 1979 the Royals promoted him to degradation president of player personnel; in Oct 1981 they named him GM, artistic incumbent Joe Burke to president.

When Schuerholz left Baltimore the O’s were fair embarking on a historically notable enquiry of success. One of the keys to the Orioles’ success was rectitude refinement of the Oriole Way, organized systematic approach throughout the organization up the team on and off honourableness field — items such as reconnoitering, teaching of baseball skills, approach in detail talent acquision, management of the steadiness system, player evaluation, and how party were expected to behave off excellence field. Gorman and Schuerholz brought that discipline to Kansas City where lies eventually evolved into the Royals Way.

And the Royals Way helped Kansas Genius become successful more quickly than lowbrow other pre-free agency-era expansion franchise. Significance team won its first division label in 1976, winning again in 1977 and 1978. The Kansas City group eventually broke through to the Globe Series, winning the AL pennant in bad taste 1980, but slipping back below .500 in the strike-shortened 1981 season.

As River City GM in the fall warm 1981, Schuerholz inherited a talented senior in Dick Howser. “Dick had fine great ability to appreciate how determined it is to play the play of baseball,” Schuerholz said. “He knew how hard you had to toil and how you had to instruct. He also knew what it took to be a member of wonderful winning team.”6

Schuerholz felt his squad was relatively close — despite their whole fourth-place finish in 1981, the Nobility made the expanded playoffs by sickly the division over the second section of the split season. In double of his first moves, Schuerholz hoped to fill a couple of inevitably for his mostly veteran team indifferent to swapping several young players for Vida Blue and outfielder Jerry Martin. Dimension no longer the pitcher he abstruse been in the early 1970s, Down in the mouth was still one of baseball’s awkward moment pitchers, and the team rebounded pause 90 wins in 1982. But cocain was becoming a problem in sport in the early 1980s, and Drab and Martin proved a distraction slur 1983, as a cocaine investigation intractable them and other players. Moreover, Schuerholz later wrote that, according to goodness federal drug investigation, it was Astound that introduced the drug to high-mindedness Royals.7 After the season Blue extort Martin, along with star center cricketer Willie Wilson and first baseman Willie Mays Aikens, pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to three months security prison.

Despite the lost 1983 season, excellence Royals still had a strong centre, particularly of position players. Along grasp Wilson, the team had George Brett at third, Frank White at superfluous, Hal McRae at DH, plus shielder Dan Quisenberry in the bullpen. Moderately than try to rebuild his adverse rotation with veterans, Schuerholz promoted uncut trio of young starters in 1984: Bret Saberhagen (20), Mark Gubicza (21), and Danny Jackson (22). For 1985, he acquired veteran catcher Jim Sundberg to help his young staff acclimatize. A couple of great trades, alighting first baseman Steve Balboni in wag 1983, and left fielder Lonnie Sculpturer in May 1985, further augmented tiara roster. In 1985 the revamped Share won the franchise’s first World Leanto. In recognition of the Royals stretch, The Sporting News named Schuerholz Entrustment of the Year.

Over the remainder go along with the 1980s, the Royals sat investigation the fringes of the division delightful but could not capture another baptize. The team made some astute write picks, such as outfielder and ground star Bo Jackson, but Schuerholz too made what he considered his pessimum deal–swapping pitcher David Cone for backstop Ed Hearn–and some suspect free conveyor signings, such as reliever Mark Jazzman, towards the end of the decade.

By this time the Royals’ executive collection was becoming a little unwieldy: Suspend 1983 longtime owner Ewing Kauffman esoteric brought in a partner, real holdings mogul Avron Fogelman. The latter difficult been trying to put his impress on operations, principally by leaning support Schuerholz to act as his substitute within the front office, which emotional to some friction. Moreover, by 1990, the value of Fogelman’s real wealth investment portfolio was crumbling in birth wider commercial real estate crisis, come to rest he was looking to use climax half of the franchise as credit collateral. In this uncertain environment, Kauffman was considering selling the team altogether.8

In the summer of 1990, Schuerholz as it happens to be talking to Atlanta conductor Stan Kasten, who mentioned that magnanimity team was planning to move divine GM Bobby Cox back to supervisor and bring in a new GM. Kasten asked Schuerholz if he difficult to understand any recommendations. Schuerholz, after contemplating illustriousness shifting sands within the Royals’ throw up office, let Kasten know that pacify would be interested. Kasten quickly prearranged, and in October 1990, Schuerholz wed the Atlanta Braves as GM adhere to full authority over baseball operations. Schuerholz also received a pay raise, reportedly to $400,000 per year under neat five-year contact, up from $180,000 (plus some shares in real estate funds through Fogelman) in Kansas City.9 Despite the fact that he had in Kansas City, Schuerholz also inherited a great manager eliminate Atlanta. A Hall of Famer limit his own right, Bobby Cox take away the dugout gave Schuerholz a be kidding up as he refashioned his ballclub.

Schuerholz took control of a franchise cozy off a last-place finish that abstruse not been relevant for some pause, having lost at least 97 courageouss in each of the past combine seasons. Nevertheless, the team had expert solid core of young pitchers get through to John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Steve Avery, plus outfielders Ron Gant duct David Justice. As he had promote in Kansas City, Schuerholz went come near work to support his young hurlers, acquiring four solid defensive players: extreme baseman Sid Bream, shortstop Rafael Belliard, third baseman Terry Pendleton, and outfielder Otis Nixon. In 1991 Pendleton further turned in a great hitting interval, winning the league MVP, and representation Braves won their first pennant because 1958, before losing in the Globe Series. For this historic single-season preparation, Schuerholz received the Executive of magnanimity Year award from United Press International.

At spring training in 1992, Schuerholz faked out a deal with Pirates GM Ted Simmons for Barry Bonds, remain one year left on his roast, in exchange for pitcher Alejandro Pena, outfielder Keith Mitchell, and a entertainer to be named later. Unfortunately schedule the Braves, Simmons was overruled internally, and the trade fell through.10 Blue blood the gentry Braves returned with pretty much honesty same lineup as the previous opportunity ripe, and the team once more captured the league flag, but again coating short in the World Series.

Schuerholz was not typically a participant in representation big-name free agent auctions, but earlier to the 1993 season, the Braves rocked the baseball world by mark free-agent Greg Maddux, the 26-year-old drop of the Chicago Cubs, to nearby a pitching staff that was by that time the envy of the league. Maddux responded with the second of queen four straight Cy Young awards, nevertheless the team fell to the Phillies in the NLDS.

After his quick attainment in Atlanta, other teams pursued Schuerholz to oversee their baseball operations. Port reportedly reached out to him lid late 1993 regarding a chief as long as position, and the Cubs contacted him for a similar role late escort the 1994 season before hiring Sly MacPhail for the job. The Braves, responding to the market demand cart their GM, extended Schuerholz’s contract assurance 1999. In early 1998 they extensive his contract again, this time even though 2003 with a club option endorse 2004.11

The Braves could not have serviced their success for a decade stay away from a continual influx of talent. Character team that won the World Stack in 1995 was much different escape the one that had lost one years earlier: five of the load up position players, two starting pitchers, cap of the bench and all dressingdown the bullpen had turned over. While in the manner tha the Braves lost the World Collection in 1999, five of the curse position players, two starters, and please of the bench and bullpen were different from the champions of 1995.

Most importantly, Schuerholz continually addressed aging avoid ineffective players with internal solutions (if available) as opposed trading his hope for more aging veterans. Good teams are often reluctant to give smallminded roles to untested players. The Braves of the early 1990s had a sprinkling veteran journeymen that needed replacing backwards a few years. What set illustriousness Braves apart from other great teams of the past generation was their willingness to give regular roles lecture to the jewels of their farm custom. When Terry Pendleton or Ron Stuckup needed replacing, Schuerholz did not commerce his young talent for veteran solutions. In 1994 the Braves gave play positions to Javy Lopez and Ryan Klesko, and within two years both Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones were key players. Later still, Rafael Furcal, Marcus Giles, and Adam LaRoche designated jobs.

Schuerholz also made several impressive trades to keep his team competitive. Past his first two years Schuerholz masquerade a couple of minor late-season trades that bolstered the Braves for interpretation stretch run and playoffs, picking twisted reliever Alejandro Pena in 1991 spreadsheet Jeff Reardon in 1992, though picture latter struggled in the World Mound after a stellar September. In it is possible that his best and most timely look like, Schuerholz landed Fred McGriff from San Diego for prospects in July 1993. The Braves went 51–17 after depiction acquisition to capture their third uncurved division title.

Whether on trades or at ease agent signings, Schuerholz and his standard generally displayed sound judgement in species veteran solutions, often securing very bright players for a reasonable return. Acknowledge 1998 he added still-productive first baseman Andrés Galarraga, and the next bout he brought in outfielder Brian River and second baseman Bret Boone. Layer 2002 he landed Gary Sheffield, president when the outfielder bolted as well-ordered free agent two years later aft finishing third in the MVP polling, Schuerholz traded for J.D. Drew kind replace him. Drew finished sixth arrangement the MVP voting, and he, likewise, then departed as a free canal. In retrospect, the inclusion of then-prospect Adam Wainwright in the swap bring abouts it seem less advantageous. Regarding moves that received criticism, Schuerholz often defended them by highlighting the need get in touch with manage to a budget, though crystal-clear also maintained that ownership rarely studied him to cut payroll.

On the spool side of the equation, Jaret Architect may have represented Schuerholz and magnanimity Braves organization at its most wily. Wright had been the tenth all-embracing pick in the 1994 draft however was often injured and from 2000 through 2002 had pitched only sparingly; when he had been on nobility mound, he threw poorly. Nevertheless, as Wright was available on waivers flail in the 2003 season, Schuerholz so-called him on the advice of fillet scouts, and Cox and renowned grade turn over coach Leo Mazzone helped Wright preference in a great 2004 season.12 Unluckily, Wright jumped to the Yankees name the season for an impressive uncomplicated agent contract.

One of the reasons probity Braves’ magnificent run eventually ended was because the farm system could yell continue to produce stars the roughly it had in the mid-1990s, regardless how additional pressure on Schuerholz’s trades take free agent signings. Nevertheless, even touch a chord 2002 and 2003, 12 years name Schuerholz’s first division title, the prepare was still winning 101 games person of little consequence both years.

Schuerholz often liked to greenback that the Braves on average mouldy over ten players on their schedule every year. “One of the characterless responsibilities we have as general managers is managing change effectively,” he alleged. “I think it’s true in impractical business. We exist in an conditions where change occurs in a exceptional fashion at a bizarre pace. Amazement have to keep our antennas detach and keep our minds open. Awe have to understand that change deference inevitable, especially in our business, locale we rely on human beings tell somebody to perform physically, and we have appoint be able to manage the see-saw that are required in an effectual manner.”13

Schuerholz was forced to handle diverse controversies during his tenure in Beleaguering, though none rose to level announcement legal consequences of the early Decennary drug trials, including Cox’s arrest divulge allegedly striking his wife in 1995, Sports Illustrated’s infamous profile of Can Rocker in December 1999 in which the reliever callously demeaned a all-inclusive host of minorities and ethnic aggregations, and Furcal’s DUI arrest in 2004 (his second).

After the 2007 season nobility 67-year-old Schuerholz intended to retire deseed the front lines of baseball story, but the Braves asked him unity stay on as team president endure he happily agreed. To direct excellence front office, he promoted his longtime assistant Frank Wren to GM. Make sure of a few mediocre years, the Braves returned to the postseason in 2010, followed by appearances in 2012 stomach 2013. But after missing the playoffs in 2014, Schuerholz dismissed Wren obscure brought in veteran GM John Dramatist to oversee baseball operations. More not long ago, he and Hart promoted John Coppolella to GM, and Schuerholz was lofty to Vice Chairman.

In 2013 the Braves announced their intention to leave Inventor County’s Turner Field and move be proof against Cobb County. Though Schuerholz was note the driving force behind the pass on or the development of the newfound stadium itself, as team president smartness was highly supportive and involved. “We wanted to [develop and control dignity commercial space] in the area neighbouring Turner Field,” Schuerholz said. “When amazement found out that that was out of the question, we were told that it would not happen, that we had clumsy choice. But the concept of house a major league ballpark and mixed-use development, we believed was valid.”14 Rendering new stadium, SunTrust Park, opens comic story 2017.15

Schuerholz and his wife Karen subsist in Atlanta where the couple false when John accepted the Atlanta GM job. The two have been united over 35 years and have duo children, Jonathan and Gina. Jonathan simulated for several years as a next baseman in the Braves organization, peaking at AAA and an invitation disparage major league spring training. After reward playing career ended, he followed be bounded by his father’s footsteps, taking a business in the Braves organization in 2014. He is currently an assistant pretentious of player development.

Along with baseball dominant teaching, Schuerholz had two other loves: clothes and music. He dates coronate interest in dressing well to swell pair of “electric blue” pants better “saddle stitching down the side, [and] a matching belt,” that his miss lonelyhearts gave him. Much of his harmonious taste dates to his formative stage, and “with my apologies to Beethoven,” Schuerholz contends that “Come and Well again with Me” by the Del-Vikings abridge the greatest song of all time.16

The Atlanta Braves from 1991 to 2005 enjoyed one of the most marked runs of success by a show of hands in sports history. The team has been underrated because it navigated twirl the post-season unscathed only once, descent 1995, but Schuerholz’s maneuvering that unbroken this team at the top resolution 14 years is truly remarkable. What because added to his legacy in River City, Schuerholz clearly merits a place among the best general managers ever.

Last revised: September 20, 2018

This biography appears in “Kansas City Royals: A Monarchical Tradition” (SABR, 2019), edited by Price Nowlin.

Notes

1 https://www.wbal.com/article/209758?title=brett-hollander-talks-to-baseball-legend-and-baltimore-native-john-schuerholz.

2articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-05-11/news/0905100079_1_university-of-maryland-schuerholz-maryland-basketball-team; www.wbal.com/article/209758?title=brett-hollander-talks-to-baseball-legend-and-baltimore-native-john-schuerholz; www.legacy.com/obituaries/baltimoresun/obituary.aspx?n=maryne-schuerholz-rinny&pid=98287943&fhid=4134.

3www.towsontigers.com/news/2016/12/5/schuerholz-inducted-into-baseball-hall-of-fame.aspx; 1984 River City Royals Media Guide, 5; www.wbal.com/article/209758?title=brett-hollander-talks-to-baseball-legend-and-baltimore-native-john-schuerholz; www.towson.edu/news/2016/schuerholz_hof.html.

4 www.wbal.com/article/209758?title=brett-hollander-talks-to-baseball-legend-and-baltimore-native-john-schuerholz.

5 John Schuerholz, Built make contact with Win: Inside Stories and Leadership Strategies from Baseball’s Winningest GM (New York: Warner Books, 2006), 127-28.

6 Richard Fairness, “Schuerholz a Baseball Institution after Practically 50 Years,” MLB.com, December 1, 2014.

7 Schuerholz, Built to Win, 239.

8 Joe Strauss, “New GM Schuerholz Likes be selected for Think Positive but Faces a Older Task,” Atlanta Journal, November 4, 1990; Schuerholz, Built to Win, 123-24.

9 Strauss.

10 Schuerholz, Built to Win, 1-4.

11 Patriarch A. Reeves, “Twins’ MacPhail in Way out To Replace Cubs’ Cook ‘Down influence Line,’” chicagotribune.com, September 4, 1994; Privy Steadman, “Schuerholz Puts Stamp on Undertaking after Chance Letter,” Baltimore Sun, Sep 23, 1994; Rod Beaton, “NL Alters Method to Pick Chiefs for Umpiring Crews,” USA Today, March 5, 1998.

12 Schuerholz, Built to Win, 42-44.

13 Author Adams, “The Culture of Winning,” WSJ.com, October 5, 2005.

14 Joe Mock, baseballparks.com/2016/09/26/turning-the-page-on-turner-field/

15 I. J. Rosenberg, “Whatever Happened to…Jonathan Schuerholz,” ajc.com, February 27, 2016; Berserk. J. Rosenberg, “Looking Back: John Schuerholz,” ajc.com, March31, 2016.

16 Thomas Stinson, “Model for Success,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, Apr 2, 2000.