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{{short description|American baseball executive}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image = Frank Cashen's Mets Hall of Fame Speech CROP.jpg
| image = Frank Cashen's Mets Hall of Fame Speech CROP.jpg
| name = Frank Cashen
| name = Frank Cashen
| caption = Cashen speaking after being inducted into the [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]], 2010.
| caption = Cashen speaking after being inducted into the [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]], 2010
| birth_name = John Francis Cashen
| birth_name = John Francis Cashen
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|9|13|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|9|13|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|6|30|1925|9|13|mf=yes|}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|6|30|1925|9|13|mf=yes|}}
| death_place = [[Easton, Maryland]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Easton, Maryland]], U.S.
| occupation = Baseball executive
| occupation = Baseball executive
}}
}}
'''John Francis "Frank" Cashen''' (September 13, 1925 – June 30, 2014) was a [[Major League Baseball]] [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]]. He was an executive when the [[Baltimore Orioles]] won the [[1966 World Series]], and [[1970 World Series]] while winning three consecutive AL pennants from 1969 to 1971. Later he became General Manager of the [[New York Mets]] from 1980 to 1991, and the club won the 1986 World Series during his tenure.
'''John Francis "Frank" Cashen''' (September 13, 1925 – June 30, 2014) was an American [[Major League Baseball]] [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]]. He was an executive when the [[Baltimore Orioles]] won the [[1966 World Series]], and [[1970 World Series]] while winning three consecutive AL pennants from 1969 to 1971. Later he became general manager of the [[New York Mets]] from 1980 to 1991, and the club won the 1986 World Series during his tenure.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Cashen was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]] in 1925<ref name="BadGuys">{{cite book|last=Pearlman|first=Jeff|authorlink=Jeff Pearlman|title=The Bad Guys Won!|year=2004|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=0-06-050732-2|pages=20–36|chapter=The Road to 1986}}</ref><ref name="nyhs01">{{cite web|url=http://sports.nyhistory.org/tag/j-frank-cashen|title=J. Frank Cashen Archives|last=Sprechman|first=Jordan|date=February 7, 2012|publisher=New-York Historical Society|accessdate=1 July 2014}}</ref> and grew up admiring and playing baseball. He played [[Second baseman|second base]] at [[Loyola College in Maryland]] but was unable to hit well and did not pursue a playing career. Instead, he joined the [[Baltimore News-American]] becoming an award-winning [[Sports journalism|sportswriter]] over 17 years at the newspaper. He spent nights at [[University of Maryland School of Law]], graduating with a JD in 1958. He assumed his career would either be in journalism or law.<ref name="BadGuys"/> Instead, he was hired by [[Jerold Hoffberger|Jerry Hoffberger]] to be a publicity director for two Baltimore race tracks and later the advertising head at Hoffberger's [[National Brewing Company]]. In 1965, Hoffberger's brewing company purchased the Baltimore Orioles and Cashen eagerly accepted the position of executive vice president of the team.<ref name="BadGuys"/>
Cashen was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]], in 1925<ref name="BadGuys">{{cite book|last=Pearlman|first=Jeff|author-link=Jeff Pearlman|title=The Bad Guys Won!|year=2004|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=0-06-050732-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/badguyswonseason00pear/page/20 20–36]|chapter=The Road to 1986|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/badguyswonseason00pear/page/20}}</ref><ref name="nyhs01">{{cite web|url=http://sports.nyhistory.org/tag/j-frank-cashen|title=J. Frank Cashen Archives|last=Sprechman|first=Jordan|date=February 7, 2012|publisher=New-York Historical Society|access-date=1 July 2014}}</ref> and grew up admiring and playing baseball. He played [[Second baseman|second base]] at [[Loyola College in Maryland]] but was unable to hit well and did not pursue a playing career. Instead, he joined the [[Baltimore News-American]] becoming an award-winning [[Sports journalism|sportswriter]] over 17 years at the newspaper. He spent nights at [[University of Maryland School of Law]], graduating with a JD in 1958. He assumed his career would either be in journalism or law.<ref name="BadGuys"/> Instead, he was hired by [[Jerold Hoffberger|Jerry Hoffberger]] to be a publicity director for two Baltimore race tracks and later the advertising head at Hoffberger's [[National Brewing Company.]] In 1965, when Hoffberger's brewing company purchased the Baltimore Orioles in full (Hoffberger had been part-owner of the team since their arrival in 1954), Cashen eagerly accepted the position of executive vice president of the team.<ref name="BadGuys"/>


==Baltimore Orioles==
==Baltimore Orioles==
With Cashen overseeing baseball operations in Baltimore, general manager [[Harry Dalton]] made a deal to acquire future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famer]] [[Frank Robinson]] from the [[Cincinnati Reds]], sending [[pitcher]] [[Milt Pappas]], pitcher [[Jack Baldschun]] and outfielder [[Dick Simpson]]. The following year, Robinson won the [[triple crown (baseball)|triple crown]] and Baltimore won the [[1966 World Series]] for their first championship. In [[1968 in baseball|1968]], the Cashen/Dalton front office hired eventual Hall of Fame [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Earl Weaver]]. The Orioles won all three [[American League]] pennants from [[1969 in baseball|1969]] to [[1971 in baseball|1971]] and won the [[1970 World Series]].<ref name="Post">Walker, Ben (July 1, 2014) "Manager led Mets to World Series" ''The Washington Post'', page B6; retrieved July 6, 2014 [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/former-mets-gm-frank-cashen-dies-at-88/2014/06/30/6e29df1c-0090-11e4-b203-f4b4c664cccf_story.html]</ref> After 1971, Dalton left to become general manager of the [[Los Angeles Angels]] and Cashen took over G.M. duties for the Orioles.<ref name="Post"/>
With Cashen overseeing baseball operations in Baltimore, general manager [[Harry Dalton]] made a deal to acquire future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famer]] [[Frank Robinson]] from the [[Cincinnati Reds]], sending [[pitcher]] [[Milt Pappas]], pitcher [[Jack Baldschun]], and outfielder [[Dick Simpson]]. The following year, Robinson won the [[triple crown (baseball)|triple crown]] and Baltimore won the [[1966 World Series]] for their first championship. In [[1968 in baseball|1968]], the Cashen/Dalton front office hired eventual Hall of Fame [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Earl Weaver]]. The Orioles won all three [[American League]] pennants from [[1969 in baseball|1969]] to [[1971 in baseball|1971]] and won the [[1970 World Series]].<ref name="Post">Walker, Ben (July 1, 2014) "Manager led Mets to World Series" ''The Washington Post'', page B6; retrieved July 6, 2014 [https://web.archive.org/web/20140716070142/http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/former-mets-gm-frank-cashen-dies-at-88/2014/06/30/6e29df1c-0090-11e4-b203-f4b4c664cccf_story.html]</ref> After 1971, Dalton left to become general manager of the [[Los Angeles Angels]] and Cashen took over G.M. duties for the Orioles.<ref name="Post"/>


Cashen was being mentioned as a candidate for the American League presidency and was a leading choice to replace [[Baseball Commissioner]] [[Bowie Kuhn]] when a group of team owners tried to oust Kuhn in [[1975 in baseball|1975]]. Kuhn survived the storm of 1975. Also in 1975 Hofferger's National Brewery merged with Carling Brewery (American Operation). Hofferger requested Cashen to leave the Orioles and return to the Carling National Brewery as senior vice president of marketing and sales. In [[1979 in baseball|1979]], he returned to baseball when Commissioner Kuhn hired him as The Administrator of Baseball Operations. {{citation needed|date=July 2014}}
Cashen was being mentioned as a candidate for the American League presidency and was a leading choice to replace [[Baseball Commissioner]] [[Bowie Kuhn]] when a group of team owners tried to oust Kuhn in [[1975 in baseball|1975]]. Kuhn survived the storm of 1975. Also in 1975 Hoffberger's National Brewery merged with Carling Brewery (American Operation). Hoffberger requested Cashen to leave the Orioles and return to the Carling National Brewery as senior vice president of marketing and sales. In [[1979 in baseball|1979]], he returned to baseball when Commissioner Kuhn hired him as the administrator of baseball operations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=2014-06-30 |title=Frank Cashen, Who Turned Lowly Mets Into Swaggering Champions, Dies at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/sports/baseball/frank-cashen-executive-who-turned-mets-and-orioles-into-champions-dies-at-88.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


==Building a champion in New York==
==New York Mets==
In January [[1980 in baseball|1980]], [[Nelson Doubleday Jr.]] and [[Fred Wilpon]] bought the New York Mets after the Mets' third consecutive last-place finish. They were advised by several people to contact Cashen and, after he predicted four or five years for a turnaround, the new owners hired him for $500,000 over five years. Cashen hired [[public relations]] firm [[Jerry Della Femina|Della Femina Travisano & Partners]]. A new slogan, "The Magic Is Back!", was used along with television commercials emphasizing past New York area stars rather than the dismal Mets of the late 1970s.<ref name="BadGuys"/>
In January [[1980 in baseball|1980]], [[Nelson Doubleday Jr.]] and [[Fred Wilpon]] bought the New York Mets after the Mets' third consecutive last-place finish. They were advised by several people to contact Cashen and, after he predicted four or five years for a turnaround, the new owners hired him for $500,000 over five years. Cashen hired [[public relations]] firm [[Jerry Della Femina|Della Femina Travisano & Partners]]. A new slogan, "The Magic Is Back!", was used along with television commercials emphasizing past New York area stars rather than the dismal Mets of the late 1970s.<ref name="BadGuys"/>


On the field, the Mets made few trades early on, but took a chance with the first pick in the [[Major League Baseball Draft]] to sign a talented, but raw high school player, [[Darryl Strawberry]], who eventually finished his Mets career as the all-time franchise leader in [[home run]]s and [[run batted in|RBI]]s. In [[1981 in baseball|1981]], Cashen promoted [[Hubie Brooks]] and [[Mookie Wilson]] to the majors for [[spring training]] and then traded for brash home run hitter [[Dave Kingman]]. In [[1982 in baseball|1982]], Cashen delighted New York fans by trading for former unanimous [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]], [[George Foster (baseball)|George Foster]], who then signed a five-year, $10 million contract with the club.<ref name="BadGuys"/> Two months later, Cashen alienated many fans by trading away fan favorite, [[Lee Mazzilli]], who soon declined while one of the two pitchers the Mets received, [[Ron Darling]], became an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] and the other pitcher, [[Walt Terrell]], was later traded for offensive star, [[Howard Johnson (baseball)|Howard Johnson]]. At the same time as the Mazzilli trade, the Mets were scouting young pitcher, [[Dwight Gooden]], who they picked in the 1982 draft. Gooden would later become the ace of the pitching staff through the Mets' strong years and championship. {{citation needed|date=July 2014}}
On the field, the Mets made few trades early on, but took a chance with the first pick in the [[Major League Baseball Draft]] to sign a talented, but raw high school player, [[Darryl Strawberry]], who eventually finished his Mets career as the all-time franchise leader in [[home run]]s and [[run batted in|RBI]]s. In [[1981 in baseball|1981]], Cashen promoted [[Hubie Brooks]] and [[Mookie Wilson]] to the majors for [[spring training]] and then traded for brash home run hitter [[Dave Kingman]]. In [[1982 in baseball|1982]], Cashen delighted New York fans by trading for former unanimous [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]], [[George Foster (baseball)|George Foster]], who then signed a five-year, $10 million contract with the club.<ref name="BadGuys"/> Two months later, Cashen alienated many fans by trading away fan favorite [[Lee Mazzilli]], who soon declined while one of the two pitchers the Mets received, [[Ron Darling]], became an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] and the other pitcher, [[Walt Terrell]], was later traded for offensive star [[Howard Johnson (baseball)|Howard Johnson]]. At the same time as the Mazzilli trade, the Mets were scouting young pitcher [[Dwight Gooden]], who they picked in the 1982 draft. Gooden became the ace of the pitching staff through the Mets' strong years and championship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dorn |first1=Sara |title=Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden in training for celebrity boxing match in Atlantic City |url=https://nypost.com/2019/11/02/dwight-doc-gooden-in-training-for-celebrity-boxing-match-in-atlantic-city/ |website=nypost.com |publisher=NYP Holdings, Inc. |access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hille |first1=Bob |title=Dwight Gooden: 'I never thought I’d live this long' |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/dwight-gooden-mets-i-never-thought-id-live-this-long/17ecuopbdp68b1jbsnn6qdsc27 |website=sportingnews.com |publisher=Sporting News Holdings Limited |access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref>


While Foster and Kingman performed below expectations and the Mets finished poorly in both 1982 and [[1983 in baseball|1983]], Cashen made one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history, acquiring former MVP, batting champion, and [[1982 World Series|1982 World Champion]] member [[Keith Hernandez]] from [[St. Louis Cardinals|St. Louis]] for pitchers [[Neil Allen]] and [[Rick Ownbey]]. Hernandez became a team leader both offensively and defensively while Allen was an average pitcher and Ownbey played in only 21 more games in the majors. {{citation needed|date=July 2014}}
While Foster and Kingman performed below expectations and the Mets finished poorly in both 1982 and [[1983 in baseball|1983]], Cashen made one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history, acquiring former MVP, batting champion, and [[1982 World Series|1982 World Champion]] member [[Keith Hernandez]] from [[St. Louis Cardinals|St. Louis]] for pitchers [[Neil Allen]] and [[Rick Ownbey]]. Hernandez became a team leader both offensively and defensively while Allen was an average pitcher and Ownbey played in only 21 more games in the majors. {{citation needed|date=July 2014}}


In 1984, Cashen hired [[Davey Johnson]] to be the Mets' manager for a $100,000 annual salary.<ref name="BadGuys"/> Johnson had been the second baseman with the Orioles while Cashen was the G.M.<ref name="JohnsonBB">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/J/Johnson_Davey.stm|title=Davey Johnson|accessdate=2006-08-26|last=Holtje|first=Steve|publisher=BaseballLibrary.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822045628/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/J/Johnson_Davey.stm|archivedate=2006-08-22|df=}}</ref> After a successful 1984 season which saw the Mets first winning record since 1976, Cashen and the Mets traded Hubie Brooks and three others to the [[Montreal Expos]] for future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]] [[catcher]], [[Gary Carter]], and most of the pieces were in place for a championship team. The Mets barely missed the playoffs in [[1985 in baseball|1985]] and then won the [[1986 World Series]] with the best record of any team during the 1980s.<ref name="Post"/>
In 1984, Cashen hired [[Davey Johnson]] to be the Mets' manager for a $100,000 annual salary.<ref name="BadGuys"/> Johnson had been the second baseman with the Orioles while Cashen was the G.M.<ref name="JohnsonBB">{{cite web|url=https://baseballbiography.com/davey-johnson|title=Davey Johnson|access-date=2006-08-26|last=Holtje|first=Steve|publisher=baseballbiography.com}}</ref> After a successful 1984 season which saw the Mets first winning record since 1976, Cashen and the Mets traded Hubie Brooks and three others to the [[Montreal Expos]] for future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]] [[catcher]] [[Gary Carter]], and most of the pieces were in place for a championship team. The Mets barely missed the playoffs in [[1985 in baseball|1985]] and then won the [[1986 World Series]] with the best record of any team during the 1980s.<ref name="Post"/>


==Decline in New York==
==Decline in New York==
While Cashen was largely credited for building the Mets into the 1986 World Champions, he was quickly vilified for dismantling the franchise when a [[dynasty (sports)|dynasty]] never materialized. In various transactions, scrappy clubhouse leaders, [[Lenny Dykstra|Lenny "Nails" Dykstra]], [[Roger McDowell]], and [[Wally Backman]], as well as fan favorite, [[Mookie Wilson]],<ref name="Post"/> and future All-Stars, [[Rick Aguilera]] and [[Kevin Tapani]], were traded away.
While Cashen was largely credited for building the Mets into the 1986 World Champions, he was quickly vilified for dismantling the franchise when a [[dynasty (sports)|dynasty]] never materialized. In various transactions, future MVP [[Kevin Mitchell (baseball)|Kevin Mitchell]], scrappy clubhouse leaders [[Lenny Dykstra]], [[Roger McDowell]], and [[Wally Backman]], as well as fan favorite [[Mookie Wilson]]<ref name="Post"/> and future All-Stars [[Rick Aguilera]] and [[Kevin Tapani]], were traded away.


In return, the Mets received the hugely disappointing [[Juan Samuel]] as well as [[Frank Viola]] (who won 20 games in 1990 but was otherwise only average in less than three seasons with New York), [[Jeff Musselman]] (who was out of baseball after 1990), and four players that never played in the majors. Hernandez, Carter, and [[World Series MVP Award|World Series MVP]] [[Ray Knight]] were either released or granted [[Free agent|free agency]] in the years following the championship. Instead, the Mets hopes were pinned on [[Gregg Jefferies]] who soon faltered and was very unpopular on the team.<ref name="BadGuys"/> After stumbling to a fifth-place finish in [[1991 in baseball|1991]], Cashen stepped down as the Mets' general manager.<ref name="BadGuys"/>
In return, the Mets received the hugely disappointing [[Juan Samuel]] as well as [[Frank Viola]] (who won 20 games in 1990 but was otherwise only average in less than three seasons with New York), [[Jeff Musselman]] (out of baseball after 1990), and four players who never played in the majors. Hernandez, Carter, and [[World Series MVP Award|World Series MVP]] [[Ray Knight]] were either released or granted [[Free agent|free agency]] in the years following the championship. Instead, the Mets' hopes were pinned on [[Gregg Jefferies]], who soon faltered and was very unpopular on the team.<ref name="BadGuys"/> After stumbling to a fifth-place finish in [[1991 in baseball|1991]], Cashen stepped down as the Mets' general manager, just five years after the franchise won the title.<ref name="BadGuys"/>


==Later life==
==Later life==
Following his tenure as general manager of the Mets Cashen continued working with the team in various capacities including [[chief operating officer]] in 1992 and [[consultant]] in 1993.<ref name="CashenOut">{{cite news|work=[[New York Times]]|date=1991-09-28|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE1DB1339F93BA1575AC0A967958260
Following his tenure as general manager of the Mets, Cashen continued working with the team in various capacities, including [[chief operating officer]] in 1992 and [[consultant]] in 1993.<ref name="CashenOut">{{cite news|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=1991-09-28|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE1DB1339F93BA1575AC0A967958260
|title=Transactions|accessdate=2006-09-24}}</ref> In November 1998, the Mets general manager, [[Steve Phillips]], took time off to address a [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit and Cashen was named interim GM for a week.<ref name="CashenInterim">{{cite news|work=[[New York Times]]|author=[[Murray Chass]]|date=1998-11-10|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30610FF355A0C738DDDA80994D0494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSexual%20Harassment|title=With No Time to Spare, Cashen Is Returning to the Game|page=D4|accessdate=2006-09-24}}</ref><ref name="PhillipsReturn">{{cite news|work=[[New York Times]]|author=Jason Diamos|date=1998-11-17|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F0081EF735550C748DDDA80994D0494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fP%2fPhillips%2c%20Steve|title=The Mets Return Phillips To General Manager's Job|page=D1|accessdate=2006-09-24}}</ref>
|title=Transactions|access-date=2006-09-24}}</ref> In November 1998, the Mets general manager, [[Steve Phillips]], took time off to address a [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit and Cashen was named interim GM for a week.<ref name="CashenInterim">{{cite news|work=The New York Times|author=Murray Chass|author-link=Murray Chass|date=1998-11-10|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30610FF355A0C738DDDA80994D0494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSexual%20Harassment|title=With No Time to Spare, Cashen Is Returning to the Game|page=D4|access-date=2006-09-24}}</ref><ref name="PhillipsReturn">{{cite news|work=The New York Times|author=Jason Diamos|date=1998-11-17|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F0081EF735550C748DDDA80994D0494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fP%2fPhillips%2c%20Steve|title=The Mets Return Phillips To General Manager's Job|page=D1|access-date=2006-09-24}}</ref>


Cashen was inducted into the [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]]<ref name="Post"/> on August 1, 2010 alongside [[Davey Johnson]], [[Dwight Gooden]], and [[Darryl Strawberry]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kaplan|first1=Thomas|title=Four New Inductees in Mets Hall of Fame|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/baseball/02citifield.html?_r=0|accessdate=July 1, 2014|publisher=New York Times|date=August 1, 2010}}</ref> Frank Cashen and his wife Jean had seven children.<ref name=ESPNAPobit>{{cite news|title=Former Mets GM Frank Cashen dies at 88|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11157846|accessdate=July 1, 2014|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN.com|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> Cashen was noted for frequently wearing a [[bow tie]].<ref name=ESPNAPobit/>
Cashen was inducted into the [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]]<ref name="Post"/> on August 1, 2010, alongside [[Davey Johnson]], [[Dwight Gooden]], and [[Darryl Strawberry]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kaplan|first1=Thomas|title=Four New Inductees in Mets Hall of Fame|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/baseball/02citifield.html?_r=0|access-date=July 1, 2014|work=The New York Times|date=August 1, 2010}}</ref> Cashen died on June 30, 2014, from congestive heart failure at the age of 88. Cashen and his wife Jean had seven children.<ref name=ESPNAPobit>{{cite news|title=Former Mets GM Frank Cashen dies at 88|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11157846|access-date=July 1, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> Cashen was noted for frequently wearing a [[bow tie]].<ref name=ESPNAPobit/>


==Record as General Manager==
==Record as General Manager==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
|-
Line 52: Line 52:
|-
|-
![[1973 Baltimore Orioles season|BAL]]||[[1973 MLB season|1973]]
![[1973 Baltimore Orioles season|BAL]]||[[1973 MLB season|1973]]
||97||65||.599||1st in AL East|| <small>'''Lost to [[1973 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] in [[1973 American League Championship Series|1973 ALCS]].</small>'''
||97||65||.599||1st in AL East|| <small>'''Lost to [[1973 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] in [[1973 American League Championship Series|1973 ALCS]].'''</small>
|-
|-
![[1974 Baltimore Orioles season|BAL]]||[[1974 MLB season|1974]]
![[1974 Baltimore Orioles season|BAL]]||[[1974 MLB season|1974]]
||91||77||.562||1st in AL East|| <small>'''Lost to [[1974 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] in [[1974 American League Championship Series|1974 ALCS]].</small>'''
||91||71||.562||1st in AL East|| <small>'''Lost to [[1974 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] in [[1974 American League Championship Series|1974 ALCS]].'''</small>
|-
|-
![[1975 Baltimore Orioles season|BAL]]||[[1975 MLB season|1975]]
![[1975 Baltimore Orioles season|BAL]]||[[1975 MLB season|1975]]
Line 82: Line 82:
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[1986 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1986 MLB season|1986]]
![[1986 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1986 MLB season|1986]]
||108||54||.667||1st in NL East|| -'''Defeated [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] in [[1986 World Series]].</small>'''
||108||54||.667||1st in NL East|| <small>'''Defeated [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] in [[1986 World Series]].'''</small>
|-
|-
![[1987 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1987 MLB season|1987]]
![[1987 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1987 MLB season|1987]]
Line 88: Line 88:
|-
|-
![[1988 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1988 MLB season|1988]]
![[1988 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1988 MLB season|1988]]
||100||60||.625||1st in NL East|| -<small>'''Lost to [[1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in [[1988 National League Championship Series|1988 NLCS]].</small>'''
||100||60||.625||1st in NL East|| <small>'''Lost to [[1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in [[1988 National League Championship Series|1988 NLCS]].'''</small>
|-
|-
![[1989 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1989 MLB season|1989]]
![[1989 New York Mets season|NYM]]||[[1989 MLB season|1989]]
Line 110: Line 110:


==Death==
==Death==
Cashen died on June 30, 2014, at the age of 88, after a short illness.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rubin|first1=Adam|title=Frank Cashen dies at age 88|url=http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11157426/former-new-york-mets-gm-frank-cashen-architect-1986-world-champs-dies-91|accessdate=July 1, 2014|publisher=ESPN.com|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref>
Cashen died on June 30, 2014, at the age of 88, after a short illness.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rubin|first1=Adam|title=Frank Cashen dies at age 88|url=http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11157426/former-new-york-mets-gm-frank-cashen-architect-1986-world-champs-dies-91|access-date=July 1, 2014|work=ESPN.com|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://sabr.org/node/40400 Frank Cashen] at SABR (Baseball BioProject)


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{{succession box | title=[[List of Baltimore Orioles managers#Managers|Baltimore Orioles General Manager]] | before=[[Harry Dalton]] | years=1972–1975| after=[[Hank Peters]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[List of Baltimore Orioles owners and executives#General Managers|Baltimore Orioles General Manager]] | before=[[Harry Dalton]] | years=1972–1975| after=[[Hank Peters]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[List of New York Mets owners and executives|New York Mets General Manager]] | before=[[Joe McDonald (baseball executive)|Joe McDonald]] | years=1980–1991<br>1998 <small>(interim)</small>| after=[[Al Harazin]]<br>[[Steve Phillips]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[List of New York Mets owners and executives|New York Mets General Manager]] | before=[[Joe McDonald (baseball executive)|Joe McDonald]] | years=1980–1991<br>1998 <small>(interim)</small>| after=[[Al Harazin]]<br>[[Steve Phillips]]}}
{{succession box |
{{succession box |
before=[[John Schuerholz]]|
before=[[John Schuerholz]]|
title=[[Sporting News]] [[Major League Baseball]] <br>[[The Sporting News Executive of the Year Award|Executive of the Year]]|
title=[[Sporting News]] [[Major League Baseball]] <br>[[The Sporting News Executive of the Year Award|Executive of the Year]]|
years=1986|
years=1986|
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[[Category:American chief operating officers]]

Latest revision as of 10:42, 31 January 2024

Frank Cashen
Cashen speaking after being inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame, 2010
Born
John Francis Cashen

(1925-09-13)September 13, 1925
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedJune 30, 2014(2014-06-30) (aged 88)
Easton, Maryland, U.S.
OccupationBaseball executive

John Francis "Frank" Cashen (September 13, 1925 – June 30, 2014) was an American Major League Baseball general manager. He was an executive when the Baltimore Orioles won the 1966 World Series, and 1970 World Series while winning three consecutive AL pennants from 1969 to 1971. Later he became general manager of the New York Mets from 1980 to 1991, and the club won the 1986 World Series during his tenure.

Early life[edit]

Cashen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1925[1][2] and grew up admiring and playing baseball. He played second base at Loyola College in Maryland but was unable to hit well and did not pursue a playing career. Instead, he joined the Baltimore News-American becoming an award-winning sportswriter over 17 years at the newspaper. He spent nights at University of Maryland School of Law, graduating with a JD in 1958. He assumed his career would either be in journalism or law.[1] Instead, he was hired by Jerry Hoffberger to be a publicity director for two Baltimore race tracks and later the advertising head at Hoffberger's National Brewing Company. In 1965, when Hoffberger's brewing company purchased the Baltimore Orioles in full (Hoffberger had been part-owner of the team since their arrival in 1954), Cashen eagerly accepted the position of executive vice president of the team.[1]

Baltimore Orioles[edit]

With Cashen overseeing baseball operations in Baltimore, general manager Harry Dalton made a deal to acquire future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson from the Cincinnati Reds, sending pitcher Milt Pappas, pitcher Jack Baldschun, and outfielder Dick Simpson. The following year, Robinson won the triple crown and Baltimore won the 1966 World Series for their first championship. In 1968, the Cashen/Dalton front office hired eventual Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver. The Orioles won all three American League pennants from 1969 to 1971 and won the 1970 World Series.[3] After 1971, Dalton left to become general manager of the Los Angeles Angels and Cashen took over G.M. duties for the Orioles.[3]

Cashen was being mentioned as a candidate for the American League presidency and was a leading choice to replace Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn when a group of team owners tried to oust Kuhn in 1975. Kuhn survived the storm of 1975. Also in 1975 Hoffberger's National Brewery merged with Carling Brewery (American Operation). Hoffberger requested Cashen to leave the Orioles and return to the Carling National Brewery as senior vice president of marketing and sales. In 1979, he returned to baseball when Commissioner Kuhn hired him as the administrator of baseball operations.[4]

New York Mets[edit]

In January 1980, Nelson Doubleday Jr. and Fred Wilpon bought the New York Mets after the Mets' third consecutive last-place finish. They were advised by several people to contact Cashen and, after he predicted four or five years for a turnaround, the new owners hired him for $500,000 over five years. Cashen hired public relations firm Della Femina Travisano & Partners. A new slogan, "The Magic Is Back!", was used along with television commercials emphasizing past New York area stars rather than the dismal Mets of the late 1970s.[1]

On the field, the Mets made few trades early on, but took a chance with the first pick in the Major League Baseball Draft to sign a talented, but raw high school player, Darryl Strawberry, who eventually finished his Mets career as the all-time franchise leader in home runs and RBIs. In 1981, Cashen promoted Hubie Brooks and Mookie Wilson to the majors for spring training and then traded for brash home run hitter Dave Kingman. In 1982, Cashen delighted New York fans by trading for former unanimous MVP, George Foster, who then signed a five-year, $10 million contract with the club.[1] Two months later, Cashen alienated many fans by trading away fan favorite Lee Mazzilli, who soon declined while one of the two pitchers the Mets received, Ron Darling, became an All-Star and the other pitcher, Walt Terrell, was later traded for offensive star Howard Johnson. At the same time as the Mazzilli trade, the Mets were scouting young pitcher Dwight Gooden, who they picked in the 1982 draft. Gooden became the ace of the pitching staff through the Mets' strong years and championship.[5][6]

While Foster and Kingman performed below expectations and the Mets finished poorly in both 1982 and 1983, Cashen made one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history, acquiring former MVP, batting champion, and 1982 World Champion member Keith Hernandez from St. Louis for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. Hernandez became a team leader both offensively and defensively while Allen was an average pitcher and Ownbey played in only 21 more games in the majors. [citation needed]

In 1984, Cashen hired Davey Johnson to be the Mets' manager for a $100,000 annual salary.[1] Johnson had been the second baseman with the Orioles while Cashen was the G.M.[7] After a successful 1984 season which saw the Mets first winning record since 1976, Cashen and the Mets traded Hubie Brooks and three others to the Montreal Expos for future Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, and most of the pieces were in place for a championship team. The Mets barely missed the playoffs in 1985 and then won the 1986 World Series with the best record of any team during the 1980s.[3]

Decline in New York[edit]

While Cashen was largely credited for building the Mets into the 1986 World Champions, he was quickly vilified for dismantling the franchise when a dynasty never materialized. In various transactions, future MVP Kevin Mitchell, scrappy clubhouse leaders Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, and Wally Backman, as well as fan favorite Mookie Wilson[3] and future All-Stars Rick Aguilera and Kevin Tapani, were traded away.

In return, the Mets received the hugely disappointing Juan Samuel as well as Frank Viola (who won 20 games in 1990 but was otherwise only average in less than three seasons with New York), Jeff Musselman (out of baseball after 1990), and four players who never played in the majors. Hernandez, Carter, and World Series MVP Ray Knight were either released or granted free agency in the years following the championship. Instead, the Mets' hopes were pinned on Gregg Jefferies, who soon faltered and was very unpopular on the team.[1] After stumbling to a fifth-place finish in 1991, Cashen stepped down as the Mets' general manager, just five years after the franchise won the title.[1]

Later life[edit]

Following his tenure as general manager of the Mets, Cashen continued working with the team in various capacities, including chief operating officer in 1992 and consultant in 1993.[8] In November 1998, the Mets general manager, Steve Phillips, took time off to address a sexual harassment lawsuit and Cashen was named interim GM for a week.[9][10]

Cashen was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame[3] on August 1, 2010, alongside Davey Johnson, Dwight Gooden, and Darryl Strawberry.[11] Cashen died on June 30, 2014, from congestive heart failure at the age of 88. Cashen and his wife Jean had seven children.[12] Cashen was noted for frequently wearing a bow tie.[12]

Record as General Manager[edit]

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Win % Finish Result
BAL 1972 80 74 .519 3rd in AL East -
BAL 1973 97 65 .599 1st in AL East Lost to Oakland Athletics in 1973 ALCS.
BAL 1974 91 71 .562 1st in AL East Lost to Oakland Athletics in 1974 ALCS.
BAL 1975 90 69 .566 2nd in AL East -
BAL Total 358 285 .557 2 Playoff Appearances
NYM 1980 64 98 .395 6th in NL East -
NYM 1981 41 62 .398 5th in NL East -
NYM 1982 65 97 .401 6th in NL East -
NYM 1983 68 94 .420 6th in NL East -
NYM 1984 90 72 .556 2nd in NL East
NYM 1985 98 64 .605 2nd in NL East -
NYM 1986 108 54 .667 1st in NL East Defeated Boston Red Sox in 1986 World Series.
NYM 1987 92 70 .568 2nd in NL East -
NYM 1988 100 60 .625 1st in NL East Lost to Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 NLCS.
NYM 1989 87 75 .537 2nd in NL East -
NYM 1990 91 71 .562 2nd in NL East -
NYM 1991 77 84 .478 5th in NL East -
NYM 1993 4 10 .562 Interim GM -
NYM Total 1153 1066 .520 2 Playoff Appearances, 1 Pennant and 1 World Series title
MLB Total 1511 1351 .528 4 Playoff Appearances, 1 Pennant and 1 World Series title

Death[edit]

Cashen died on June 30, 2014, at the age of 88, after a short illness.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Pearlman, Jeff (2004). "The Road to 1986". The Bad Guys Won!. HarperCollins. pp. 20–36. ISBN 0-06-050732-2.
  2. ^ Sprechman, Jordan (February 7, 2012). "J. Frank Cashen Archives". New-York Historical Society. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Walker, Ben (July 1, 2014) "Manager led Mets to World Series" The Washington Post, page B6; retrieved July 6, 2014 [1]
  4. ^ Goldstein, Richard (2014-06-30). "Frank Cashen, Who Turned Lowly Mets Into Swaggering Champions, Dies at 88". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  5. ^ Dorn, Sara. "Dwight 'Doc' Gooden in training for celebrity boxing match in Atlantic City". nypost.com. NYP Holdings, Inc. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  6. ^ Hille, Bob. "Dwight Gooden: 'I never thought I'd live this long'". sportingnews.com. Sporting News Holdings Limited. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  7. ^ Holtje, Steve. "Davey Johnson". baseballbiography.com. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  8. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. 1991-09-28. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  9. ^ Murray Chass (1998-11-10). "With No Time to Spare, Cashen Is Returning to the Game". The New York Times. p. D4. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  10. ^ Jason Diamos (1998-11-17). "The Mets Return Phillips To General Manager's Job". The New York Times. p. D1. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  11. ^ Kaplan, Thomas (August 1, 2010). "Four New Inductees in Mets Hall of Fame". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Former Mets GM Frank Cashen dies at 88". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  13. ^ Rubin, Adam (June 30, 2014). "Frank Cashen dies at age 88". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 1, 2014.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Preceded by Baltimore Orioles General Manager
1972–1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New York Mets General Manager
1980–1991
1998 (interim) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Sporting News Major League Baseball
Executive of the Year
1986 		Succeeded by
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