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Harry Inglis Dalton[1](August 23, 1928 – October 23, 2005) was an American front-office executive inMajor League Baseball.He served asgeneral managerof threeAmerican League(AL) teams, theBaltimore Orioles(1966–71),California Angels(1972–77) andMilwaukee Brewers(1978–91), and was a principal architect of the Orioles' dynasty of 1966–74 as well as the only AL championship the Brewers ever won (1982).
Harry Dalton | |
|---|---|
 Harry Dalton at age 27 in 1955 | |
| Born | August 23, 1928 |
| Died | October 23, 2005(aged 77) Scottsdale, Arizona,U.S. |
| Occupation | Baseball executive |
| Years active | 1954–1994 |
Born inWest Springfield, Massachusetts—also the hometown ofBaseball Hall of FamemanagerLeo Durocher—Dalton graduated fromAmherst Collegeand served in theUnited States Air Forceduring theKorean War,earning aBronze Star.
Career
editBaltimore
editAfter a brief stint as a sportswriter in Springfield, he joined the front office of the Orioles, newly reborn as the relocatedSt. Louis Browns,in 1954. For the next 11 years, Dalton worked his way up the organizational ladder, rising to the position of director of the Orioles' successfulfarm systemin 1961.[2]
In the autumn of1965,Baltimore club president and general managerLee MacPhaildeparted to become top aide to the newCommissioner of Baseball,William Eckert.Dalton was named director of player personnel—in reality, MacPhail's successor as head of baseball operations. His first order of business was to complete a trade that broughtCincinnati RedsoutfielderFrank Robinsonto Baltimore forpitchersMilt PappasandJack Baldschunand outfielderDick Simpson.Robinson, the1961National LeagueMost Valuable Player,was one of the greatest stars in the game, but he had developed a strained relationship with the Cincinnati front office.[3]In Baltimore, he would team withthird basemanBrooks Robinsonto lead the O's to the1966and1970 World Serieschampionships, and pennants in1969and1971.[4]Dalton was the man who hiredEarl Weaveras manager, brought to the Majors young stars such asBobby GrichandDon Baylor,and acquired key players such asMike Cuellar,Pat DobsonandDon Buford.(Weaver, Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson, along with pitching greatJim Palmer,a product of Dalton's farm system, are all in the Hall in Fame.)
Anaheim
editFollowing the1971 World Seriesloss to thePittsburgh Pirates,on October 27, Dalton resigned as the Orioles' vice president and director of player personnel to accept a five-year contract to become executive vice president and general manager of theCalifornia Angels.[5]He succeededDick Walsh,who had been dismissed one week prior on October 20.[6]He acquiredNolan Ryanin a December 1971 trade with theNew York Mets,but during Dalton's six seasons in Anaheim the team never posted a winning record. He was stripped of his executive vice president position, which was assigned toBuzzie Bavasi,on October 24, 1977, whenGene Autryassumed a greater role in the team's baseball operations by naming himself president.[7][8]
Milwaukee
editOne month later, on November 20, 1977, Dalton was hired as general manager of theMilwaukee Brewers.He succeededJim Baumer,who had resigned the previous night in a purge which also cost managerAlex Grammasand player development directorAl Widmartheir jobs.[9]Dalton filled the managerial vacancy when he named Orioles'pitching coachGeorge Bambergerthe Brewers' new skipper two months later on January 20, 1978.[10]Milwaukee had a group of talented young players, such asRobin Yount,Cecil Cooperand rookiePaul Molitor,but the nine-year-old franchise had never had a winning season. But, under Dalton and Bamberger, the team quickly gelled into contenders in theAmerican League East Division.By1981,they made the playoffs and in1982,Milwaukee won its first and only American League pennant (the Brewers moved to theNational League Central Divisionin1998). In the1982 World Series,the "Harvey's Wallbangers" Brewers of managerHarvey Kuennlost to theSt. Louis Cardinalsin seven games.
The Brewers contended in1983,but then began to struggle on the field. The team rebounded in1987and1988,but when it returned to its losing ways, Dalton's position was weakened. He was relegated to a role as an advisor toBud Seligon October 8, 1991. His special assistantSal Bandowas promoted to replace him under the title of senior vice president for baseball operations.[11]Dalton, who remained a consultant in the Milwaukee front office through his 1994 retirement, nevertheless was one of the most respected men in baseball, who had trained other successful general managers such asJohn Schuerholz,Lou GormanandDan Duquette,a fellow Amherst alumnus.[4]
In retirement
editOn July 24, 2003, Dalton was inducted into theMilwaukee Brewers Walk of FameoutsideAmerican Family Field.
Harry Dalton died at age 77 inScottsdale, Arizona,of complications from Lewy body disease, misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease.[2]
Other awards and honors
edit- 1997 Herb Armstrong Award (for contribution to the Orioles franchise by a non-uniform personnel[12]
- Inducted on theMilwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor
References
edit- ^1940 United States census, Ancestry
- ^abVoiss, Dale, "Harry Dalton."Society for American Baseball ResearchBiography Project
- ^Shinkle, Andrew, "Revisiting the Frank Robinson Trade." RedReporter/SBNation
- ^abThe Associated Press (23 October 2005), "Former Orioles, Brewers GM Harry Dalton Dead at 77." ESPN
- ^Becker, Bill. "Dalton Is Hired to Rebuild Angels,"The New York Times,Thursday, October 28, 1971.Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^"Angels Dismiss Walsh As General Manager,"The Associated Press(AP), Wednesday, October 20, 1971.Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^"Autry to Direct Angels, With Bavasi as No. 1 Aide,"The Associated Press(AP), Thursday, October 20, 1977.Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^"Bavasi Takes Over Officially–Angels Eying Mike Torrez,"The Associated Press(AP), Tuesday, October 25, 1977.Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^"Brewers Hire Dalton,"The Associated Press(AP), Sunday, November 20, 1977.Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^"Bamberger of Orioles Is Named To Pilot Brewers Next 2 Years,"United Press International(UPI), Friday, January 20, 1978.Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^"Bando replaces Brewers GM Dalton,"United Press International(UPI), Tuesday, October 8, 1991.Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Dan Connolly, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2015, ISBN 978-1-62937-041-5, p.133
External links
edit- Baseball Hall of Fame candidate profile
- Baseball AmericaExecutive Database:Harry Dalton