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Dave Dombrowski

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Dave Dombrowski
Dombrowski in 2015
Philadelphia Phillies
President of Baseball Operations
Born:(1956-07-27)July 27, 1956(age 67)
Chicago, Illinois,U.S.
Teams
Career highlights and awards

David Dombrowski(born July 27, 1956) is an American baseball executive who serves as the president of baseball operations for thePhiladelphia PhilliesofMajor League Baseball(MLB). Dombrowski also previously served as thegeneral managerof theMontreal Expos,the general manager and president of theFlorida MarlinsandDetroit Tigers,and president of baseball operations for theBoston Red Sox.He has helped build four different franchises (Marlins, Tigers, Red Sox, Phillies) into pennant-winning teams, and he has won theWorld Seriestwice — with the Marlins in1997and the Red Sox in2018.

Career[edit]

Chicago White Sox[edit]

Dombrowski began his career with theChicago White Soxin 1978, as an administrative assistant in their minor league organization.[1]He moved up the ladder to assistant general manager toRoland Hemondby his late 20s, but was purged duringKen Harrelson's one-year reign in 1986 as the White Sox front-office Boss.

Montreal Expos[edit]

Dombrowski joined theMontreal Exposfront office as director of player development for the 1987 season underBill Stoneman,and on July 5, 1988, he became, at age 31, Montreal's general manager—the youngest in MLB at the time.[2]

Dombrowski built up the Exposfarm systemduring his term. He drafted, among others,Rondell WhiteandCliff Floyd.The team enjoyed.500 or better seasons in 1988–90 but struggled on the field in 1991. Concurrently, theNational Leagueexpanded to 14 teams, with two new franchises to begin play in 1993. One of those teams, theFlorida Marlins,recruited Dombrowski to become its first general manager; he was appointed on September 19, 1991.

Florida Marlins[edit]

Dombrowski spent about a decade inMiami,working under ownersH. Wayne HuizengaandJohn W. Henry.In 1996, he hiredJim Leylandto manage the team; they had previously worked together for the White Sox in the early 1980s, with Dombrowski as assistant general manager and Leyland asthird base coach.[3]Although Dombrowski built a sound minor league system, the Marlins achieved their first great success—the NL pennant and1997 World Seriestitle—with a team composed of many high-salaried players signed as free agents. The following year, Dombrowski presided over Huizenga's mandatedfire saleof those veteran players, and the Marlins failed to reach a.500 winning percentage in each of Dombrowski's final four years with the franchise. In November 2001, Dombrowski left Florida to become the president of the Detroit Tigers.[4]Nevertheless, after Henry sold the club in early 2002, the Marlins managed to rebuild behind a nucleus of young players, and the following season, with a roster consisting chiefly of players Dombrowski had acquired,[5]the team won the2003 World Series.

Detroit Tigers[edit]

Dombrowski watches aWest Michigan Whitecapsgame atFifth Third Ballpark,2010

For the 2002 season, his first with the Tigers after being hired by ownerMike Ilitch,Dombrowski was to serve as president and chief executive officer of the rebuilding Tigers. Incumbent general managerRandy Smithwould continue in his role, reporting to Dombrowski. However, when Detroit lost its first six games in 2002, Dombrowski quickly fired both Smith and managerPhil Garner.[6]Dombrowski assumed the general manager's role himself, becoming the first person to serve as both president and GM for the Tigers sinceJim Campbellheld both titles from 1978 to 1983.[7]

In 2003, the Tigers lost anAmerican League-record 119 games, one fewer than the modern MLB record set by the1962 New York Mets.The manager wasAlan Trammell,a popular ex-Tiger player who had been the1984 World SeriesMVP. Three years later, the2006 Tigers,led by managerJim Leyland,won their first AL pennant since theirchampionship season of 1984.Along the way, they won the ALwild card,defeated the favored New York Yankees in four games in the2006 American League Division Series(ALDS), then swept theOakland Athleticsin the2006 American League Championship Series(ALCS). In the2006 World Series,they were defeated in five games by theSt. Louis Cardinals.Dombrowski was subsequently named Executive of the Year byBaseball America.[8]

In addition to bringing Leyland out of semi-retirement,[9]Dombrowski presided over the acquisition and development of a corps of hard-throwing youngpitchers,and signedfree agentssuch ascatcherIván Rodríguez,left-handed pitcherKenny Rogers,and outfielderMagglio Ordóñez.

In 2012, the Tigers reached their second World Series under Dombrowski's tenure by defeating the Oakland Athletics in five games in the2012 ALDSand sweeping the New York Yankees in the2012 ALCS.The Tigers were then swept by the San Francisco Giants in four straight games, losing the2012 World Series.

On August 4, 2015, Dombrowski was released by the Tigers, and was replaced by his former assistant general managerAl Avila.[10]In fourteen years with Tigers organization, Dombrowski led the Tigers to five playoff appearances, four consecutiveAmerican League Centraldivision titles, fourAmerican League Championship Seriesappearances, including threeconsecutive ALCS appearancesfrom 2011 to 2013, and twoAL pennants,in2006and2012.[11]Prior to his hiring, the Tigers had missed the playoffs in fourteen consecutive seasons, and had just four playoff appearances in the 60 season stretch from 1946 to 2005.

Boston Red Sox[edit]

On August 18, 2015, Dombrowski was named the president of baseball operations of theBoston Red Sox.[12]At the announcement of his hiring, the Red Sox also announced that general managerBen Cheringtonwould step down. In September, Dombrowski filled Cherington's post with senior vice presidentMike Hazen.[13]Dombrowski made his first significant trade for the Red Sox in November, when he acquired closerCraig Kimbrelfrom theSan Diego Padresfor four prospects.[14]He also signed high-profile free agent pitcherDavid Priceto a seven-year, $217 million contract.

In Dombrowski's first full season with the team, the2016 Red Soxwon 93 regular-season games and theAmerican League Eastdivision title, but were swept in the2016 American League Division Seriesby the eventual AL champions, theCleveland Indians.In mid-October, Hazen resigned from the Red Sox to take an expanded role as executive vice president and general manager of theArizona Diamondbacks.Dombrowski chose not to appoint a successor, assuming general manager responsibilities without the added title, and promoting other Red Sox executives to key supporting positions, including former MLB general managersFrank WrenandAllard Baird.[15]

Prior to the 2017 season, Dombrowski acquired starting pitcherChris Salefrom the White Sox, in exchange for four prospects includingYoan Moncada.[16]The2017 Red Soxwon their division again, but lost the2017 American League Division Seriesto the eventual World Series champions, theHouston Astros.In October, Dombrowski firedJohn Farrell,who had served five years as Boston's manager.[17]Later that month, Dombrowski hiredAlex Cora,then bench coach of the Astros, to be the next Red Sox manager.[18]

The2018 Red Soxwon their division for the third consecutive season; the team recorded 108 wins, the most in franchise history. The team went on to win the2018 World Series,with a pitching staff led by players that Dombrowski had acquired—including Kimbrel, Price, and Sale—along withdesignated hitterJ. D. Martinez,whom Dombrowski had acquired in February 2018.[19]It was Dombrowski's first championship since he was general manager of the Marlins in 1997, and he was later named Executive of the Year byBaseball America,the second time he won the award.[8]In June 2019, theNational Polish-American Sports Hall of Fameawarded its Excellence in Sports Award to Dombrowski.

Dombrowski was fired by the Red Sox early on September 9, 2019, just 10 months after winning the 2018 World Series, following a 10–5 loss to the New York Yankees, which dropped Boston's record for the season to 76–67.[20][21]During his time leading baseball operations, the Red Sox were fined for participating in electronic sign stealing against the Yankees in 2017, and improper use of video replay to decode signs during the 2018 season.[22][23]Following an MLB investigation into the 2018 allegations, findings released in February 2020 did not implicate Dombrowski in any wrongdoing.[24][25]

Philadelphia Phillies[edit]

On December 11, 2020, Dombrowski was named the president of baseball operations of thePhiladelphia Phillies.[26]After missing the playoffs in 2021, the2022 Philliesqualified for the postseason as a wild card team and secured the National League pennant, where they lost to theHouston Astrosin six games in theWorld Series.[27]It was Dombrowski's first league title with Philadelphia and fifth overall of his executive career.

On November 22, 2022, the Phillies signed Dombrowski to a contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.[28]

Record as general manager / president of baseball operations[edit]

Team Year Regular Season Postseason
Won Lost Win % Finish Result
MON 1988 41 40 .506 N/A‡ Appointed on July 5
MON 1989 81 81 .500 4th in NL East -
MON 1990 85 77 .525 3rd in NL East -
MON 1991 64 81 .441 6th in NL East† Hired byFlorida Marlinson September 19
MON Total 271 279 .493
FLA 1993 64 98 .395 6th in NL East -
FLA 1994 51 64 .443 5th in NL East -
FLA 1995 67 76 .469 4th in NL East -
FLA 1996 80 82 .494 3rd in NL East -
FLA 1997 92 70 .568 2nd in NL East DefeatedCleveland Indiansin1997 World Series
FLA 1998 54 108 .333 5th in NL East -
FLA 1999 64 98 .395 5th in NL East -
FLA 2000 79 82 .491 3rd in NL East -
FLA 2001 76 86 .469 4th in NL East -
FLA Total 627 764 .451 1 Playoff Appearance, 1 Pennant, 1 World Series Title
DET 2002 55 100 .355 5th in AL Central -
DET 2003 43 119 .265 5th in AL Central -
DET 2004 72 90 .444 4th in AL Central -
DET 2005 71 91 .438 4th in AL Central -
DET 2006 95 67 .586 2nd in AL Central Lost toSt. Louis Cardinalsin2006 World Series
DET 2007 88 74 .543 2nd in AL Central -
DET 2008 74 88 .457 5th in AL Central -
DET 2009 86 77 .528 2nd in AL Central -
DET 2010 81 81 .500 3rd in AL Central -
DET 2011 95 67 .586 1st in AL Central Lost toTexas Rangersin2011 ALCS
DET 2012 88 74 .543 1st in AL Central Lost toSan Francisco Giantsin2012 World Series
DET 2013 93 69 .574 1st in AL Central Lost toBoston Red Soxin2013 ALCS
DET 2014 90 72 .556 1st in AL Central Lost toBaltimore Oriolesin2014 ALDS
DET 2015 51 54 .486 3rd in AL Central† Released on August 4
DET Total 1,082 1,123 .491 5 Playoff Appearances, 2 Pennants
BOS 2015 26 18 .591 N/A‡ Hired on August 18
BOS 2016 93 69 .574 1st in AL East Lost toCleveland Indiansin2016 ALDS
BOS 2017 93 69 .574 1st in AL East Lost toHouston Astrosin2017 ALDS
BOS 2018 108 54 .667 1st in AL East DefeatedLos Angeles Dodgersin2018 World Series
BOS 2019 76 67 .531 3rd in AL East† Released on September 9
BOS Total 396 277 .588 3 Playoff Appearances, 1 Pennant, 1 World Series Title
PHI 2021 82 80 .506 2nd in NL East -
PHI 2022 87 75 .537 3rd in NL East Lost toHouston Astrosin2022 World Series
PHI 2023 90 72 .556 2nd in NL East Lost toArizona Diamondbacksin2023 NLCS
PHI Total 259 227 .533 2 Playoff Appearances, 1 Pennant
Total 2,635 2,670 .497 11 Playoff Appearances, 5 Pennants, 2 World Series Titles

† Reflects team's record and position in standings at the time Dombrowski was dismissed.
‡ Reflects team's record from when Dombrowski was hired through end of season.

Dombrowski's title with Boston was president of baseball operations.Mike Hazenserved as Boston's general manager during 2016 and reported to Dombrowski.

Personal life[edit]

Dombrowski grew up inPalos Heights, Illinois,and graduated fromHarold L. Richards High SchoolinOak Lawn, Illinois.[29][30]

Dombrowski briefly attendedCornell University,where he was a member of theBig Red football team.He later transferred toWestern Michigan University,where he earned a degree inbusiness administrationin 1979.[1][31]Dombrowski would later be the recipient of Western Michigan University's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.[30][32]In 2018, Dombrowski was honored with theNational Polish-American Sports Hall of FameExcellence in Sports Award, in Troy, Michigan.

Dombrowski is married toKarie Ross,[33]who worked as anESPNreporter from 1988 to 1990. They met in 1992 while Dombrowski was serving as general manager of the Florida Marlins and Ross was a reporter atWTVJin Miami.[34]The couple has two children,[33]Darbi and Landon.[35]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"David Dombrowski".mlb.Archived fromthe originalon July 26, 2011.RetrievedJuly 30,2011.
  2. ^Lawson, Earl (July 23, 1988)."Los Angeles amazes Lasorda".Ocala Star-Banner.p. 4D.RetrievedJuly 7,2010.
  3. ^"Dombrowski, Leyland dynamic duo for Tigers".USATODAY.COM.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  4. ^"Dombrowski leaves Marlins to head Tigers," November 5, 2001,http://sportsillustrated.cnn /baseball/mlb/news/2001/11/05/dombrowski_tigers_ap/#nullArchivedNovember 21, 2001, at theWayback Machine.
  5. ^"Prospectus Q&A: Dave Dombrowski".Baseball Prospectus.June 13, 2006.RetrievedJuly 29,2022.
  6. ^Chass, Murray (April 9, 2002)."BASEBALL; Tigers Dismiss Garner And Smith".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJuly 29,2022.
  7. ^"St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search".news.google.RetrievedJuly 29,2022.
  8. ^abRemillard, Calli (November 27, 2018)."Dave Dombrowski was named Executive of the Year".Boston.RetrievedNovember 27,2018.
  9. ^Greenberg, Jon (June 23, 2006)."Tigers getting ferocious under Leyland".mlb.RetrievedDecember 14,2012.
  10. ^Simon, Andrew (August 4, 2015)."Avila replaces Dombrowski as Tigers GM".MLB.Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2015.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  11. ^Jaffe, Jay (August 4, 2015)."Dave Dombrowski's departure marks the end of an era for Detroit Tigers".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  12. ^"Red Sox hire Dave Dombrowski; Ben Cherington stepping down as GM".USA Today.August 18, 2015.RetrievedAugust 18,2015.
  13. ^Pescaro, Mike (September 24, 2015)."Mike Hazen Named Red Sox General Manager".NECN.RetrievedMarch 28,2019.
  14. ^"Padres trade Craig Kimbrel to Red Sox in exchange for 4 prospects".ESPN.November 13, 2015.
  15. ^Lauber, Scott (October 25, 2016)."Dave Dombrowski: Red Sox won't hire a general manager".ESPN.
  16. ^Scott Merkin (December 6, 2016)."Red Sox acquire Chris Sale in blockbuster trade with White Sox".MLB.Archived fromthe originalon September 23, 2017.RetrievedDecember 6,2016.
  17. ^Browne, Ian (October 11, 2017)."Red Sox release manager John Farrell after five seasons".MLB.Archived fromthe originalon October 13, 2017.RetrievedOctober 11,2017.
  18. ^Browne, Ian (October 22, 2017)."Sox finalize 3-year deal with Cora to manage".MLB.Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2017.RetrievedOctober 22,2017.
  19. ^"Red Sox officially sign J. D. Martinez to 5-year deal through 2022".ESPN.February 26, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 26,2018.
  20. ^"Red Sox fire president Dave Dombrowski less than a year after winning World Series".sports.yahoo.September 9, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 9,2019.
  21. ^Abraham, Pete (September 9, 2019)."Dave Dombrowski out as Red Sox president of baseball operations".The Boston Globe.RetrievedSeptember 9,2019.
  22. ^Perry, Dayn (January 15, 2020)."Alex Cora's managerial career, which started with historic success, appears to be over".CBSSports.RetrievedJanuary 15,2020.
  23. ^Billy Witz (September 15, 2017)."Manfred Fines Red Sox Over Stealing Signs and Issues Warning to All 30 Teams - The New York Times".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 15,2020.
  24. ^Smith, Christopher (February 18, 2020)."Boston Red Sox sign-stealing investigation: MLB will find Dave Dombrowski 'not involved' (report)".Masslive.RetrievedFebruary 24,2020.
  25. ^"Red Sox News: Investigation to pass Dave Dombrowski and Ron Roenicke".February 19, 2020.
  26. ^Acquavella, Katherine; Snyder, Matt (December 11, 2020)."Phillies hire Dave Dombrowski as president of baseball operations".CBS Sports.RetrievedDecember 12,2020.
  27. ^Frank, Vincent (October 23, 2022)."Sports world reacts to Phillies winning first NL pennant since 2009".Sportsnaut.RetrievedOctober 23,2022– via MSN.
  28. ^"Phillies extend Dave Dombrowski through 2027".mlb.RetrievedJuly 31,2023.
  29. ^"Turning in A+ work".tribunedigital-chicagotribune.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  30. ^ab"tigers: Team".Detroit Tigers.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  31. ^Fox Sports."Detroit".FOX Sports.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  32. ^"Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients".wmich.edu.October 11, 2012.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  33. ^abFriedman, Michael (April 30, 2018)."Karie Ross Dombrowski Q&A Extra Credit".mikefriedman.oucreate.RetrievedSeptember 11,2019.
  34. ^Rohde, John (August 12, 2001)."South Florida cottons to Ross' spunk Ex-TV reporter is full-time mom with fond memories of Oklahoma".oklahoman.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  35. ^2015 Detroit Tigers Media Guide. pg.12.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]


Sporting positions
Preceded by Montreal Exposgeneral manager
1987–1991 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Franchise created
 Florida Marlinsgeneral manager
1991–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Florida Marlinspresident
2000–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Detroit Tigerspresident
2001–2015 		Succeeded by
Chris Granger
Preceded by Detroit Tigersgeneral manager
2002–2015 		Succeeded by
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