Lee MacPhail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lee MacPhail |
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MacPhail at the White House for a Baseball Hall of Fame luncheon in 2004
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| Born: Leland Stanford MacPhail Jr. October 25, 1917 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Died: November 8, 2012 (aged 95) Delray Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1998 |
| Election Method | Veterans Committee |
Leland Stanford MacPhail Jr. (born October 25, 1917 – died November 8, 2012) was an important leader in Major League Baseball. He worked in baseball for 45 years. Lee MacPhail held many big jobs, including director of player personnel for the New York Yankees and president of the American League. He was also the general manager for the Baltimore Orioles and the Yankees.
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A Family of Baseball Leaders
Lee MacPhail was born in Nashville, Tennessee. His father, Larry MacPhail, was also a famous baseball leader. Larry worked for teams like the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers. Lee and Larry MacPhail are the only father and son to both be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Lee was honored in 1998.
Lee's brother, Bill MacPhail, was also important in sports. He became the president of CBS Sports. Later, he helped start CNN Sports for Ted Turner.
Lee MacPhail's son, Andy MacPhail, continued the family tradition. Andy has been a senior leader for four different MLB teams. He was the general manager for the Minnesota Twins and president of the Chicago Cubs. He also led the baseball operations for the Orioles and was president of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sadly, Lee MacPhail's other son, Lee MacPhail III, passed away young. He was working in baseball for the Reading Phillies when he died at age 27 in 1969. Lee MacPhail's grandson, Lee MacPhail IV, has also worked in baseball. He has been a scout or scouting director for many teams. These include the Orioles, Twins, and New York Mets.
Lee MacPhail's Career in Baseball
Lee MacPhail went to Swarthmore College. He started his baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, where his father worked. In 1942, he became the business manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs. This team was part of the International League.
After that, he served in the United States Navy during World War II. In 1946, he joined the New York Yankees. He became the general manager of their Triple-A farm team, the Kansas City Blues.
Working with the Yankees and Orioles
Lee MacPhail moved up in the Yankees organization. In 1948, he became the director of their farm system. He helped the Yankees win seven World Series championships between 1949 and 1958.
Then, he moved to the Baltimore Orioles. He became their general manager and later their club president. During his time with the Orioles (1959–1965), the team became very strong. They won many games and often finished near the top of the American League. In 1964, the Orioles, led by Most Valuable Player Brooks Robinson, almost won the pennant. They finished just two games behind the Yankees.
After leaving the Orioles, MacPhail worked for the Commissioner of Baseball. Then, from 1966 to 1973, he returned to the Yankees as their general manager. During this time, the Yankees were rebuilding their team. He helped bring future stars like Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, Sparky Lyle, and Graig Nettles to the team. These players were key when the Yankees became champions again later.
Leading the American League
In 1974, Lee MacPhail was chosen to be the fifth president of the American League. He held this important job for ten years, until 1983. He moved the league's main office from Boston to New York City.
During his time as president, big changes happened in baseball. The era of free agency began in 1976. This meant players could choose which team to play for more easily. MacPhail also oversaw the league's expansion in 1977. Two new teams, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, joined the American League.
He also helped end the 1981 baseball strike. This was a difficult time when players stopped playing. MacPhail stepped in to help the owners and players reach an agreement. He also played a big part in the famous Pine Tar Incident in 1983. He made the final decision about a protested game involving Kansas City Royals star George Brett. After retiring as AL president, MacPhail worked for two more years in baseball. He was chairman of Major League Baseball's Player Relations Committee.
Later Life and Honors
Lee MacPhail lived in Delray Beach, Florida. He passed away at his home on November 8, 2012, at the age of 95. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Awards and Recognition
When Lee MacPhail was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998, he joined his father, Larry MacPhail. Larry had been elected in 1978. This made them the only father and son to be Hall of Fame members.
In 1966, he received the Sporting News Executive of the Year Award. This award recognized his great work in building the 1966 World Series champion Orioles team. The American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award is named after Lee MacPhail.
In 2013, Lee MacPhail was honored with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. This award recognized his service in the United States Navy during World War II.
