Nolan Ryan and 20 Other Hall of Famers Who Could Be Successful GMs

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ST. PETERSBURG - OCTOBER 12: Team President Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers celebrates his team's victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

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Nolan Ryan has been the man behind the 2010 Texas Rangers. After he, Chuck Greenberg and the rest of the Ranger fans ran Tom Hicks out of town, this team has gone from cellar-dweller to World Series favorite.

A guy like Ryan knows the game—he knows the kind of talent it takes to get to the ultimate goal. He brought those players in, and they are just four wins away from accomplishing what he set out to accomplish.

But is he the only former player and Hall of Famer turned general manager that could succeed in the same role? Are there other Hall-of-Fame players who could have the same type of success?

What about guys like Ricky Henderson, Dave Stewart, Ryne Sandberg, Ozzie Smith and so many others? How good would these guys be in the same position as Nolan Ryan? Would they be as good or possibly even better?

Here's a look at 20 current Major League Baseball Hall of Famers who could be successful general managers.

No. 20: Andre Dawson

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 25: 2010 inductee Andre Dawson poses for a photograph with his plaque at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 25, 20010 in Cooperstown, New York. Dawson was an eight time all-star during h

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He already has a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins organization as a member of their front office, and as a fan favorite with the Cubs, could he turn that team into a contender?

No. 19: Gaylord Perry

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 26: Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry waves to the crowd as he is introduced at Clark Sports Center during the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 26, 2009 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Two Cy Young Awards—one in each league—and a 314-game winner: Something tells me he could spot good pitching talent and put together a good rotation and bullpen.

No. 18: Phil Niekro

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - MARCH 9: Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro of the Atlanta Braves waves to the fans prior to the Grapefruit League Spring Training game against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 9, 2008 at Champions Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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Not only did he turn his nephew, Lance Niekro, into a pitcher after a failed stint with the Giants as a power-hitting first baseman, but he made the knuckle-ball famous during his career.

No. 17: Earl Weaver

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 26: Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver looks on at Clark Sports Center during the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 26, 2009 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Good 'ole Earl Weaver. I can just imagine him getting screwed over by another general manager and going into one of his famous tirades. I know we all remember this classic.

No. 16: Dave Winfield

ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 13: Hall of famer Dave Winfield speaks to the media prior to the 81st MLB All-Star Game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

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He's been in the San Diego Padres' front office for a few years now, so he's no stranger to how things work.

No. 15: George Brett

SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 05: Former Kansas City Royals great, George Brett attends the MLB spring training game against the San Diego Padres at Surprise Stadium on March 5, 2007 in Surprise, Arizona. The Royals defeated the Padres 9-4. (Photo by Christian

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Brett is one of only four players in baseball history to amass 3,000 hits, 300 career home runs, and a career .300 batting average.

No. 14: Mike Schmidt

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 31: Former Philadelphia Phillies Mike Schmidt looks on after throwing out the out the first pitch before Game Three of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 31, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ma

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Is there a more popular Philadelphia Phillie than Mike Schmidt? He is one of the greats of the game and a solid baseball guy.

No. 13: Willie McCovey

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 31: Hall of Famer Willie McCovey attends the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on July 31, 2005 at the Clark Sports Complex in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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There's always room in a front office for a guy that has the baseball experience of Willie McCovey

No. 12: Lou Gehrig

NEW YORK - MAY 02: The plaque of Lou Gehrig is seen in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium prior to game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox on May 2, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 12-3. (P

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Incredible player, incredible human being and a guy who could, without a doubt in my mind, build a winner year in and year out.

No. 11: Ozzie Smith

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 25: Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith attends the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 25, 20010 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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One of the greats in the game—who wouldn't want to sign with a team that has Ozzie as its general manager?

No. 10: Hank Aaron

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 25: Baseball icon Henry Aaron attends the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 25, 20010 in Cooperstown, New York.(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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He knows the game, even today. Definite GM material.

No. 9: Mickey Mantle

NEW YORK - MAY 02: The plaque of Mickey Mantle is seen in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox on May 2, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 12

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One of the best players to ever grace the game of baseball. I wonder what he could have done in the general manager's seat? How many championships would the Yankees have had under a guy like Mantle?

No. 8: Kirby Puckett

26 May 1993: Kirby Puckett #34 of the Minnesota Twins looks on from the dugout during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport

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I know Minnesota Twins fans still hold Kirby Puckett in high regard for what he did for that franchise. What could he have done with that team after his playing days were over?

No. 7: Tommy Lasorda

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 25: Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda attends the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 25, 20010 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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A great manager in his day, and a great ambassador to the game today—it's curious that he never sat in the GM seat for the team after his managing days were over.

Though he was the interim GM for half of a season in 1988 after the team fired Fred Claire, he resigned after the season to become Senior Vice President of the Dodgers.

No. 6: Cal Ripken

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 01: Former baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr. attends the 2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Celebration at The IAC Building on December 1, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

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Cal Ripken could save the Baltimore Orioles, couldn't he?

No. 5: Ryne Sandberg

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 26: Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg waves to the crowd as he is introduced at Clark Sports Center during the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 26, 2009 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Everyone thought Ryne Sandberg was a shoe-in for the Cubs managerial job after Lou Piniella stepped down, but he apparently wasn't the guy they wanted.

What about the GM seat for the long time Cub and current Hall of Famer? Think he could bring a championship team to Chicago?

No. 4: Willie Mays

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 21: Former Giants star Willie Mays throws out the first pitch before Game Five of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs between the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park on October 21, 2010 in San Francis

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Tremendous player in his day and still respected even in this generation of fans and players—he might have been an interesting guy to put in the GM seat.

No. 3: Cy Young

There's a reason the award for best pitcher is named after him. Arguably one of the greatest pitchers of all time, who knows what a guy like this could have done if given control of a team.

No. 2: Tony Gwynn

7 Oct 2001: Right fielder Tony Gwynn #19 of the San Diego Padres acknowledges the crowd during the Major League Baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Rockies defeated the Padres 14-5. Mandatory Cre

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Still one of the great baseball minds today. I'm surprised that Gwynn has not been interested in being a manager or a general manager.

I would think teams would hire him in a heartbeat if he was interested.

No. 1: Babe Ruth

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 24: A statue of Babe Ruth is seen at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum during induction weekend on July 24, 2010 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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The Babe. Once a Red Sox then sold to the Yankees in a move that will be forever scrutinized.

Babe Ruth was not only a great player but a guy who could do anything he wanted on the baseball field. In a position of power, like a general manager, there's no telling what he might have been able to accomplish.