Nolan Ryan and 20 Other Hall of Famers Who Could Be Successful GMs
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
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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
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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
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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.
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No. 17: Earl Weaver
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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He knows the game, even today. Definite GM material.
No. 9: Mickey Mantle
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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
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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
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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
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Cal Ripken could save the Baltimore Orioles, couldn't he?
No. 5: Ryne Sandberg
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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