Mike Port

Last updated
Mike Port
Executive
Born: (1945-07-24) July 24, 1945 (age 78)
Fallbrook, California, U.S.

San Diego Padres

Port was born in Fallbrook, California. After attending United States International University in San Diego, Port entered baseball in 1969 as a minor league second baseman for the newly born San Diego Padres of MLB, but after an injury, he retired to become an executive in the Padre organization. In 1973 he became the club's farm system director and moved to the Angels in a similar capacity in 1978.

California Angels

Port was also adept at the business side of baseball, and in 1980, he was promoted by the Angels to vice president and chief administrative officer. [1] He succeeded Buzzie Bavasi, his boss in both San Diego and Anaheim, as the Angels' general manager late in 1984. [2] After just falling short of winning the American League West Division title in 1985, [3] the 1986 Angels finished first in their division and led three games to one in the 1986 ALCS; they were one out from their first AL title before the Red Sox started a comeback that ended their pennant hopes. [4] [5] After that disappointment, the Angels, with several veteran players nearing the end of their careers, contended only in 1989. During the 1991 campaign—in which the Angels finished seventh and last in their division, despite a record of 81-81 (.500) [6] —Port was dismissed. [1] Nonetheless, during his tenure with the Angels, the Major League club averaged 85 wins per year and, with the assistance of scouting director Bob Fontaine and player development director Bill Bavasi, the Angels signed and developed players such as Tim Salmon, Jim Abbott, Garret Anderson, Troy Percival, Damion Easley, Gary DiSarcina and Jim Edmonds.

Boston Red Sox

In 1992, Port became the first president of the Arizona Fall League, [7] an annual training ground inaugurated by MLB designed for the elite prospects of all member clubs, then joined the Red Sox as assistant general manager in February 1993. [8] Three years later, he was promoted to the club's post of vice president, baseball operations. In February 2002, immediately after John W. Henry, Tom Werner and New England Sports Ventures took control of the Red Sox, Port was named acting GM. [9] Despite 93 regular-season wins, and Port's midseason acquisition of outfielder Cliff Floyd, Boston finished second in the AL East and missed the Wild Card.

With the appointment of Theo Epstein as Boston's general manager in November 2002, Port resumed his former role. [10] He survived a heart attack, [11] and continued to serve as the Red Sox' VP, baseball operations through the club's 2004 World Championship.

Major League Baseball

On August 1, 2005, he was named as Major League Baseball's vice president of umpiring and served in that capacity for six seasons. He formerly served as a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Sports Officials. During the 2016 National League Championship Series and World Series, he served as a rules analyst for FOX Sports. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Red Sox</span> American Major League Baseball franchise in Boston, MA (founded 1901)

The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in 1901 as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the team's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since 1912. The "Red Sox" name was chosen by the team owner, John I. Taylor, c. 1908, following the lead of previous teams that had been known as the "Boston Red Stockings", including the Boston Braves. The team has won nine World Series championships, tied for the third-most of any MLB team, and has played in 13 World Series. Their most recent World Series appearance and win was in 2018. In addition, they won the 1904 American League pennant, but were not able to defend their 1903 World Series championship when the New York Giants refused to participate in the 1904 World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theo Epstein</span> American baseball executive

Theo Nathaniel Epstein is an American Major League Baseball executive, who currently works for MLB as a consultant. He was the vice president and general manager for the Boston Red Sox and then the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs. He worked for each team for nine seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Cronin</span> American baseball player and manager

Joseph Edward Cronin was an American professional baseball player, manager and executive. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop, most notably as a member of the Boston Red Sox. Cronin spent over 48 years in baseball, culminating with 14 years as president of the American League (AL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Konerko</span> American baseball first baseman

Paul Henry Konerko is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1997 to 2014, most prominently as a member of the Chicago White Sox, where he was a six-time American League All-Star and team captain for the 2005 World Series winning team. Konerko began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. In 2014, Konerko was named the recipient of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Hinch</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1974)

Andrew Jay Hinch is an American professional baseball coach and former player who is the manager of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Hinch played catcher for the Oakland Athletics (1998–2000), Kansas City Royals (2001–2002), Detroit Tigers (2003), and Philadelphia Phillies (2004).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buzzie Bavasi</span> American baseball executive

Emil Joseph "Buzzie" Bavasi was an American executive in Major League Baseball who played a major role in the operation of three California baseball franchises from the late 1940s through the mid-1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Cora</span> Puerto Rican baseball player and manager (born 1975)

Jose Alexander Cora is a Puerto Rican baseball manager and former infielder who is the manager of the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for 14 seasons with the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals. After retiring as a player, Cora served as the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they won their first World Series title in 2017. Cora was named Boston's manager the following season, winning a franchise-best 108 games and leading the team to victory in the 2018 World Series. He is the fifth MLB manager to win the World Series in his first season and the first Puerto Rican manager of a World Series-winning team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Watson</span> American baseball player and coach

Robert José Watson was an American professional baseball player, coach and general manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder from 1966 to 1984, most prominently as a member of the Houston Astros where he was a two-time All-Star player. Watson had a .295 batting average over a career that also saw him play for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and the Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McNamara (baseball)</span> American baseball player and coach (1932–2020)

John Francis McNamara was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach. After spending over 15 years in the minor leagues as a catcher and player-manager, McNamara helmed six Major League Baseball (MLB) teams for all or parts of 19 seasons between 1969 and 1996. He directed the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, and was named his league's "Manager of the Year" by both the BBWAA and The Sporting News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Dombrowski</span> American baseball executive

David Dombrowski is an American baseball executive who serves as the president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Dombrowski also previously served as the general manager of the Montreal Expos, the general manager and president of the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers, and president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox. He has helped build four different franchises into pennant-winning teams, and he has won the World Series twice — with the Marlins in 1997 and the Red Sox in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Werner</span> American television producer

Thomas Charles Werner is an American television producer and businessman. Through his investment in Fenway Sports Group, he is currently chairman of both Liverpool Football Club and the Boston Red Sox.

Josh Byrnes is an American baseball executive who is senior vice president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Gerard Dipoto is an American baseball executive and former professional player. He is currently the president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and previously worked in front office positions for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox. Dipoto played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Colorado Rockies from 1993 through 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Bavasi</span>

William Joseph Bavasi is a former Major League Baseball general manager. He currently works as director of the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, appointed in November 2014. Bavasi previously served as an assistant to the GM for the Cincinnati Reds, under Reds general manager Walt Jocketty. The son of longtime MLB executive Buzzie Bavasi and the brother of Peter Bavasi, also a former MLB executive, Bill also spent six full seasons (1994–99) as the general manager of the California/Anaheim Angels and a 4+12 season stint as GM of the Seattle Mariners (2003–08).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roland Hemond</span> American baseball executive (1929–2021)

Roland A. Hemond was an American professional baseball executive who worked in Major League Baseball. He served as the scouting director of the California Angels, general manager of the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles, senior executive vice president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, executive advisor to the general manager of the White Sox, and special assistant to the president for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Peter Bavasi is an American former front-office executive in Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Cherington</span> American professional baseball executive

Benjamin P. Cherington is an American baseball executive serving as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB) since November 2019. He previously served as the vice-president of baseball operations for the Toronto Blue Jays, and was the executive vice president and general manager of the Boston Red Sox from 2011 to 2015. He succeeded Theo Epstein in that position, having worked in the team's baseball operations office since 1999, before Epstein's arrival.

The Los Angeles Angels are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The "Angels" name originates from the city that was their original home, Los Angeles, and was inspired by a minor league club of the same name. The Angels were established in 1961, and have played their home games at Angel Stadium since 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Rizzo (baseball)</span> American baseball front office executive (born 1960)

Michael Anthony Rizzo is an American baseball front office executive who is the president of baseball operations and general manager of the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Anthopoulos</span> Canadian professional baseball executive

Alex Anthopoulos is a Canadian professional baseball executive, currently working as the general manager and president of baseball operations for the Atlanta Braves. He was the senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2010 to 2015, for whom he began as a scouting coordinator in 2003. Prior to the Blue Jays, Anthopoulos got his start in professional baseball with the Montreal Expos organization in 2000. In 2015, he was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year after the Blue Jays advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1993, reaching the American League Championship Series (ALCS). However, his term with the Blue Jays ended on October 29, 2015, when he declined a five-year contract extension. He served for two years as vice president of player development for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

References

  1. 1 2 Elliott, Helene (1991-05-01). "Angels Fire Port; Duties Taken Over by O'Brien – Management: Club President Brown says there were problems of communication and style" . Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  2. "Sports People; Bavasi Is Retiring". The New York Times. 1984-09-01. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  3. "1985 American League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  4. "Revisit the '86 ALCS". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  5. "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  6. "1991 American League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  7. "Newswire" . Los Angeles Times. 1992-02-12. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  8. "Red Sox Hire Mike Port as Assistant to Gorman". Los Angeles Times. 1993-02-11. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  9. Chass, Murray (2002-03-01). "Baseball; New Owners of Red Sox Quickly Fire Duquette". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  10. Browne, Ian (2002-12-06). "Mike Port to stay with Red Sox". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  11. "Red Sox VP Port suffers heart attack". NBC Sports. 2004-05-04. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  12. "Mike Port leaves Red Sox to accept position with Major League Baseball" (Press release). Boston Red Sox. 2005-08-01. Retrieved 2010-05-28.

Further reading

Sporting positions
Preceded by California Angels General Manager
1984 1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by Boston Red Sox General Manager
2002
Succeeded by