Frank Cashen

John Francis "Frank" Cashen (September 13, 1925 – June 30, 2014) was an American Major League Baseball general manager. He was an executive when the Baltimore Orioles won the 1966 World Series, and 1970 World Series while winning three consecutive AL pennants from 1969 to 1971. Later he became general manager of the New York Mets from 1980 to 1991, and the club won the 1986 World Series during his tenure.

Early life

Cashen was born in

In January 1980, Nelson Doubleday Jr. and Fred Wilpon bought the New York Mets after the Mets' third consecutive last-place finish. They were advised by several people to contact Cashen and, after he predicted four or five years for a turnaround, the new owners hired him for $500,000 over five years. Cashen hired public relations firm Della Femina Travisano & Partners. A new slogan, "The Magic Is Back!", was used along with television commercials emphasizing past New York area stars rather than the dismal Mets of the late 1970s.^[1]

On the field, the Mets made few trades early on, but took a chance with the first pick in the

While Foster and Kingman performed below expectations and the Mets finished poorly in both 1982 and 1983, Cashen made one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history, acquiring former MVP, batting champion, and 1982 World Champion member Keith Hernandez from St. Louis for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. Hernandez became a team leader both offensively and defensively while Allen was an average pitcher and Ownbey played in only 21 more games in the majors. ^{[citation needed]}

In 1984, Cashen hired Davey Johnson to be the Mets' manager for a $100,000 annual salary.^[1] Johnson had been the second baseman with the Orioles while Cashen was the G.M.^[7] After a successful 1984 season which saw the Mets first winning record since 1976, Cashen and the Mets traded Hubie Brooks and three others to the Montreal Expos for future Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, and most of the pieces were in place for a championship team. The Mets barely missed the playoffs in 1985 and then won the 1986 World Series with the best record of any team during the 1980s.^[3]

Decline in New York

While Cashen was largely credited for building the Mets into the 1986 World Champions, he was quickly vilified for dismantling the franchise when a dynasty never materialized. In various transactions, future MVP Kevin Mitchell, scrappy clubhouse leaders Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, and Wally Backman, as well as fan favorite Mookie Wilson^[3] and future All-Stars Rick Aguilera and Kevin Tapani, were traded away.

In return, the Mets received the hugely disappointing

Following his tenure as general manager of the Mets, Cashen continued working with the team in various capacities, including chief operating officer in 1992 and consultant in 1993.^[8] In November 1998, the Mets general manager, Steve Phillips, took time off to address a sexual harassment lawsuit and Cashen was named interim GM for a week.^[9][10]

Cashen was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame^[3] on August 1, 2010, alongside Davey Johnson, Dwight Gooden, and Darryl Strawberry.^[11] Cashen died on June 30, 2014, from congestive heart failure at the age of 88. Cashen and his wife Jean had seven children.^[12] Cashen was noted for frequently wearing a bow tie.^[12]

Record as General Manager

Death

Cashen died on June 30, 2014, at the age of 88, after a short illness.^[13]

References