]

SAD NEWS: 30 minutes ago in Arizona, Walt Jocketty, former Cardinals manager, has been confirmed by his family that he has…tn

ST. LOUIS — Walt Jocketty, a three-time baseball executive of the year and former general manager for both the Cardinals and Reds, has died. He was 74.

Jocketty died Friday in the Phoenix area, former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the team after speaking with Jocketty’s wife, Sue.

The Cardinals announced the death Saturday. Jocketty had been battling health issues for the several years.

St. Louis won the National League Central seven times under Jocketty’s leadership. The Cardinals also won National League championships in 2004 and 2006 and their 10th World Series title in 2006.

 

“On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer condolences to Walt’s family and his many friends,” Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. “Walt was our first GM when we purchased the ballclub and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchises most successful and memorable years.

“He will be sorely missed but long remembered for his distinguished career in baseball.”

Jocketty became the general manager in St. Louis on Oct. 14, 1994. After the team was sold in 1995, the new ownership kept Jocketty in his job. His biggest move was hiring La Russa in 1996. The two men had worked together in Oakland.

La Russa would go on to be the winningest manager in the Cardinals history and a Hall of Famer.

Jocketty revamped the roster, and in 1996, the Cardinals returned to postseason play for the first time in nine seasons.

Former Cincinnati Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty Passed Away

In his tenure with St. Louis, Jocketty either drafted or acquired such stars as Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Mark McGwire, Adam Wainright, Chris Carpenter, David Eckstein, Jason Isringhausen, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen.

With Jocketty at the helm, St. Louis put together seven consecutive winning seasons. In 2004 and 2005, the Cardinals won more than 100 games.

He was named the MLB Executive of the Year in 2000, 2004 and 2010.

Leading up to the 2000 season, Jocketty became the first general manager in baseball history to trade for a 20-game winner (Darryl Kile from Colorado) and a 40-home run hitter (Edmonds from Anaheim) in the same offseason.

After he was fired by the Cardinals in 2007 because of differences with ownership, Jocketty was hired by the Reds as a special adviser on Jan. 11, 2008. He was named general manager after Wayne Krivsky was fired on April 23, 2008. He served in that role until Dick Williams replaced him on Dec. 27, 2016.

Jocketty was replaced by John Mozeliak in St. Louis.

“He was a great man,” Mozeliak said after Saturday’s game. “In terms of baseball, he loved it. His influence on myself and this organization was huge. Trying to sum it up in a sentence or two is difficult but his impact is something that I think will always be remembered. His legacy will age well.”

Despite replacing him when he was fired, Mozeliak said the two remained close.

“That was a different time, of course,” Mozeliak said. “In the end, we ended up being friends again. We both understood this is part of the business. I think he was proud of the success I ended up having.”

The Reds made the playoffs three times when Jocketty served as general manager, in 2010, 2012 and 2013. They have made the playoffs only once since.

Jocketty is survived by his wife and two children, Ashley and Joey.

Related Posts

BREAKING: Nascar star Bubba Wallace warns ahead of Kyle Larson scandal, ‘I’m leaving…’. Full story 👇-wiwiwi

BREAKING: Bubba Wallace Threatens to Leave NASCAR Amid Kyle Larson Scandal In a shocking turn of events, NASCAR star Bubba Wallace has issued a stern warning following…

NFL B0MBSHELL: Lions Pressured to ‘Immediately’ Cut Ties With $7.7 Million Player -wiwiwi

Getty The Detroit Lions are in a good place with players heading into the new season, but they may want to trade one player who isn’t working…

WE ARE FAMILY: 49ers’ George Kittle Delivers Heartwarming Claim on Brock Purdy -wiwiwi

Former Iowa Hawkeyes tight end George Kittle has dropped a heartwarming statement on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San…

Congratulazioni!! “Un nome unico!” Rafael Nadal e María Francisca Perelló hanno sbalordito i fan mentre si preparano per l’arrivo della figlia, rivelando un nome unico che ha conquistato il mondo. “È un omaggio alle nostre radici e ai nostri sogni!”-wiwiwi

In un annuncio toccante che ha causato un’ondata di shock nel mondo del tennis e non solo, Rafael Nadal e sua moglie, María Francisca Perelló, si stanno…

¡¡Felicidades!! “¡Un nombre único! Rafael Nadal y María Francisca Perelló han sorprendido a los fans mientras se preparan para la llegada de su hija, revelando un nombre único que ha tomado al mundo por sorpresa.” ¡Es un homenaje a nuestras raíces y nuestros sueños! “-wiwiwi

En un conmovedor anuncio que causó conmoción en el mundo del tenis y más allá, Rafael Nadal y su esposa, María Francisca Perelló, se preparan para dar…

Farewell to an icon: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR legend and Fox Sports television host, has…-wiwiwi

🏁 Farewell to an Icon: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR Legend and Fox Sports Television Host, Has Officially Stepped Away — The End of a Glorious Era Charlotte, NC…