Five general managers have won multiple World Series titles over the past 30 years.
Dave Dombrowski, who is among the five, was officially fired by the Red Sox on Monday. He was just 316 days removed from leading Boston to a World Series title.
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Despite a disappointing season that will almost certainly end without a playoff appearance, the firing still comes as a surprise to the baseball world.
On Oct. 31, 2018, Red Sox fans mobbed the streets of Boston to celebrate the franchise's fourth championship of the 2000s. On Sept. 9, 2019, the team is without a GM.
The rarity of this timeline is alarming.
Only two other World Series-winning GMs since the turn of the century have been fired: Larry Beinfest and Walt Jocketty.
Hired as the Marlins' GM and senior vice president in 2002, Beinfest quickly acquired top-tier talent in Dontrelle Willis, Juan Pierre and Ivan Rodriguez. The roster reconstruction paid immediate dividends, helping lead Florida to a World Series title over the Yankees in six games in 2003.
Beinfest remained with the Marlins organization until 2013, when he was fired late in the season. After the 2003 title, the Marlins failed to return to the playoffs in the remaining 10 years of Beinfest's tenure. The shine from Beinfest's decade-old championship dimmed and the franchise was ready for a new leader.
Jocketty was the man in charge during the Cardinals' 2006 championship season. Like Dombrowski, Jocketty was also fired just a year after a title.
His ousting, however, was largely a result of internal tension he shared with the St. Louis front office. Jocketty had a turbulent relationship with vice president Jeff Luhnow because of "philosophical differences." Luhnow brought an analytics approach to the team while Jocketty remained steadfast in his old-school mindset.
Even if we dig deeper into the history of championship-winning GMs being fired, the trend either indicates declining performance or organizational conflict. Fred Claire lasted 10 seasons after the Dodgers' 1988 title before being let go and Bob Quinn was canned a year after the Reds' 1990 championship because of a disagreement over the team's scouting and farm system budget.
Here are some notable GMs who have won championships in recent seasons and where they stand today:
- Jeff Luhnow, Astros (2017 champions): Still active in GM role
- Jed Hoyer, Cubs (2016 champions): Still active in GM role
- Dayton Moore, Royals (2015 champions): Still active in GM role
- Brian Sabean, Giants (2010, 2012, 2014 champions): Resigned after being promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations
- John Mozeliak, Cardinals (2011 champions): Promoted to president of baseball operations
- Brian Cashman, Yankees (1998, 1999, 2000, 2009 champions): Still active in GM role
- Theo Epstein, Red Sox (2004, 2007 champions): Cubs' president of baseball operations
So with no public knowledge of feuding within the Red Sox organization, Dombrowski stands alone in infamy after Monday's firing.