Andrew Friedman
Encyclopedia
Andrew Friedman is the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Tampa Bay Rays
franchise in Major League Baseball
. In that position, he acts as the team's General Manager
.
in Houston, and subsequently Tulane University
on a baseball scholarship, where he earned a B.S. in management with a concentration in finance at Tulane's Freeman School of Business
. Just as his father Kenny had played baseball for Tulane, he played outfield
for the Green Wave
until injuring his wrist and shoulder.
Friedman was then an analyst
with Bear Stearns
from 1999–2002, and then was an associate at MidMark Capital, a private equity
firm, from 2002-04.
buddy, Matt Silverman (now president of the Rays), he met Stuart Sternberg
, who was about to purchase controlling interest in Tampa Bay's baseball franchise. The group convened at a diner near Sternberg's home in Rye, New York
. Sternberg and Friedman hit it off immediately, talking for hours. "He had the same thought process I did," Sternberg said. "I sensed his passion. His willingness to step away from a lucrative career meant an enormous amount to me.
From 2004 to 2005, Friedman served as the Director of Baseball Development for the Rays.
Friedman was promoted to his current position after the 2005 season, at the age of 28, replacing the club's first General Manager, Chuck LaMar
, who was fired following the club's 8th losing season in its 8 years in existence.
He was named Sporting News Executive of the Year for the 2008 season.
Friedman's biggest strengths, according to those who have worked closely with him, are his ability to listen and incorporate the opinions of others.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
franchise in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. In that position, he acts as the team's General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
.
Early life
Friedman attended Episcopal High SchoolEpiscopal High School (Bellaire, Texas)
Episcopal High School is a co-educational private day school in Bellaire, Texas, United States. The high school is located on a campus in the city, which is partially surrounded by the city of Houston....
in Houston, and subsequently Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
on a baseball scholarship, where he earned a B.S. in management with a concentration in finance at Tulane's Freeman School of Business
Freeman School of Business
The Freeman School of Business, at Tulane University, is located in New Orleans, LA. The school offers undergraduate programs, a full-time MBA program and other master's programs, doctoral programs, and many executive-education programs, and consistently ranks among the top business schools...
. Just as his father Kenny had played baseball for Tulane, he played outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
for the Green Wave
Green Wave
The Green Wave is the name of several sports teams, most prominently those of Tulane University.Other teams using the "Green Wave" name include:*Abington High School, Abington, Massachusetts*Ashbrook High School, Gastonia, North Carolina...
until injuring his wrist and shoulder.
Friedman was then an analyst
Financial analyst
A financial analyst, securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst, or investment analyst is a person who performs financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core part of the job.-Job:...
with Bear Stearns
Bear Stearns
The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. based in New York City, was a global investment bank and securities trading and brokerage, until its sale to JPMorgan Chase in 2008 during the global financial crisis and recession...
from 1999–2002, and then was an associate at MidMark Capital, a private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
firm, from 2002-04.
Baseball
In 2003, through his investment bankingInvestment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities...
buddy, Matt Silverman (now president of the Rays), he met Stuart Sternberg
Stuart Sternberg
Stuart L. Sternberg is a Wall Street investor. He is the principal shareholder of the ownership group that owns the Tampa Bay Rays, and has acted as the team's Managing General Partner since November 2005....
, who was about to purchase controlling interest in Tampa Bay's baseball franchise. The group convened at a diner near Sternberg's home in Rye, New York
Rye (city), New York
Rye is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is separate from the town of Rye, which is larger than the city. Rye city, formerly the village of Rye, was part of the town until 1942, when it received its charter as a city, the most recent to be issued in New York...
. Sternberg and Friedman hit it off immediately, talking for hours. "He had the same thought process I did," Sternberg said. "I sensed his passion. His willingness to step away from a lucrative career meant an enormous amount to me.
From 2004 to 2005, Friedman served as the Director of Baseball Development for the Rays.
Friedman was promoted to his current position after the 2005 season, at the age of 28, replacing the club's first General Manager, Chuck LaMar
Chuck LaMar
Charles G. "Chuck" LaMar was the first general manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise in American Major League Baseball, being hired July 19, 1995 — several months after the Tampa Bay franchise was awarded...
, who was fired following the club's 8th losing season in its 8 years in existence.
He was named Sporting News Executive of the Year for the 2008 season.
Friedman's biggest strengths, according to those who have worked closely with him, are his ability to listen and incorporate the opinions of others.