Salty Saltwell
Encyclopedia
E. R. "Salty" Saltwell was the general manager
of the Chicago Cubs
of Major League Baseball
in 1976
.
Like a predecessor, John Holland
, Saltwell had been a general manager in the minor leagues
. He was the GM with minor league affiliates in Des Moines, Iowa
, and Los Angeles, California
. Saltwell came to Chicago in 1958 as a business manager. He was very loyal to owner Philip K. Wrigley
and was made a vice president in 1972. The Chicago Tribune
openly mocked the move and called Saltwell a hot dog vendor. Wrigley defended the decision by stating that Saltwell had the capacity to get rough, especially in contract negotiations. After his one season as Cubs' GM, on November 24, 1976, he was named secretary and director of park operations while field manager
Jim Marshall
was fired.
Don Kessinger
to the St. Louis Cardinals
for pitcher
Mike Garman
. He was the last player from the 1969 Cubs team. A challenge for Saltwell was that the fall of 1975
ushered in the era of free agency. Pitchers Andy Messersmith
and Dave McNally
successfully challenged a portion of the MLB Reserve clause
.
Saltwell also traded Andre Thornton
to the Montreal Expos
. In the spring of 1976, Thornton complained about the Cubs' spring training
facilities, and feuded with Jose Cardenal
. He was labelled as a troublemaker. On May 17, Saltwell made a deal with the Expos, and it was highly criticized by fans and media alike. In the draft, Saltwell did not have better luck. Under Saltwell, the Cubs selected pitcher Herman Segelke in the first round of the June draft.
In September 1976, Saltwell was confronted by pitcher Steve Stone. Stone had informed Saltwell of his impending free agency and attempted to get a contract. Saltwell responded by telling Stone that Mr. Wrigley was in the middle of a divorce and he would have to get back to him. Stone opted to leave the Cubs.
One of the trades that was criticized was made on February 11, 1977. The Cubs traded third baseman
Bill Madlock
and infielder Rob Sperring
to the San Francisco Giants
for outfielder Bobby Murcer
, third baseman Steve Ontiveros and pitcher Andy Muhlstock. Madlock was a two-time defending batting champion
who had hit .354 and .339 over the previous two seasons. Saltwell wanted more power and acquired Murcer. After smashing 27 home runs in 1977 with the Cubs, Murcer hit just nine in 1978 and was traded to his original team, the New York Yankees
.
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
of 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 1976
1976 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over New York Yankees ; Johnny Bench, MVP*All-Star Game, July 13 at Veterans Stadium: National League, 7-1; George Foster, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Naranjeros de Hermosillo...
.
Like a predecessor, John Holland
John Holland (baseball executive)
John David Holland was an American baseball executive who served as general manager of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball from 1956 to 1975...
, Saltwell had been a general manager in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. He was the GM with minor league affiliates in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Saltwell came to Chicago in 1958 as a business manager. He was very loyal to owner Philip K. Wrigley
Philip K. Wrigley
Philip Knight Wrigley , sometimes also called P.K. or Phil. Born in Chicago, he was an American chewing gum manufacturer and executive in Major League Baseball, inheriting both those roles as the quiet son of his much more flamboyant father, William Wrigley Jr. After his father died in 1932, Philip...
and was made a vice president in 1972. The Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
openly mocked the move and called Saltwell a hot dog vendor. Wrigley defended the decision by stating that Saltwell had the capacity to get rough, especially in contract negotiations. After his one season as Cubs' GM, on November 24, 1976, he was named secretary and director of park operations while field manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall (baseball)
Rufus James Marshall is a former first baseman and manager in American Major League Baseball. Marshall managed the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics but never enjoyed a winning season in either post...
was fired.
Transactions
Saltwell was criticized for many questionable transactions. His first transaction was on October 28, 1975, when he traded shortstopShortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Don Kessinger
Don Kessinger
Donald Eulon Kessinger is a former American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from to for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox...
to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Mike Garman
Mike Garman
Michael Douglas Garman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher whom the Boston Red Sox selected with the third overall pick in the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft...
. He was the last player from the 1969 Cubs team. A challenge for Saltwell was that the fall of 1975
1975 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Boston Red Sox ; Pete Rose, MVP*All-Star Game, July 15 at County Stadium: National League, 6-3; Bill Madlock and Jon Matlack, MVPs-Other champions:...
ushered in the era of free agency. Pitchers Andy Messersmith
Andy Messersmith
John Alexander "Andy" Messersmith is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the 12th overall pick of the 1966 amateur draft by the California Angels...
and Dave McNally
Dave McNally
David Arthur "Dave" McNally was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher from until . He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played with them every season except for his final season with the Montreal Expos.McNally has the unique distinction as the only pitcher in Major League...
successfully challenged a portion of the MLB Reserve clause
Reserve clause
The reserve clause is a term formerly employed in North American professional sports contracts. The reserve clause, contained in all standard player contracts, stated that, upon the contract's expiration the rights to the player were to be retained by the team to which he had been signed...
.
Saltwell also traded Andre Thornton
Andre Thornton
André Thornton , nicknamed "Thunder," is a former first baseman and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos and Cleveland Indians during a 14-year career...
to the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. In the spring of 1976, Thornton complained about the Cubs' spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
facilities, and feuded with Jose Cardenal
José Cardenal
José Rosario Domec Cardenal is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , St...
. He was labelled as a troublemaker. On May 17, Saltwell made a deal with the Expos, and it was highly criticized by fans and media alike. In the draft, Saltwell did not have better luck. Under Saltwell, the Cubs selected pitcher Herman Segelke in the first round of the June draft.
In September 1976, Saltwell was confronted by pitcher Steve Stone. Stone had informed Saltwell of his impending free agency and attempted to get a contract. Saltwell responded by telling Stone that Mr. Wrigley was in the middle of a divorce and he would have to get back to him. Stone opted to leave the Cubs.
One of the trades that was criticized was made on February 11, 1977. The Cubs traded third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Bill Madlock
Bill Madlock
Bill "Mad Dog" Madlock, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. From 1973 to 1987, Madlock was a right-handed hitter who won several National League batting titles. His record of four batting titles as a third baseman would be eclipsed in 1988 by Wade Boggs. Since 1970, only Tony Gwynn has...
and infielder Rob Sperring
Rob Sperring
Robert Walter Sperring was a baseball player who played for the Chicago Cubs from 1974 to 1976 and the Houston Astros in 1977....
to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for outfielder Bobby Murcer
Bobby Murcer
Bobby Ray Murcer was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for 17 seasons between 1965 and 1983, mostly with the New York Yankees, whom he later rejoined as a longtime broadcaster...
, third baseman Steve Ontiveros and pitcher Andy Muhlstock. Madlock was a two-time defending batting champion
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
who had hit .354 and .339 over the previous two seasons. Saltwell wanted more power and acquired Murcer. After smashing 27 home runs in 1977 with the Cubs, Murcer hit just nine in 1978 and was traded to his original team, the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Executive career
| Year | Team | Title | Function |
| 1976 | Chicago Cubs | Vice President / General Manager (Hired 9/30/75; Reassigned 11/24/76) |
General Manager |
| 1984 | Chicago Cubs | Special Assistant Executive V.P. and V.P., Business Operations | Special Assistant to the GM |
| 1985 | Chicago Cubs | Special Assistant Executive V.P. and V.P., Business Operations | Special Assistant to the GM |
| 1986 | Chicago Cubs | Vice President | Special Assistant to the GM |