17 Facts About Syd Thrift

Syd Thrift graduated from Syringa High School in 1945 and from Randolph-Macon College in 1949.

Syd Thrift joined the United States Army in January 1951 during the Korean War and served for two years.

Syd Thrift left the Pirates after the 1967 season to join the Kansas City Royals as scouting director and in 1970 founded the Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy.

Syd Thrift hired a relatively unknown Jim Leyland, then the Chicago White Sox third base coach, as manager.

Syd Thrift had a contentious relationship with the team's investors.

Syd Thrift signed a two-year $400,000 contract that gave him the final say on all baseball-related decisions on October 26,1987, three days after winning a power struggle that resulted in the resignation of Malcolm Prine as club president.

In March 1989, Syd Thrift became the Yankees' vice president of baseball operations, signing a five-year contract.

Syd Thrift served as a consultant to the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Syd Thrift was hired by the Chicago Cubs as assistant to general manager Larry Himes on December 2,1991.

Syd Thrift left the Cubs on October 18,1994 when Himes' successor Ed Lynch elected not to renew his contract.

Syd Thrift was put in charge of the minor league operations of the Baltimore Orioles upon his appointment as the team's director of player development thirteen days later on October 31,1994.

Syd Thrift succeeded Doug Melvin who had left the Orioles earlier that month to become general manager of the Texas Rangers.

Syd Thrift was promoted to vice president of baseball operations on December 21,1999, succeeding Frank Wren who had been relieved of his general manager duties two months prior.

Wren had alleged that Syd Thrift used his influence with team owner Peter Angelos to get him fired.

Syd Thrift was honored by The Sporting News as one of the best teachers in baseball.

Syd Thrift received an honorary doctorate of laws by Randolph-Macon College and their Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Syd Thrift died September 18,2006 at Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford, Delaware at age 77 following apparent complications from knee replacement surgery earlier that day.