Al Rosen

Al Rosen resigned Friday as president and general manager of the San Francisco Giants, ending a seven-year tenure during which the team went from a 100-loss season to the World Series. In an emotional farewell, Rosen said he felt that with new ownership coming in, it would be best that he "step aside." "I've decided that it's time for me to retire and I wanted to make my decision public immediately," Rosen, 68, said at a news conference at Candlestick Park.

Al Rosen resigned Friday as president and general manager of the San Francisco Giants, ending a seven-year tenure during which the team went from a 100-loss season to the World Series. In an emotional farewell, Rosen said he felt that with new ownership coming in, it would be best that he "step aside." "I've decided that it's time for me to retire and I wanted to make my decision public immediately," Rosen, 68, said at a news conference at Candlestick Park.

While everyone continues to be in awe of Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield's pursuit of the triple crown, perhaps no general manager in baseball is more appreciative of the accomplishment than Al Rosen of the Giants. It was Rosen, after all, who became painfully close to the achievement in 1953. Rosen had already wrapped up the home run and RBI titles, and on the last day of the season needed to beat out Boston's Mickey Vernon for the batting title.

While everyone continues to be in awe of Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield's pursuit of the triple crown, perhaps no general manager in baseball is more appreciative of the accomplishment than Al Rosen of the Giants. It was Rosen, after all, who became painfully close to the achievement in 1953. Rosen had already wrapped up the home run and RBI titles, and on the last day of the season needed to beat out Boston's Mickey Vernon for the batting title.

Al Rosen forever erased his reputation as a timid trader with three summertime deals that provided crucial pitching help for the San Francisco Giants. Now the 63-year-old president and general manager is being hailed as the man most responsible for bringing the team its first title since the Mays-McCovey-Marichal era. "To me he's our MVP," says Giants Manager Roger Craig, sharing the sentiments expressed by several players. "It's unbelievable, the trades he made for us."

Al Rosen, whose trading touch catapulted the San Francisco Giants to their first National League West title in 16 years, was named major league baseball's executive of the year by United Press International.

The Houston Astros have called a news conference today presumably to announce that Al Rosen will be replaced as general manager and take a similar position with the San Francisco Giants. If Rosen joins the Giants, it is believed that current General Manager Tom Haller will take over as field manager, replacing Jim Davenport. San Francisco Giants owner Bob Lurie dined in Houston Wednesday night with Haller and Rosen.

The Dodgers and San Francisco Giants don't have to wait long to renew their rivalry. They will open the season with a two-game set at Dodger Stadium, and Giant President Al Rosen is eager to see the Dodgers' infield. He says it is a key question in the National League West race. "Who knows if they've solved their infield problems?" Rosen said. "Despite what Tommy (Lasorda) says, I know he's going to gulp every time a ground ball is hit."

Al Rosen, the president and general manager of the San Francisco Giants, has a unique way of dealing with stress. After watching his team play at Candlestick Park, Rosen returns to his office, takes a bat, or maybe just his foot, and knocks the bejeebers out of an inflatable punching bag. "I got it good the other night," Rosen said recently. "I felt a lot better, too." But, really, what does this guy have to be stressed-out about?

The exchange centered on the ability of Darryl Strawberry to play center field and was the liveliest of baseball's winter meetings. Bud Harrelson, the New York Mets' manager, and Joe McIlvaine, the former vice president of the Mets and now general manager of the San Diego Padres, expressed doubt. Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda supported the concept and did it with some emotion.

The Dodgers and San Francisco Giants don't have to wait long to renew their rivalry. They will open the season with a two-game set at Dodger Stadium, and Giant President Al Rosen is eager to see the Dodgers' infield. He says it is a key question in the National League West race. "Who knows if they've solved their infield problems?" Rosen said. "Despite what Tommy (Lasorda) says, I know he's going to gulp every time a ground ball is hit."

The exchange centered on the ability of Darryl Strawberry to play center field and was the liveliest of baseball's winter meetings. Bud Harrelson, the New York Mets' manager, and Joe McIlvaine, the former vice president of the Mets and now general manager of the San Diego Padres, expressed doubt. Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda supported the concept and did it with some emotion.

Al Rosen, whose trading touch catapulted the San Francisco Giants to their first National League West title in 16 years, was named major league baseball's executive of the year by United Press International.

Al Rosen, the president and general manager of the San Francisco Giants, has a unique way of dealing with stress. After watching his team play at Candlestick Park, Rosen returns to his office, takes a bat, or maybe just his foot, and knocks the bejeebers out of an inflatable punching bag. "I got it good the other night," Rosen said recently. "I felt a lot better, too." But, really, what does this guy have to be stressed-out about?

Al Rosen forever erased his reputation as a timid trader with three summertime deals that provided crucial pitching help for the San Francisco Giants. Now the 63-year-old president and general manager is being hailed as the man most responsible for bringing the team its first title since the Mays-McCovey-Marichal era. "To me he's our MVP," says Giants Manager Roger Craig, sharing the sentiments expressed by several players. "It's unbelievable, the trades he made for us."

The Houston Astros have called a news conference today presumably to announce that Al Rosen will be replaced as general manager and take a similar position with the San Francisco Giants. If Rosen joins the Giants, it is believed that current General Manager Tom Haller will take over as field manager, replacing Jim Davenport. San Francisco Giants owner Bob Lurie dined in Houston Wednesday night with Haller and Rosen.

Los Angeles-based Bankprint named Al Rosen president and chief operating officer.

In a back room of his mother's house, Alex Johnson picked up the silver bat. He gripped it as though he were hitting, checked a swing, then slowly ran his hand over the surface, which was tarnished with age. Johnson was awarded the bat for winning the 1970 American League batting championship--the only Angel to have been a batting champion. It was one of the closest races in history, Johnson edging Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox by .0003.