ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Cardinals long-time former team executive Walt Jocketty has passed away.
Jocketty held the title of General Manager for the Cardinals from 1994-2007.
Under Jocketty, the Cardinals reached the postseason seven times. They won the 2006 World Championship, two National League pennants and six N-L Central Division titles.
St. Louis reached the 100-win plateau in 2004 (105 – tied for second most in franchise history) and in 2005 (100).
Jocketty made a transformational decision in October 1995 when he hired Tony La Russa, who would go on to become the winningest manager in club annals and be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jocketty also revamped the team's roster, and in 1996 the Cardinals returned to postseason play for the first time in nine seasons.
Jocketty's bold transactions were key to the organization's steadfast success – highlighted by acquiring first baseman Mark McGwire from the Oakland A's in 1997, third baseman Scott Rolen from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002 and pitcher Adam Wainwright from the Atlanta Braves in 2003, and signing pitchers Jason Isringhausen and Chris Carpenter as free agents in 2001 and 2002, respectively.
Leading up to the 2000 campaign, Jocketty became the first general manager in baseball history to trade for a 20-game winner (Darryl Kile from the Colorado Rockies) and a 40-home run hitter (Jim Edmonds from the Anaheim Angels) in the same offseason.
Jocketty also was instrumental in building the Cardinals through the Draft, helping to land future stars like Matt Morris (1995), Albert Pujols (1999) and Yadier Molina (2000).
Jocketty was named the MLB Executive of the Year in 2000 and 2004. Also in 2004, he received the Rube Foster Legacy Award from the Negro Leagues Hall of Fame as the N.L. Executive of the Year. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill DeWitt Junior says:
"Walt was our first G-M when we purchased the ball club, and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchise's most successful and memorable years. He will be sorely missed, but long remembered for his distinguished career in baseball."
