Theo Epstein
Theodore Nathaniel Epstein (born December 29, 1973) is an American Major League Baseball executive who is, since 2024, the senior adviser and part-owner of Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball and Liverpool FC of the English Premier League, among other properties. Epstein was the vice president and general manager for the Red Sox and then the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, working for each team for nine seasons. Following his tenure in Chicago, he joined MLB as a consultant.[1]
Theo Epstein
December 29, 1973
Baseball executive
2
Leslie Epstein (father)
Ilene Gradman (mother)
Philip G. Epstein (grandfather)
Julius J. Epstein (great-uncle)
While working for both teams, Epstein became notable for helping to end two of the longest World Series droughts in the history of Major League Baseball.[2] In 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series championship in 86 years; in 2016, the Cubs won their first World Series championship in 108 years.
Early life[edit]
Epstein was born to a secular Jewish family in New York City and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts.[3][4][5] He graduated from Brookline High School in 1991,[6] where he played baseball for the Brookline High School Warriors, but dreamed of working for the Red Sox.
Epstein attended Yale University, where he lived at Jonathan Edwards College. He served as sports editor of the Yale Daily News. He graduated in 1995 with a degree in American Studies. During his time as an undergraduate, he wrote letters to several teams expressing interest in working for them. His letter to the Baltimore Orioles reached team executive Calvin Hill, a Yale alumnus and head of personnel, who invited him for an interview. Epstein interned for three consecutive summers for the Orioles.[7] Eventually he was hired as the public relations assistant for the Orioles.
Career[edit]
San Diego Padres[edit]
Epstein then moved with Larry Lucchino to the San Diego Padres as director of player development. While working for the Padres, he also studied at the University of San Diego School of Law and earned a Juris Doctor degree at Lucchino's suggestion.[8] Epstein based his class selection on which professors seemed to be the most lenient with attendance policies given the Padres' often-late work hours. By studying law Epstein was invited to take part in high-level negotiations and discussions by then-GM Kevin Towers since few in the Padres' small operations division had a legal background to understand contract language.[7] He worked his way up to become the team's director of baseball operations.[9]
Honors and awards[edit]
As a front office executive, Epstein is a three-time World Series champion, winning twice with the Red Sox (2004 and 2007) and once with the Cubs (2016). In 2007, the United States Sports Academy named Epstein the recipient of its "Carl Maddox Sport Management Award".
In December 2008, Baseball America named Epstein its Baseball America Major League Executive of the Year.[37]
In March 2009, the book Theo-logy: How a Boy Wonder Led the Red Sox to the Promised Land was published.
In September 2009, Epstein was named Sporting News Executive of the Decade.[38] At the same time, the Red Sox were named Sporting News Team of the Decade. In December, Sports Illustrated named him MLB's Best General Manager of the Decade and number 3 on its list of the Top 10 GMs/Executives of the Decade (in all sports).[39]
In November 2016, Epstein was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year.[40] Also in November, Epstein won the Esurance MLB Award for Best Executive.[41]
In March 2017, Epstein was announced as Yale's Class Day Speaker.[42] Fortune Magazine also ranked Epstein #1 in their 2017 list of the "World's Greatest Leaders".[43]
In April 2017, Time Magazine named Epstein one of the world's 100 most influential people.[44]
